ANN MARIE MO|GUEST
In a technology-driven world, books face stiff competition. Have a question about George Washington or what to make for dinner tonight? It’s just easier to google than to read an entire book.
Books require time, concentration, effort. Reading War and Peace necessitates devoting weeks, if not months, to unlock the treasure within. In contrast, our handheld devices offer instant gratification.
Why Read Good Books?
Yet good books impart to their readers what no digital device can match: Some of my fondest childhood memories are the summers I spent living at the library immersed in one compelling hardbound story after another. I recall the summer before fifth grade when I discovered the genre of historical fiction and a few years later in middle school when I read Mildred D. Taylor’s Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and in high school, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.
Through these books, I learned the world is powerfully unjust and not everyone grows up with the same opportunities. By my junior year in high school, I knew I would major in English at college. Books were my gateway to understand another person’s experiences and be exposed to new ideas. Fast forward to adult life, teaching my children to read and cherish books has been of paramount importance.
To cultivate the art of reading at home, finding good books—age appropriate and full of substance—is key. As Christian parents, we want to give our children content that expands their minds and hearts to recognize what is true, virtuous, and praiseworthy. Classics, such as E. B. White’s Charlotte’s Web, help to achieve these goals. In the endearing story of a spider’s quest to save a farm pig’s life, children learn to value friendship and sacrifice and even face the reality of death.
Although kids naturally gravitate to fiction, nonfiction also plays an important role in developing young minds. Consider the impact of The Diary of Anne Frank. Through the pen of a thirteen-year-old girl, we encounter the horrors of World War II in a way that no work of military history could ever communicate. Such material challenges young readers, helping them to develop an attention span necessary to read deeply and think critically about the content they’ve absorbed.
For Young Bookworms
Searching for books of substance, parents will find the Christian Biographies for Young Readers series to be a treasure. Designed for ages 7–12, this collection introduces notable Christian leaders to young minds. Every aspect of this hardcover series—written content, artwork, and historical accuracy—demonstrates a commitment to book-publishing excellence.
Spanning church history, the collection features biographies on early church fathers Augustine and Athanasius to nineteenth-century leaders Charles Spurgeon and B. B. Warfield.
Author Simonetta Carr, a homeschooling mother of eight, knows how to captivate young minds. Each biography immerses the reader in the historical time period, with background about the country, government, and customs of the day. Transported to this rich setting, your bookworm embarks on a journey through a Christian leader’s life, learning how the individual became a follower of Christ, trials encountered, and major contributions made to advance the gospel.
A variety of artwork—informative maps, battle scene illustrations, and photographs of historical sites and artifacts—brings each story to life, giving the reader a visual understanding of the time period. The biographies conclude with a time line and well-researched “Did You Know?” section, containing unusual facts that engage and exercise growing minds. In this series, your bookworm will meet exceptional Christian men and women from history.
Teaching Young Bookworms to Cherish God’s Word
The God of the Bible, the Author of creation, is the originator of words. His infallible Word remains forever trustworthy and pure; his testimony alone restores the soul, renews the mind, and makes wise the simple. Ultimately, the most satisfying food for a growing bookworm is God’s Word.
To foster a love for the Bible in young readers, Pastor David Murray’s Exploring the Bible: A Bible Reading Plan for Kidsis a good starting point. This work provides a dependable road map for daily Scripture reading, helping children to establish regular time in God’s Word.
Taking the young bookworm through a major Bible story each week, the Monday to Saturday daily readings are well organized in an expedition-themed journal. Simple questions accompany the readings, teaching the child to reflect on the day’s Bible passage. Sunday is reserved to review the week’s readings, training the young reader to make connections between the passages studied.
Created for ages 6–12, this Bible reading plan also works for young teens. My thirteen-year-old enjoys the explorer-themed graphics, clean layout, and dedicated spot to jot down weekly prayer points.
Family Reading Night
Cultivating the art of reading at home takes creativity and commitment. Instead of family movie night, plan family reading night. Unplug the Wi-Fi router, set out a smorgasbord of snacks, and prepare a stack of good books.
Whether reading aloud to your loved ones or enjoying the solitary act of reading as a family, get lost in a good book.
About the Author:
Ann Marie Mo
Ann Marie earned her BA in English from the University of California, Los Angeles. She has worked as a technical writer in the software industry and currently is a freelance copyeditor for book publishers. With her husband and two children, she attends Grace Presbyterian Church PCA in Yorba Linda, CA. There she enjoys serving on the Women’s Literature Committee.