Are our children reading enough?

[Denise Bethune]

Hello all I was thinking about this because I just connected with a group in my area whose mission is to gather books for children to read at home. It seems as though in some communities children don't possess not one book at home. Is this really a crisis and what more can we do.?

[Denise Bethune]

Thanks to all who responded to this question. Encouraging reading that is the key...by any means necessary...that does certainly help...When I shop for my grandchildrend...books are my favorite gift in giving them...

[Stafford Battle]

I am a voracious reader and have been since elementary school. Some of my earliest readings were comic books (Green Lantern, Superman, Magnus the Robot Fighter, etc.). Not heavy stuff and very few black characters. I read comics because they were easy to acquire or trade. I discovered that I loved to read. Then I "discovered" the public library. Didn't have much time for comics.

My comment is this: By any means necessary, we must encourage reading. Don't get overly concerned about the content, it is the commitment to reading that is most important. People naturally will expand their selection of materials once they get into the habit of reading.

It is our duty as literary professionals to make sure that a diverse body of content is available.

[K. L. Belvin]

If I may post on your page,

As a middle school teacher I am alarmed by the number of children who can read the words but lack understanding of what they've read. They also a lack reading stamina, so they grow tired when reading for short periods of time. Which plays into the lack of understanding and the want to read in the first place.
I try to get parents to see that it starts with them and how they go about reading on a daily basis. If the child doesn't see their caregivers reading with purpose, why would they?
This is truly a crisis and many children of color are being loss. I hate to say this being a part of the system for over 11years, here in New York City, the public schools are failing to reach or scratch the surface of this reading crisis.

The one thing I do see, and I am not sure if its positive or negative, is more children are reading Urban fiction, but some of the stories glorify situations that are not beneficial to the child reading. Yes, their reading but what are they learning? Something must be done or we are going to lose a whole generation who won't be able to get through their first year of college if they get that far. If there unable to use their computers.

Great question.