Everyone who loves to read hopes to pass that passion to those they care about. In the case of teachers that ambition becomes even more compelling. We understand the impact early and avid reading can have on the students who value and practice it. Even the act of simply reading aloud to a child can have a profoundly positive neurological effect on their development. Fostering an interest and mastery early on is predictive of later academic success, increased social acclimation, and even linguistic mastery.
But how do we transfer our appreciation and our avid involvement in the process of reading to our children? I believe it begins with parents and teachers connecting them to the excitement of what a literary love affair can bring by inculcating interest within their own interests. That is, it starts with paying attention to what those interests are and an openness to being led by them.
One way we can prepare ourselves for that is to grow our libraries to reflect that individuality, to anticipate it in degree and kind by stocking our shelves or boxes with real variety, with considered breadth, from difficulty to genre.
Below are a few places I like to go to gather information and inspiration about what books to feature in my elementary classroom library. I'm confident they can help anyone searching for a novel approach to literary inspiration.
https://www.pinterest.com/explore/classroom-libraries/?lp=true
https://www.weareteachers.com/building-your-classroom-library-the-best-books-for-grades-3-5/
http://www.booksourcebanter.com/2017/02/10/books-for-classroom-libraries-2016-top-titles/
I'm a great fan of classics like Goodnight Moon, The Giving Tree, Harold and the Purple Crayon, The Snowy Day, and Charlotte's Web, but I'm always interested in new and the now, because classics didn't begin that way, and the present has a way of connecting to the new little eyes searching through it. So where do you go for ideas? What sort of recommendations would you make for early readers? Curious teachers need to know.
