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Raising a Reader: A Mother's Tale of Desperation and Delight
What were my kids born to do? That is the question I hope to help them answer. And because reading is the thing I love most, it's only natural for me to hope it will become something they love, too...The trouble is that reading is a particularly slippery passion to want to pass along because it's a skill most parents would agree their children have to master, to one degree or another.
--from Raising a Reader
Can passion be passed along from parent to child? Can you, in other words, make someone love baseball, ballet or books? Of course you can't - but that doesn't stop parents from trying. Jennie Nash was one of those parents - a parent so obsessed about getting her kids to read that her desire sometimes strayed into desperation; her hope often became an obsession; and instead of helping, her resolve got in the way. In the end, she found that, like so many of the things we do as parents, passing along a passion for reading happens in the push and pull of digging in and letting go, day in and day out, both because of and in spite of our efforts.
Nash shares stories and misadventures from the years when her young daughters were learning what it meant to have a relationship with words--and she was learning to let them. She reminds us how the magic moments happen in their own sweet time, by being together in the presence of good books and seeing each child as unique.
Each chapter of Raising a Reader ends with personal, practical tips and games that spring straight from the narrative. A comprehensive index discusses many of the books Nash has enjoyed with her children, providing a year's worth of titles for parents and their children to explore.
--from Raising a Reader
Can passion be passed along from parent to child? Can you, in other words, make someone love baseball, ballet or books? Of course you can't - but that doesn't stop parents from trying. Jennie Nash was one of those parents - a parent so obsessed about getting her kids to read that her desire sometimes strayed into desperation; her hope often became an obsession; and instead of helping, her resolve got in the way. In the end, she found that, like so many of the things we do as parents, passing along a passion for reading happens in the push and pull of digging in and letting go, day in and day out, both because of and in spite of our efforts.
Nash shares stories and misadventures from the years when her young daughters were learning what it meant to have a relationship with words--and she was learning to let them. She reminds us how the magic moments happen in their own sweet time, by being together in the presence of good books and seeing each child as unique.
Each chapter of Raising a Reader ends with personal, practical tips and games that spring straight from the narrative. A comprehensive index discusses many of the books Nash has enjoyed with her children, providing a year's worth of titles for parents and their children to explore.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published August 23, 2003
208 people want to read
About the author
Jennie Nash
25 books113 followersJennie Nash is the founder and CEO of Author Accelerator, a company that trains book coaches to help writers bring their books to life. For twelve years, writers serious about reaching readers have trusted Jennie to coach their projects from inspiration to publication. Her clients have landed top New York agents, national book awards, and deals with houses such as Scribner, Simon & Schuster, and Hachette. Jennie is the author of 9 books in 3 genres. She taught for 13 years in the UCLA Extension Writer’s Program, is an instructor at CreativeLive.com and speaks on podcasts and at writing conferences all over the country. Learn more about being coached or becoming a coach at bookcoaches.com or authoraccelerator.com
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 26, 2010
This short little book was a real gem. I've struggled for seven years to help my oldest son learn to love reading as much as I do. He just doesn't have much interest - even as a baby, when I would open a book to read to him, he would slam it closed. When at school he was allowed to check out books, he invariably picked out Superhero books, with text too complicated and too small. I hated reading these books to him. But his teacher advised me that they don't try to direct kids to certain books and even books like this would help foster a love of books. I didn't believe her and rarely did I read them to him, despite him looking at the drawings for hours. Jennie Nash, author of this book, made a similar mistake and eventually had a moment that showed her the error. This book helped me to see the mistake I have made in giving up on ever turning him into a reader.
It has also renewed in me my desire to help him become a reader like me, his father, and his brother. This morning, while I snuggled on the bed reading with his brother, despite the allure of computer games, he kept sneaking over to hear the story and comment on it. It made me feel that maybe I was wrong after all. In addition to some great advice, there are several pages at the back of the book of recommended reading, both aloud and quiet, for children of all ages.
I highly recommend that any parent who is struggling to create their own reader, and even if they aren't struggling, pick this book up. It will renew your dreams of reading side by side with your child and also share some great ideas on ways to help foster a love of books.
It has also renewed in me my desire to help him become a reader like me, his father, and his brother. This morning, while I snuggled on the bed reading with his brother, despite the allure of computer games, he kept sneaking over to hear the story and comment on it. It made me feel that maybe I was wrong after all. In addition to some great advice, there are several pages at the back of the book of recommended reading, both aloud and quiet, for children of all ages.
