Magic and Mystery, Fantasy and Fun
“So, please, oh please, we beg, we pray, go throw your TV set away, and in it’s place you can install, a lovely bookcase on the wall.” ~ Roald Dahl
Having given you a guide last month to choosing books, this month I would like to share with you some of my favourites which I have enjoyed reading to children over the past 22 years. When reading out loud, I will often choose a book that I enjoyed reading or listening to as a child, because of the interesting language and lovely, familiar illustrations and doing some research I wasn’t surprised to find Enid Blyton, Dr. Seuss, Stan and Jan Berenstein, Beatrix Potter, Roald Dahl, Astrid Lindgren (Pippi Longstocking) and Roger Hargreaves (Mr Men) on the list of the 15 (most likely) best-selling authors of children’s books.
While J.K. Rowling may not have reached Enid Blyton’s amazing 600 million sales, both of these authors have been the motivation for the development of a love of reading and books for many, many children, and wether your kids are interested in the realm of fantasy or are amateur detectives eager for adventure there are many benefits to gained from both these genres extending way beyond the pages of the books.
Witches, Wizards and Wonderful Worlds
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” ~ Roald Dahl
Fantasy is the earliest that genre that children are exposed to through magic mirrors, poisoned apples, spells which can put you to sleep for a hundred years and animals who turn into handsome princes. Without it the world would be a dreary place. While some people dismiss fantasy as silly and frivolous and a waste of time, and worry that it may confuse their children, research indicates that fantasy fiction can benefit kids in important ways ~ stimulating creative thinking and boosting their vocabulary. Fantasy also teaches children problem solving skills, and observing how different kinds of characters respond to adversity encourages them to think “ outside the box”, to be more adaptable and to find solutions when faced with real problems.
While fantasy may also help kids to develop skills crucial for concentration and impulse control, it is important even without these practical benefits. It’s a source of delight and inspiration, allowing us to see things from a new perspective and greatly expanding our experience of life.
Letting Your Detective Skills Unfold
“A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live many lives while reading.” ~ William Styron
The suspense nature of whodunits and the delight in picking clues makes them fun to read, but mysteries are also great tools for skill- building. Reading detective and mystery books will benefit your kids through developing the powerful skills of persistence, curiosity and critical thinking.
Mysteries are all about cause and effect. Recognising a suspect’s motives is a big part of appreciating a mystery, and trying to figure out why a culprit did it keeps those pages turning. The who, what and why of a mystery not only keeps children engaged through curiosity. Asking these questions will help to develop their critical thinking and following along with a detective character that pursues clue after clue, and suspect after suspect, they learn persistence. The goal is to solve the mystery, and like the detective won’t give up until they achieve their goal and even the most hesitant reader will want to get to the end to find out how the story unfolds.