Not only is the Federal Way Regional Library a cool and pleasant place to spend some time during summer days, but it’s also a great place to introduce the very young to reading — and to keep school children up-to-speed on their reading skills.

Here are a few tips:

• Help your child select “just right” books. Have your child read a page of a book. If he or she misses more than five words on a page, the book is too hard. A “just right” book is one the child can enjoy because most of the words are familiar. Being challenged by a few unfamiliar words is fine, but summer reading needn’t be a chore. And, readers of all ages enjoy an occasional “easy” book that can be read “like a breeze,” thus boosting confidence.

• Select books to read aloud to children. Children love being read aloud to, and this cultivates a love of books. Also, when children listen to a book being read, they are introduced to new vocabulary. So, a healthy reading “diet” includes books that the child reads independently as well as books read aloud by a caring adult, friend, or sibling.  Sharing books together as a family is a wonderful way to enjoy quality time.

• Talk to children about books. Invite children to tell you about the books they’ve read. Instead of asking “yes” or “no” questions, use open-ended questions such as, “Can you tell me about that book?” or “What do you like about that book?” This is a great way to show how much we respect them as readers and thinkers.

—

Joan Tornow, Ph.D., is the author of “Every Child is a Writer” (Heinemann). Her articles have appeared in many educational journals, including Our Children: The National PTA Magazine and Young Children (NAEYC). In Federal Way, she serves on the Board of Communities In Schools and on the Federal Way Mirror Editorial Board.