I highly recommend that any parent who is struggling to create their own reader, and even if they aren't struggling, pick this book up. It will renew your dreams of reading side by side with your child and also share some great ideas on ways to help foster a love of books.
January 1, 2015
I started and finished this book today, the last day of 2014. It was a good little book about reading to/with kids from the perspective of a book-loving mom to two young girls. I liked it a lot! I like the chaper titles, the little stories, the lessons learned, her writing style, the length of the book . . . . I could have written the final paragraph on page 20 where she describes how I feel about paying library fines. "What mattered was having the experience of abundance." I'm re-re-re-inspired to spend more time reading to my kids and/or making time for them to read.
She suggests several books and I'm excited to check out a few.
She suggests several books and I'm excited to check out a few.
April 18, 2010
This was a really delightful and quick read. If you are a 'reader' you'll enjoy this title, with or without kids!
May 31, 2013
Definitely a five-star book for me because it validated my love of reading. For my complete review: http://sunlitpages.blogspot.com/2013/...
July 3, 2019
Whether you have kids or not, this book is a delight for any reader. Jennie Nash recounts several stories about her daughters as she tried to find ways to have them enjoy her own love of reading. Humorous at times, Nash details some struggles parents and caregivers may have with getting children to find pleasure in reading, such as directing their child's reading choices to more stimulating titles. The overall messages comes that comes through is the importance of sharing the experience of reading.
January 20, 2021
This was a short book that encourages parents of emerging readers. I will definitely recommend this next time I am asked for advice on early reading. I tend to recommend books like this over a specific reading curriculum. Great book. Reading Magic by Mem Fox and Jim Trelease’s Read Aloud Handbook rate higher for me, but I will add this to my list.
June 24, 2019
Nothing wrong with this book, but it’s older. Anyone interested in the topic had probably already heard this advice which mainly boils down to letting kids choose their own reading material. Not bad, not hugely helpful.
January 6, 2024
I loved all the book recommendations. It also took me back to reading with my kids.
December 28, 2011
An uplifting and encouraging read for parents who struggle with children who do not necessarily share a passion for reading.
A few fave quotes:
But reading suffers when we turn it into a high-anxiety, competitive activity. The process suffers, our kids suffer, and we suffer along with them. I know this, not because I have any expertise in teaching reading beyond my own experience as a parent, but because during the years in which my two children learned how to read, there were many times when my desire for them to succeed strayed into desperation, my hope morphed into obsession, and instead of helping pass on my passion, my resolve got in the way. The magic moments--the ones in which my own love of reading was naturally passed on--came in their own sweet time, through the blessing of being together in the presence of good books and by the grace needed to see each of my children as individuals separate from me. Like so many of the things we do as parents, raising readers happens in bursts of delight and desperation, in the push and pull of digging in and letting go, day in and day out, both because of and in spit of our efforts. (2)
There's such a big difference between reading a book because you have to in order to write a term paper or an editorial report and reading a book because you stumbled across it, selected it, and found that it grabbed you by the shoulders and wouldn't let you go. (6)
Amen, sister!
There are so few times you can say YES to your child without any hesitation or any limits. You can't do it at snack time or bedtime or on a play date or at the grocery store or the toy store or even at the park, where it's not OK to climb up the slide when someone else wants to slide down and it's not OK to stay when the wind picks up and it begins to get dark. Camping or a day at the beach are two activities that also lend themselves to saying YES--YES, you can dig a bigger hole; YES, we can stand here in the water all day; YES, you can stay up late to look at the stars. But most of us can't camp out or hang out at the beach as often as we'd like. We can, however, go to the library and say YES to books...On each visit [to the library], we would take home fifteen, seventeen, twenty books, and pile them at the end of the girls' beds where they could, almost literally, wallow in them. It didn't make any difference that we would never read them all, that a book on extraterrestrial life was way beyond the kids' understanding, or that every once and awhile one of the books would disappear into thin air (under the bed? behind the dresser?) and I would have to pay the late fee or the replacement cost. What mattered was having the experience of abundance. (19-20)
Wallowing in an abundance of books. Isn't that a lovely image?
