How to Raise a Reader: You Can Help Your Child Read Well and Enjoy it More [Paperback]

Elaine K. McEwan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1999

How do you encourage a child to read? This is a question addressed daily by many parents, teachers, school administrators, and lawmakers in their efforts to prepare children for success in school and, later, in life.

Authoritative and practical, How to Raise a Reader answers this question. The book is packed with ideas on how parents can assist a reluctant reader, assess current reading level, and promote a lasting love of reading. A timely presentation of the strengths and weaknesses of the phonics and the whole language approaches to teaching reading give further insight into how an emerging reader gains skill.

One of the books best features is an extensive list of read-aloud books for children from birth to age twelve. With each title is given publisher information and a brief description. Also helpful are the resources, providing additional information on topics such as phonemic awareness, web sites, and age-appropriate accomplishments in reading.

Previously published by David C. Cook in 1987, this book has been completely revised and updated.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Dick and Jane. Frog and Toad. Nancy Drew. These names bring back memories of hot summer afternoons spent on our porch swing, book in hand. The heat didnt bother me; I barely noticed the occasional fly that landed on my book. I was reading.

Over time, I met characters such as Laura Ingalls and Heidi and traveled to places such as Narnia and Green Gables. Reading opened to me a world just waiting to be explored. I imagine the love of reading I first cultivated as a child has more than a little to do with my current occupation. Recently, I again experienced this awakening to the joy of reading when my niece called to tell me she had learned to read. Another child has opened the door to a world of discovery, enjoyment, self-confidence, and opportunity.

If you have a child in your life - a daughter, a grandson, a niece - How to Raise a Reader can show you how to help that child lay the foundation for a lifetime of reading.

Elaine McEwan, an experienced educator, librarian, and mother, begins by explaining how children learn to read and why its important. She then goes on to describe how you can help the child in your life learn to read. Not sure which books to give to your child? Dont worry. The authors recommendations run the gamut from classics to Bible story books and are divided by age level. The author even provides a list of books that will entice the reluctant reader.

But the book offers even more. One chapter helps you identify possible causes of reading problems and another explains how to evaluate whether your childs school is doing a good job teaching students how to read. I found the chapter Seventy-Plus Ways to Raise a Reader especially interesting. Helpful hints include label familiar objects around the house to help your child learn new words.

At the end of the book you will find helpful resources such as materials to guide you in choosing the best books for children and a list of web sites about books and reading.

If you want to help the child in your life learn to read -and love it- begin by helping yourself to this book (Melinda Van Engen, Editorial).

About the Author

Elaine K. McEwan holds a Ph.D. in educational administration and an M.A. in library science. She is Consultant/Author with the McEwan Adkins Group and an advisor in the fields of education, training, communication, and parenting.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Baker Books (August 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801011841
• ISBN-13: 978-0801011849
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,238,326 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Brief & concise, September 28, 2001

By 

"juj" - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Raise a Reader: You Can Help Your Child Read Well and Enjoy it More (Paperback)

The entire book is actually a short read -- more like a magazine article -- which has just been spread out to several chapters. The pointers on how to raise your children to be readers are supported by reading material suggestions for each age/level. Most of these suggested materials are not available worldwide, but you do not have to limit yourself to these selections. Surely, there are similar materials in the market(s) where you are located.