A parent's delight, or not: what and how we can read to our children

Finding Good Books to Read Together

Every school, library and family magazine has suggestions for appropriate reading material. By all means, try out some of the recommendations. However, don't feel constrained by these lists or by tradition. Just because it is something endorsed by a public organisation, that doesn't mean that it is something that your child will enjoy. Bear in mind that these lists are guided by fashion and also by the need to continually present new material. It can be a great way to find new books, experience different authors and to find what's "in fashion". It can be fun to go to the library together to try to find some of these new books. I have a new list of books to track down after reading Noel Perrin's A Child's Delight. In addition to listing many children's books that I haven't read, it was a collection of charming and witty essays on neglected children's classics.

Again, because you read something as a child, it doesn't mean that your child will be interested. Get your children involved in the choice of book. Once you find something that you think they will enjoy, give it a go. If it's not working, then don't feel that you have to persist to the end. I loved the Anne of Green Gables series as a fairly young child, however, it was much too "talky" for my daughter at this stage. She prefers something with a bit more action to balance the dialogue. So, my much-loved books will go back on the shelf until she wants to try them again.

A few principles have guided our selection of books. The first is that the book must be enjoyed by both the reader and the listener. If reading is about sharing and drawing closer together, then it is also about the interests of the reader as well as the listener. If you don't enjoy reading the book, it will come through clearly and render pointless the exercise. Both my partner and I enjoy fantasy so that is a frequent choice in our household. Historical stories, action stories, poetry - these are all interests that can be shared with your children.

A second principle is to avoid books with too much dialogue. People talking back and forth can be difficult for children to follow. Think of your children at an adult social event, their attention span and subsequent boredom and/or terrorism. Try to pick a book that moves along quickly and balances dialogue with action. Other kids having adventures is always of interest (try the aforementioned C.S. Lewis Narnia series, Enid Blyton's The Faraway Tree and The Magic Chair, E. Nesbitt's The Railway Children). Talking animals is another popular choice (May Gibbs' Gumnut Babies and Other Tales, Hugh Lofting, The Story of Doctor Dolittle and for older children, Richard Adams, Watership Down,). Books that combine children and talking animals are a sure winner (for older children try Philip Pullman's trilogy, His Dark Materials).

Fantasy is a rich mine of books for children. Among others on my list are Madeleine L'Engle's Wrinkle in Time series and George MacDonald's books The Princess and the Goblin and The Princess and Curdie. The Harry Potter books are great fun to read but should probably be saved for a pre-teen. Historical novels can introduce children to how people lived in other ages, even if told with contemporary sensibilities in mind. Philip Pullman's Ruby in the Smoke series is a great introduction to Victorian England and the status of women at that time.

Books with illustrations help maintain interest. I've found some recent editions of classic children's books with colour illustrations that have stimulated long discussions of the characters and helped to create interest in the story. Some are expensively and lavishly illustrated and clearly meant to be read only with adult assistance or indeed, aimed mainly at nostalgic adults. Others are mass market publications that are an inexpensive introduction to classics. We found garishly illustrated Enid Blyton's at our local newsagent that have been much loved in our house.

Poetry can be great fun to read with children. Try an illustrated collection such as 100 Australian Children's Poems. Poetry, especially that written for children, has a tempo and rhythm that grabs attention and keeps it riding along to the end. Share poetry that you enjoy. Even if, they (or you) don't understand everything in the poem, you can share the enjoyment of the language, images and rhythm.

Don't scorn magazines and newspapers. Glossy pictures and even political cartoons can be starting points for discussions. Or simply sit down and leaf through your favourite magazine and enjoy spending the time together.

If you haven't read much with your children, don't expect that they will immediately enjoy sitting down and listening to you. Most children love stories but may at first find it hard to sit down and pay attention. Start with simple board books and brightly illustrated texts. Keep it short, talk about the stories when you are doing other activities and ease into the whole process.

Reading with your children is an opportunity for you to share your values. If you value reading, work it into whatever part of your day that you can. Even that can make a point of its own - that reading is so important that it is part of every aspect of your day. The values I want to share with my daughters are imagination, self-reliance, curiosity, sympathy and empathy with others. Reading allows me to share these values without preaching. And that has to be a good thing.