A few fave quotes:
But reading suffers when we turn it into a high-anxiety, competitive activity. The process suffers, our kids suffer, and we suffer along with them. I know this, not because I have any expertise in teaching reading beyond my own experience as a parent, but because during the years in which my two children learned how to read, there were many times when my desire for them to succeed strayed into desperation, my hope morphed into obsession, and instead of helping pass on my passion, my resolve got in the way. The magic moments--the ones in which my own love of reading was naturally passed on--came in their own sweet time, through the blessing of being together in the presence of good books and by the grace needed to see each of my children as individuals separate from me. Like so many of the things we do as parents, raising readers happens in bursts of delight and desperation, in the push and pull of digging in and letting go, day in and day out, both because of and in spit of our efforts. (2)
There's such a big difference between reading a book because you have to in order to write a term paper or an editorial report and reading a book because you stumbled across it, selected it, and found that it grabbed you by the shoulders and wouldn't let you go. (6)
Amen, sister!
There are so few times you can say YES to your child without any hesitation or any limits. You can't do it at snack time or bedtime or on a play date or at the grocery store or the toy store or even at the park, where it's not OK to climb up the slide when someone else wants to slide down and it's not OK to stay when the wind picks up and it begins to get dark. Camping or a day at the beach are two activities that also lend themselves to saying YES--YES, you can dig a bigger hole; YES, we can stand here in the water all day; YES, you can stay up late to look at the stars. But most of us can't camp out or hang out at the beach as often as we'd like. We can, however, go to the library and say YES to books...On each visit [to the library], we would take home fifteen, seventeen, twenty books, and pile them at the end of the girls' beds where they could, almost literally, wallow in them. It didn't make any difference that we would never read them all, that a book on extraterrestrial life was way beyond the kids' understanding, or that every once and awhile one of the books would disappear into thin air (under the bed? behind the dresser?) and I would have to pay the late fee or the replacement cost. What mattered was having the experience of abundance. (19-20)
Wallowing in an abundance of books. Isn't that a lovely image?
November 21, 2007
Teaching a child to read, and getting that child to like reading, can be one of the most frustrating, and heartwarming, jobs for any parent. This book looks at one family’s journey through such a process.
One of a parent’s biggest wishes for their child is that they find something about which they are passionate, something on which they can build a life. For the parent, there is a fine line between passion and obsession, a line that is easy to cross.
It’s hard to instill a love of books if the children don’t have access to them. Regularly bring them to the local library, and let them take out a lot of books. If Child 2 doesn’t progress in reading at the same rate as did Child 1, don’t panic. Everyone progresses at their own speed.
Another way to instill a love of books is to set aside a reading period during the day. While the child reads a book, the parent should sit and read an adult book. The child will probably enter a phase in which they are interested in what the parent considers the children’s literature equivalent of trash. Again, don’t panic; they’ll grow out of it.
Have faith in your child, especially if they are progressing too "slowly." Encouragement that the pieces will eventually fall into place is better than pushing. Realize that your children are individuals with different styles of reading.
Also included is a long list of reading suggestions for children of all ages. This book is a gem. It’s very down to earth, and any parent can identify with it. For those parents worried that their child isn’t reading "fast enough," take a deep breath, then read this book. It’s time very well spent.
One of a parent’s biggest wishes for their child is that they find something about which they are passionate, something on which they can build a life. For the parent, there is a fine line between passion and obsession, a line that is easy to cross.
It’s hard to instill a love of books if the children don’t have access to them. Regularly bring them to the local library, and let them take out a lot of books. If Child 2 doesn’t progress in reading at the same rate as did Child 1, don’t panic. Everyone progresses at their own speed.
Another way to instill a love of books is to set aside a reading period during the day. While the child reads a book, the parent should sit and read an adult book. The child will probably enter a phase in which they are interested in what the parent considers the children’s literature equivalent of trash. Again, don’t panic; they’ll grow out of it.
Have faith in your child, especially if they are progressing too "slowly." Encouragement that the pieces will eventually fall into place is better than pushing. Realize that your children are individuals with different styles of reading.
Also included is a long list of reading suggestions for children of all ages. This book is a gem. It’s very down to earth, and any parent can identify with it. For those parents worried that their child isn’t reading "fast enough," take a deep breath, then read this book. It’s time very well spent.
