Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Finding Inspiration In The Every Day-3

Last week someone suggested a book I should read.
Nothing unusual about that. As many of you know, I am a bookaholic and always looking for recommendations, as I know you are.

What was different about this situation was the person who recommended it - my 11 year old son and the book he had chosen - a children's book he thought I would enjoy.


Now, when's the last time you read a children's book for your own pleasure? -Not to your child or grandchild, not so you could assess its appropriateness for your students or as a gift for a nephew or niece? 

We adults are really good at recommending books to kids we think they will or should like. It was quite a table turner to have Jacob suggest to me,  that I should read When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. 

Why did he think I would like it? 

His reasoning -because I had really enjoyed Holes by Louis Sachar and how at the end all the pieces came together perfectly.  When You Reach Me worked the same way -all the pieces of the story puzzle coalesce in the last few pages. Jacob's teacher had read it to his class when he was in 3rd grade. (A challenging book for that age group). He told me he had loved the way he and his classmates had acted like detectives trying to work out all the clues and make sense of the unfolding story.

So I thought I'd read it. To please him really. It didn't take me long. 


And he was right. I LOVED it for the reasons he said I would and many others. 


But what was really the ultimate joy in this whole little scenario was that as a tween he had successfully used his reading experience, his knowledge about other books I liked and his enthusiasm for a wonderful piece of fiction to open up a new reading horizon to me. He was the expert, I was the novice.


 And my favorite part of the whole experience? We got so much mutual pleasure from dissecting the story puzzle, reading the author interview on Amazon and marveling together about the characters, clues and conclusion.  


So next time you need a book to read-ask a child/ tween or teen you know, to recommend one.


 An every day question might turn out to be quite inspirational, in more ways than one.


Has a child recommended a book you have enjoyed? If you have asked a child this question? What did they choose for you? 


If you haven't, why don't you?

Let me know? I'd love to read it too. Leave me a comment below so others can benefit.

Happy reading!

Gilly


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10 comments:

  1. Hi Gilly! I loved this book when Ella suuggested I read it. She has made many recommendations that I have enjoyed including everything by Wendy Mass and "Becoming Naomi Leon" and others by Pam Ryan :)

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    1. Hi Kara -It doesn't surprise me that you and Ella loved this book. It was a breath of fresh air reading it and I am going to read the next one Rebecca Stead has written. I'll try Wendy Mass and Becoming Naomi Leon. I loved reading children's fiction in my third grade teaching days.....
      Thanks for commenting.
      Gilly

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  2. Gilly, My kids recommended this book to me, too! And I loved it as well! I agree -- great for discussion as you wind through the story line. They also recommended Wonder by RJ Palacio. Another fabulous book!

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    1. Sharon -I have Wonder on my bedside table, thanks to your son's recommendation to mine! Reading kid's and young adult fiction is such a pleasure even as a grown up.
      Enjoy the books your kids recommend to you.
      Gilly

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  3. Sounds like an interesting book

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  4. Corey -it's a great book for kids and adults from 9-99! I guess your boys will have to wait a while,but I know they are enjoying your Egret The Elephant stories. Good luck with the book signing at Cabin John on Sunday. Gilly
    Link to Corey's book is below.
    http://www.amazon.com/Egret-Elephant-Meet-Volume/dp/1479170798/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352486158&sr=8-1&keywords=E

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  5. Great that your son is obviously sharing your love of reading. My mother-in-law said this to my niece when she asked why she likes to read, "Well, you know how some people like to jump in their cars and go away somewhere, and some people like to fly all over the world on holiday.....well, I can sit in my armchair, pick up my book, and I could be anywhere in the world straight away." So true. My niece now also loves to read.

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    1. Liz -I agree with your mother in law! I'm glad your niece loves books. How old is she?
      Gilly

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  6. Hi Gilly,

    I loved reading the Tales of Despereaux (Kate diCamillo) with my kids--I think I enjoyed it more than they did! One of my favorite children's books is the classic Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White. I just finished reading it with my 3rd child, and I can never get tired of it! I have a lot of fun with Louis Sachar's books--fun for kids and adults alike :)

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    1. Ilana -These are great suggestions. i haven't read Trumpet Of The Swan. Is there a book that your kids would suggest you read, that they have read but you haven't?
      Many thanks for commenting.
      Gilly

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