Live chat with Susan Reuben and Leonie Flynn, authors of a new book: the Ultimate First Book Guide

[rachel(mumsnet)]

Authors and Children's book experts, Susan Reuben and Leonie Flynn will be joining us on Monday 4th Feb between 12 and 1pm for an online chat about all aspects of reading with your children.

Susan and Leonie are Editors of 'The Ultimate First Book Guide' which provides advice from a team of experts and children's authors and illustrators on everything from when and how to start sharing books with your baby, to what to do if your child doesn't like reading. It also gives recommendations of over 500 top titles for all ages of children. You can put your questions and concerns about the importance of your child's reading habits to the experts Susan Reuben and Leonie Flynn on Monday, or feel free to post your questions in advance here.

SorenLorensen - hi!

Books for boys who are becoming independent as readers... OK. I'd go for Eoin Colfers The Legend of Spud Murphy and sequels, Elizabeth Singer Hunt's Jack Stalwart, Akimbo and the Lions by Alexander McCall Smith ... and yes - many more in the books

Hello batters,

You could try some of the younger Philip Pullmans, which are wonderful - I Was a Rat, for example, and The Scarecrow and His Servant. Eva Ibbotson is wonderful for this age - try Journey to the River Sea. And Hilary McKay is totally fantastic - try her on Saffy's Angel.

Marina - yes, this is a tough one, and the opposite problem (older kids who have problems reading at all) is addressed far more fully by the publishing world. In your case, after Twig, I'd find out how much he liked the fantasy element, and maybe go for almost anything by Eva Ibbotson. In fact a lot of books published back in the 50s. 60s and 70s would be perfect - well written, complexly plotted but without the 'issues' that turn up so relentlessly these days.

This is a question in advance for me, as DS is a year and a half and still at the point-and-ug stage of reading. I love reading for pleasure, but am a bit concerned that the literacy drive will put him off reading when he gets to school age. How do you enreu reading stays fun when it becomes work as well?

Rachel and Susan,

I adored being read to - and can still remember my father reading to me, as it was something so special. I feel for the kids who don't get that experience - sharing books is wonderful!

And, actually, if he'd offered when I was at college - I may even have said yes!

ensure

typing while eating sadwiches not a good plan!

Thanks for that leonie
We have indeed been raiding our own hoard of books from that period and so far he has enjoyed some Leon Garfield and Paul Berna
The Paul Bernas are in pretty bad shape though, I wish someone would reprint these
Your book will be perfect for dd, who is four and just starting to learn. Is it usual for Reception children to suddenly want to spend more time with their baby board books again when confronted with the dreaded Sunshine Spirals and ORT?

I am going to be a bad parent I can tell...

EffiePerine,

Hi - I suspect Susan will answer this one too, but I want to put in a word. the Literacy drive is great, but it SO needs the fun to be part of the home input. I'm all for having a serious (!) reading book that's from school, and then having something fun for home - there are great books out there for boys and girls who want something light. Oh, and for the fun books, let them read what they want - even if that is to re-read Horrid Henry for the 18th time and they're in Year4!

Marina: what about Sherlock Holmes?

Hello EffiePerine, Yes, the literacy strategy is certainly not designed for encouraging reading enjoyment. Having said that, if your child is lucky enough to have a good teacher who is passionate about books, then they will enjoy reading at school. But either way, the best plan for keeping up your child's love of reading is to keep focussing on sharing books in the home (without ever forcing it, of course). The more books there are lying around and the more you share them together, the more likely it is that he/she will continue to read for pleasure.

Hi Marina,

yes, the comfort gained from re-reading old and much loved books can't be ignored. I do it myself - my Georgette Heyers are very well thumbed!

And don't get me on the subject of what should be re-printed. Did you ever read any Violet Needham? Criminally unavailable for years, at least a few are now around.

ooh only just seen this

have a 7 year old (Yr 2) not the greatest reader though v bright, finds reading quite hard actually, needs v big print and hasn't got the idea of spelling out words really yet either

am trying to keep her interest with nice books to read together eg I read Harry Potter, Charlotte's Web; and getting her fact books (she likes the I Wonder Why the Wind Blows and other questions about our planet)

but she would rather play on her computer even though the stuff she is doing is often Good For Her (eg Key Stage 1 Literacy Games) she would rather do most things than read, and since she is physically disabled I think reading would be a good thing for her to love

she can't really tackle Rainbow Fairies, print too small and dense as yet

dh and I love books, house is full of them, so we do Give Good Example

Funny you should say that Effie, he is eyeing up dh's Hound of the Baskervilles once he has finished George's Secrets of the Universe, good call

How and should you deal with a pre schooler who insists on the same book every single night? - big tantrums if offered anything other than the chosen book. We have a big collection of wonderful picture books, all the classics and her big sister reads a huge amount.. My 4 yr old has insisted on Bright Stanley every night since, Autumn last year. She will look at other books herself but this is the only one she lets me read to her. Is it my boredom and I should go along with it or should I really work at this and vary her bedtime reading?

I've just googled her and did read Stormy Petrel - but had forgotten about her. She looks wonderful, thanks
I see Girls Gone By have reissued some of her titles - I think there is more of a market for vintage reissues than the big publishers realise. I am a fan of Persephone Press for example

Thanks for that Leonie. We'll give those a go - 'Monster and Frog' in particular sound right up his street. My son hasn't grasped reading yet. He gets books sent home from school each week, which he enjoys 'reading' (following the patterns' etc) and he's familar with most of the letters and letter sounds now so he's getting there. Are there any books you can recommend that we buy or get from the library that he can read to me at home?

Marina - Persephone Press are wonderful!

Marina: Holmes short stories also good place to start (I think I read those before the novellas). I'd also think about John Buchan tho it would need a lot of explaining on changing attitudes to race etc. (bloody good stories though and many still in print). Also (thinking about more vintage boy's stuff) Huck Finn? Ooh, and RL Stevenson - Treasure Island, Kidnapped, Catriona...

(any way of getting my DS to grow up quicker? )

Hello,

Leonie will have some comments about your question, but I should just say that I tink the thing to focus on is getting her to enjoy books, regardless of whether she's reading them to herself or you're reading them to her.

In terms of reading to her, if she enjoys information books, Is a Blue Whale the Biggest Thing There Is? is great.

Our book (Ultimate First Book Guide) has some good features about early reading, including one called 'Help! My child doesn't like reading'

Saffy1, hmm, I think I'd go for the top-end picture books. The best thing might be to chose together - sometimes having that sort of direct input really enthuses a child. Or the Ahlbergs Happy Families series is another good one!

hi there
thank you
As I type she is sitting on my feet (yes on!) "reading" Room on the Broom in her own 4 yr old way, adapting it to include a dramatic last minute rescue by spiderman - chatters non stop.
It is just this strange ritual of mummy only allowed to read one set book and no variance that worries me. I have been going along with it but wonder if I should be putting my foot down. I am happy she enjoys books, although shows no interest in learning to read the words as she can "read the pictures myself and no mummy helping" lol

TheHonEnid,

Hi there - great news that you're reading to your daughter, and yes, you reading the 'classics' will help enormously. Is she the one really into Rainbow Magic?