My module readings and thinking over the last two weeks has been about something I am very passionate about, the importance of reading for pleasure. I could write numerous blogs about this topic but will start with a short summary here:

Why read for pleasure?

• Extensive research links reading for pleasure to academic success (Haven, 2007; Johnson, 2014).
• Books can be windows or mirrors. We can read about a place or character that we recognise and identify with or they can open the reader’s eyes to a whole new world and allow them to walk in someone else’s shoes. (Bishop, 1990).  They help readers experience different feelings and experiences and develop empathy.
• Literature can provide readers with a temporary escape. It can help people who are feeling trapped or vulnerable to gain control and provide them with skills and knowledge (Gaiman, 2013).
• It helps develop global understandings and cultural literacy including understanding the traditions and values of different social groups (Freire, 1983).
• It helps us to live vicariously and “to enter other lives; other selves; other times; places and cultures” (Schakel & Ridl, 2017).
• It develops literacy skills and therefore will help develop Information Literacy skills, which are so important for students to ensure they can identify bias or fake news in their reading.
• It develops the imagination.

The author, Neil Gaiman (2013) spoke so succinctly about many of these topics in his lecture for the reading agency. He also talks about how there is no such thing as a bad book and how that is “snobbery and foolishness.” I thought about that again recently when I listened to Dav Pilkey (2019), the author of the Captain Underpants and Dog Man series. He spoke about the importance of graphic novels for children who have difficulty with reading. He shared how he remembers so clearly the shame of being the worst reader in the class and thanks his mother who would let him read any books with no judgement. He enjoyed picture books and comics and realised how much he liked reading. I have this conversation often with students, staff and parents when they are trying to ‘ban’ graphic novels or make children read books they do not enjoy or are not ready for. I do agree that it is important to work with students to try new challenges with reading. A big part of being an effective teacher librarian (TL) is to work with students to stretch their reading habits when they are ready.

Recently in Book Week one of my TL colleagues suggested that we share some short TED talks about reading with staff and parents. She then asked on social media in the TL community for some suggestions and she curated some very powerful ones. All of these talks elaborate on some of the reasons I have mentioned above. I will finish this blog by sharing these and suggesting you get comfortable, watch, listen and enjoy!

The first is Rebecca Bellingham (2015) talking about Why we should all be reading aloud to children even when they can read independently. This talk demonstrates the magic of reading aloud and reminds us all why reading aloud is so essential and how reading helps us make powerful connections.

The second is Jessica Wise (2012) discussing  How fiction can change reality and about how reading and stories can be an escape from real life, a window into another world and talks about how popular fiction can spark dialogue and shape culture.

The third is The danger of a single story and is by novelist Chimamanda Adichie (2012) who tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice. She warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.

The fourth is Lisa Bu (2013) talking about the magic of books and How books can open your mind.

References

Bishop, R. S. (1990). Mirrors, windows and sliding glass doors. Perspectives: Choosing and using books for the classroom, 6(3). Retrieved from https://scenicregional.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/ Mirrors-Windows-and-Sliding-Glass-Doors.pdf

Bu, L. (2013, May). Lisa Bu: How books can open your mind [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/lisa_bu_how_books_can_open_your_mind?language=en

Freire, P. (1983). The importance of the act of reading. Journal of Education, 165(1), 5-11.

Gaiman, N. (2013). Why our futures depend on libraries, reading and daydreaming. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/15/neil-gaiman-future-libraries-reading-daydreaming

Haven, K. F. (2007). Story proof: The science behind the startling power of story. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Publishing Group.

Johnston, R. (2014). Literary literacies: Digital, cultural, narrative, critical and deep literacies. In G. Winch, R. Ross Johnston, P. March, L. Ljungdahl & M. Holliday (Eds.), Literacy: Reading, writing and children’s literature (5th ed., pp. 556). Retrieved from Proquest Ebook Central.

O, #8217 Donnell, Alina. (2019). WINDOWS, MIRRORS, AND SLIDING GLASS DOORS: The enduring impact of Rudine Sims Bishop’s work. Literacy Today (2411-7862), 36(6), 16–19.

Pilkey, D. (Presenter). (2019, November 18). How graphic novels help children with learning disabilities. Speech presented at Singapore Book Council, The Arts House, Singapore.

readingagency. (2013, October 22). Neil Gaiman Reading Agency lecture 2013 [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/yNIUWv9_ZH0

Schakel, P. & Ridl, J. (2017). Approaching literature: Reading, thinking, writing. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins.

TED. (2012, August 23). Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The danger of a single story [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ihs241zeg

TED-Ed. (2012, August 23). Jessica Wise: How fiction can change reality [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctaPAm14L10

TEDx. (2015, December 30). Rebecca Bellingham: Why we should all be reading aloud to children [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBuT2wdYtpM&t=2s