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Dear Dr. Cherrye,
National Book Lovers Day is on August 9th. It is a time to reflect on the empowerment of reading, and the effects reading has on our children.
Dr Cherrye, I know that you are an author. Please share your knowledge as well as your personal books with us. How do you describe books as a transformative experience for children of all ages?
Dear books as a transformative experience for children of all ages,
National Book Lovers Day should begin with a bit of history (National Today). Book lovers, book worms and even for those who are not lovers of books, historical perspectives breed knowledge.
This important day is indeed a time to reflect on the empowerment of reading. It is a celebration of the written word, and an opportunity to inspire a love for reading, especially among our younger generation of readers, and as you know, books can and should be a transformative experience.
Transformative Experience
National Book Lovers Day should be every day, but August 9th does give every parent, educator, teacher, and guardian a chance to motivate children toward a love for reading, as well as a continuance of those who are already lovers. If a child can use books to gain experiences that radically inspire and change them in personal ways, we are moving in the right direction.
As we know, children today love technology, so ‘all is not lost‘ if we can use what children love while helping them get closer to books, they will enjoy reading. It is a win-win. We must learn how to transform or alter what children desire with what we want and know is best for them. Think about the end results – readers. Here, we are looking to cause an important, desirable and lasting change in the child toward the love of reading books.
Statistics
National Book Lovers Day also gives parents, teachers, and educational leaders a time to reflect on numbers. Statistically speaking, recent reports reveal that reading scores are not where we want them. Nearly 15-20% of our students nationwide are struggling with reading. If this is a national trend, we must intervene making differences that matters. What this entails is startling results because according to this article, “32 million American adults can’t read: why literacy is the key to growth” | by One Young World (2018) | students who fail to read turn into adults who cannot read.
MY BOOKS
Thank you for asking me to share my books with you, and our audience. I have an array of books particularly designed to end bullying while uplifting and motivating children and their families.
The central idea of my books is diversity is healthy and bullying is not. The psychology that drives my writings is for children to realize that being different is healthy, important, and not to be afraid of being different. We are supposed to be different which makes us unique. The central philosophy of my writings is that children should learn about each other’s similarities as well as differences. What I would love children to learn from one another is that being unique is healthy, beautiful, and important. Diversity is what makes this country great, our schools vibrant, and the future of our country strong.
Chapter Books
My chapter books are centered on bullying issues in our schools. It is my hope that students will gain insight on the importance of treating their friends kindly and with dignity and respect. My chapter books have short chapters allowing children to eagerly get to the next chapter while holding their attention. Children can grab their bookmarks, place them where they left off and take breaks when needed.
Picture Books
My pictures books are written in rhyme, and the illustrations are designed to give my books visual boosts as children embellish written texts. My storylines have meaningful lessons along the way, and the stories are told in interactive character modes speaking to the inner and outer attitudes and motivations of the characters. Children will learn that their peers have feelings, how to get along, play fair, and listen to classroom rules.
Journals
Writing is good for the soul. I want children to express themselves, their fears, sadness, and their greatness. I think of writing as mental therapy allowing children to put their feelings into words on paper as they build positive outlooks and characterizations.
FREEBIES
And do not leave your freebies behind. I am giving you these tools to help you help your children build positive self-esteem as you build and plant empowerment within. The bullying checklist is quite nifty too!
I could go into detail about each of my books, but I want to invite you to research them individually on this very website on my ‘Books ‘N Stuff’ tab. You can also view short teaser clips of my children’s books. These are fun to watch, and your children will enjoy them as well. In addition, my books are on Amazon.
Insights on the Effects of Reading
National Book Lovers Day can and should help us help children build confidence. We can also gain knowledge about the genre of books children prefer. If we encourage children to read, they will encompass a love for life-long reading as they increase their vocabulary, conceptualize varying meanings, transfer learning, comprehend the meaning of texts/main ideas and gain fluency. This will enable children to conceptualize their world and expand the outside world.
Now then, how will you engage and spend quality time on National Book Lovers Day with the special children in your life?
OPEN FOR COMMENTS
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below.
IMPORTANT
I have made it my mission to assist parents and educators in resolving the bullying issues children suffer. Offering your feedback and suggestions in the comment section could facilitate meaningful dialogue on this critical issue among ourselves and I encourage this. I will respond to each comment in a timely way. Should you wish to speak privately with me, please email me at cherryeVasquez@gmail.com and I will reply promptly.
Please take advantage of my 3 Free resources by downloading them today. One of them includes my FREE Bullying Checklist. If you feel that your child has been bullied, please
Oh my goodness, you sure have given us food for thought! Reading is the foundation we owe to our children from the moment we can capture their attention. Yes, even from infancy, a babe learns to focus on a parent’s reading, gain their first knowledge of what a book is and literally anticipate being read to at special times – be it Mom/baby time in the afternoon or bedtime to relax him or her to sleep. The child learns from infancy that being read to is a daily learning experience that they anticpate and connect with.
And so it goes, learning to read their first words, identify names, some words and let’s not forget numbers. Learning to read may begin pre-school or in the early elementary years and I doubt a single child would fail to feel pride in that accomplishment. The child learns to articulate according to their gathered knowledge from verbal, reading and written skills – the foundation of successful communication.
Yes, there are political efforts to ban books for school children, and this is negative from every angle. Every child deserves a myriad of opportunities to expand their knowledge base and communication skills, and any effort to deny them that, robs them of a rite of passage that is meant to prepare them to do their part in making the world a better place in which ro live. I can’t state it more strongly than that. Expect your child to learn, give them every opportunity to experience learning and they will not let you down. Children are little sponges and given every opportunity to learn and explore, they will become the movers and shakers of their generation. A child’s literary development engenders amazing self-esteem, propelling the child to pursue learning as a positive experience as a way of life.
Yes. I so agree with you, Linda. I began reading and singing to my baby while she was yet in my womb. Afterward, I learned that my mom began teaching her to read from the “Dick and Jane” series. My husband and I were ecstatic to have my mom (her babysitter and loving Nana as we worked), and of course we built onto that experience giving our child more reading opportunities everywhere. In my personal and professional opinion, parents who wait until children enroll in pre-school and kindergarten for teachers to instill the love of reading in their children place their little ones at reading disadvantages. They cripple them and so the reading gaps widen. Sadly, I have seen this all too often.
The political efforts to ban books of varying storylines, lessons and so much more cripple our children’s world views whether good or bad. Children should learn how to decipher knowledge learning the risks and gifts of life. We must make our children life-long readers but of various genres. Right now, I am thinking about the great debates and viewpoints gained only from home-life, educational and background experiences. The conversations can be so colorful and engaging. Children can learn pointers, likes/dislikes from one another, and who knows mind-set chances could occur for the better. Teachers and parents concerned about ‘marginal’ topics are free to coach, guide and have those special conversations with their children. This is why open communications and bonds are so particularly important.
Thank you for stopping by, Linda. As always you add so much to the conversations within this community of readers.
Sincerely,
Dr. Cherrye