As a lifelong reader and English lit major in college, one of my wishes for my children while they were still babies was that they would embrace reading from a young age.  We read to them regularly, and I started teaching them phonics at home when they were four.

It was an arduous process.  They didn’t take to reading like little prodigies, as I had hoped.  None of them loved reading as much as I wanted.  When they started school, they got through their reading assignments, but they weren’t inspired to pick up a book for fun.

Fortunately, somewhere along the way, my oldest two began to enjoy reading more and more.  I wish I knew the book or books that sparked their interest, but I can’t pinpoint it.  It was a gradual transformation.

I’m still waiting for my youngest to have the same epiphany that reading brings joy.  I have faith that it’s coming.

Until then, my oldest two are keeping me busy trying to find age-appropriate books.  It’s tough to continuously find good books that I feel comfortable letting them read.

I recently found the Common Sense Media web site, which features reviews and ratings for books and other media.  I’m hopeful that this will help us sort through the options out there.  There are reviews by parents and kids, as well as age recommendations, a synopsis, and information about content such as language and violence.

My dad checked out John Grisham’s Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer for my children from the library, but I knew nothing about it.  The Common Sense site made it sound like a safe read.  My 11-year-old enjoyed it and recommended it to my 13-year old.

I love that they’re reading and discussing the merits of books!

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