1 . Classic Books

Published almost a century ago in 1925, the story of the striving Jay Gatsby is still deeply influential in its exploration of class, society, and the false promise that money can buy happiness. Gatsby’s misguided chase for his first love is a sad tale that spans the ages. At the time, the book was considered a commercial failure, but you’d be hard to find a high school course today that didn’t include it.

Written in 1951, Catcher in the Rye brilliantly describes the lonely teen experience of having to grow up and leave the tenderness and innocence(纯真)of childhood behind. Though young adult fiction didn’t exist in its current form when J.D. Salinger wrote the novel, it’s considered one of the first teen books and constantly appears on high school reading lists.

Written in 1818, this classic from Mary Shelley tells the tale of Victor Frankenstein and the monster(怪物) he creates. The themes of creation and responsibility the book explores still exist today, as technology and science produce more possibilities and power than ever before.

The story of the March sisters is a true American classic, and one of the most popular books written by a woman. Published in 1868 and set in the time of the Civil War, the book is popular because of its description of strong women and sisterly love. Not only is the novel a classic, but its film adaptations (of which there have been many) became classics in their own right.

2 . For many kids, reading doesn’t come easily. For parents, they can read with their kids often, and trying these simple ways can help their kids become excited about reading.

    1     Kids are more likely to read something that interests them. For example, comics or joke books can be a fun pick for them. Once children are comfortable with reading, parents can encourage other options with a variety of more challenging content.

Read and reread.     2     Repetition is good! It helps them learn the text and in time read it with confidence. Each new reading of the book also may help them notice something new and understand the story a little better. And that positive experience can inspire them to try new books.

Read aloud. Reading aloud to kids helps them build their vocabulary, introduces new facts and ideas, and helps them connect sounds with letters on the page. By reading with kids, parents also show they enjoy reading for fun themselves!     3    

Create opportunities to read and write beyond the pages. It is necessary for parents to provide kids with many chances to read every day. Parents can write notes and leave them on children’s pillows, in a lunchbox or in a pocket. Parents can also ask friends and relatives to send postcards, letters, emails or text messages.     4     And parents may find children also creating words, sentences and stories. Teaching children to make a thank-you note in return for a thoughtful gift is useful, too.

Get help if parents are worried. If parents are concerned about their children’s abilities or willingness to read, they can get help.     5     The experts may be able to suggest ways to help children to get excited about reading.

5 . How can we make learning and reading fun again? How can we get our children excited to open a book? Or explore a new subject? Here are some ideas we used. Besides, these don’t just work for kids!     1    . So, try them for everyone in your family!

Find Fun Bookmarks

    2    . Have kids color them in and tell your kids to put one in the next good book they want to read, and you’ve instantly created a more fun experience.

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Do you have a super comfortable place in your home just for reading? Perhaps it’s time to make one! Throw blankets on the floor or make a permanent window seat where anyone can go to enjoy a good book. By making your home suitable for reading, you’ll be setting the stage for lifelong readers.

Get Into a Program

Most libraries have a reading program that ends in a prize especially in the summer. If your kids don’t have one, make your own reading challenge or program.     4    . It will be the perfect end of summer to celebrate their accomplishment!

Model Learning

If you want your kids to become lifelong learners and readers, they should see their parents doing it too. The truth is that we do what is modeled for us, not what someone tells us to do.     5    . You can take the step further by talking to your kids about the books you enjoy, or the new information you learned today. They will love sharing ideas and you’ll be creating an environment that benefits them for a lifetime.

7 . Being able to read is an important skill in today’s society. It is important because it develops the mind and imagination. A person who knows how to read can educate themselves in any area of life they are interested in.

Reading is an active mental process that improves your concentration and focus. Since you must concentrate in order to read, this requires you to focus and think about what you are reading.     1    

Studies show if you don’t use your memory, it becomes more and more difficult to remember things.     2     It requires you to remember details, facts and figures, plot lines, themes and characters.

The more you read, the more knowledgeable you become and with more knowledge comes more confidence. Reading about the diversity of life and exposing yourself to new ideas and more information help to develop the creative side of the brain and bring innovations (创新) into your thinking process.     3     When you are well read, people will look to you for answers. Then your feelings about yourself get better. Even more confidence!

When you are reading books, especially challenging ones, you will probably find yourself exposed to many new words. Do you remember when you learned to read, how you learned to figure out the meaning of one word by reading the other words in the sentence?     4    

Reading can help you get access to the diversity of ethnicity (民族特点) of people, their customs and their lifestyles. You’ll become more aware of different places.     5     Reading really widens your horizon (视野) of information, so you’ll always have something to talk about.

9 . Book clubs are a great way to meet people who share a common love for reading.     1    . But it will all be worth it when your members gather for the first meeting.

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Some book clubs are mainly meant to be fun and relaxed. Members would talk about the story and feelings about the story, but it wouldn’t be a problem if the conversation got carried away from the book. Other book clubs are more serious and highly academic. They would be more focused on meaning, plot, and character.

Choose a location for your club.

Book clubs are typically held at meeting points, like homes, bookstores, or the local library. The meetings can change location sometimes.     3    . Contact the location to inquire about holding your book club there, or ask potential members if they could commit to hosting a club every now and then.

Go for an online club if you don’t have a location to meet.

If a physical meeting point isn’t an option, you might also have an online book club.     4    . An online meeting point is also a good option because it allows people from all over the world to join the club.

Find a core group of people with a passion for reading.

They could be friends, family, or people you know through various activities, but they should all love to read. Also, make sure that this group of members can commit to meetings on a regular basis. If you plan to have your book club at a physical location, invite people who live close to you. You can invite anyone to an online book club,     5    .