Want to read
August 31, 2011Interesting--want to check this out. I am an inveterate reader (one of my worst nightmares is being stuck somewhere without reading material) and my parents are readers but didn't push it on me...in fact, they watch boatloads of TV and didn't bother to limit TV in our household when I was growing up. My two sisters are also readers. I have no idea how we adopted the habit except for the usual advice--have books and magazines and newspapers in the house, let your kids see you reading, visit libraries and bookstores, etc. Now that I have a small child of my own I'm curious and eager to develop the same habit of reading in her (a lot of this has to do with the fact that I spend so much of my own time reading) so interested in other's journeys on this path.
July 11, 2009
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as I am a bookworm myself, and my son is growing into one. While I haven't had the mental struggles Jennie Nash describes, I do find myself "directing" my son's book choices more than I should, as he is getting to the point where selecting books that appeal to him is all part of the fun. Perhaps the most valuable part of this book, however, is the book recommendations. Many were already on my list - having either read them already or run across them in my search for new reading material - but there were some authors & titles I have not yet read, and they are now on my list.
April 29, 2008
This was an enjoyable quick-read about one mother's efforts to instill a love of reading in her two young daughters. It's less a "how-to" book and more a "here's how it worked for me." Like many mothers, Jennie Nash struggled to walk the fine line between encouraging and compelling her children to love reading. It's a common desire for many bibliophiles: to pass on their love of books, even to children who struggle with words or simply show no interest in reading for pleasure. In the end, there's no one-size-fits-all formula, but Nash shares the simple lessons she learned along the way.
January 29, 2015
It was less how-to and more anecdotal than I'd expected, but I ended up really liking it. I think what she wrote is what I needed to hear: that it is okay if my passion for reading is not a passion for my sons, and that it is okay if they do not want to read what I want them to. Also, it is okay that my 5.5 year old is not catching on as quickly as I'd expected. I'll just keep reading to them and trying to make it fun. I also plan to look into some of the resources she mentioned in the book.
July 7, 2010
This is a book from a mother who reads, who gives advice on how to get your kids to love reading and embrace it. Things like bookstores and libraries need to be a part of your hangouts (like they aren't?).
I enjoyed this book, it was easy to read and in about 2 sittings I had it finished.
I enjoyed this book, it was easy to read and in about 2 sittings I had it finished.
August 24, 2011
A quick, enjoyable little book. I can totally relate to this mom's quest to pass on a love of reading to her kids and the joys and challenges of doing so. Some good book recommendations and a few helpful tips but mostly it was just fun to read about another person out there who'd rather be reading (alone or with her family) than just about anything else :-).
July 4, 2013
Was okay. A short conversation about books which I like instead of a book on lists of books. Wrote a few of her recommendations down to read to my kids later on. Bought the book, but will donate it to the library. For a longer conversation about great books, I recommend Honey for the Child's Heart instead.
June 25, 2008
I think this book expresses a great concept in the "parenting" genre. The "this is how I screwed things up" meme is much more influential to my stubborn way of thinking than the "do as I do" line of thinking. I appreciate the author's candor.
June 4, 2008
I love books. LOVE books. And I hope my two boys grow up to love them too - so far so good. This book is written by a mom with a similar desire - though maybe a little too zealous in her execution. Good ideas, good resources, and some good perspective.
October 30, 2009
I'd actually give this a 3.5 but if you had young children you might like it even more. It is Nash's observations about what works to get your children to become readers. Along the way, she gives a lot of specific tips and names of books and authors your children might enjoy.
January 4, 2011
I really loved this book. It was charming and filled with positive ideas to get our children engaged in the reading process. Also, it has nice quotes and a fun series of book suggestions in the latter part of the book. I recommend this highly to all parents!!
June 15, 2012
I liked this book. It was a cute story about the struggles a mother went through to pass her love of reading to her children. I thought this was going to have more tips and different ways to get your kid to read but it was more a short story about Jennie's family.
December 28, 2011
A quick afternoon read. A good reminder that all we can do is provide kids with the tools to read and books to enjoy, and they will learn to read in their own time.
September 29, 2012
Want your kids to become readers? The secret is reading to them and in front of them! Parents that read have kids that read! Reading ROCKS!
November 11, 2012
Excellent book--This book contained many practical suggestions on how to encourage kids to read.
July 20, 2014
Loved this book! The stories were adorable and relatable and she gave great tips to encourage children to read.
September 10, 2014
Really spoke to me about parenting and fostering a love for reading in my kids.
May 6, 2012
This book is wonderful and enlightening!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews