I know you’ve heard it before… “reading aloud to your children is one of the best ways to instill a love of reading in them.” Well, I can’t scientifically vouch for the accuracy of that statement. I’m not going to cite any Gallup polls. But if you’re looking for a personal testimonial, I can offer that.
If you’ve read my other posts, you know reading didn’t come easily to me. But as far back as I recall, my father and mother read to me. Tolkien’s epic Lord of the Rings trilogy (yes, I was only six years old), Laura Ingalls Wilder’s timeless Little House books, C.S Lewis’ Space Trilogy (I was only 10 years old when he started reading us the first book, Out of the Silent Planet) or George MacDonald’s haunting romances including The Fisherman’s Lady (I was only 11 years old) to name a few. My dad wasn’t so concerned about age appropriate content as he was spiritual depth. That’s not to say he didn’t occasionally skip certain sections when necessary and just summarize for my sister and me.
Although I do love to read now, I have to tell you I think my parents gave me a far greater gift; they selected books that touched my soul. They made a lasting impression on my psyche. Their reading choices prompted me to read C.S. Lewis’ masterpiece Till We Have Faces when I was 15. To this day I keenly recall what Orual wrote when she finally came to an accurate understanding of her existence:
I ended my first book with the words ‘no answer.’ I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice? Only words, words; to be led out to battle against other words. Long did I hate you, long did I fear you. I might…
The impression a book can make on your child is incalculable. Do them a favor and don’t just read to them; instead, choose books that touch your soul. How can you not make an impression when they see your enjoyment and passion? Someday you’ll be pleased to find that your children will read the same books to their children (yes, I’ve read most of the aforementioned books to my son).
But some of you may be thinking, “Well, I’m not a reader and my parents never read much to me. I don’t even know where to start!” Not to worry! Others have gone before you and created helpful lists of meaningful literature. I can’t guarantee you’ll approve of every book they recommend, but it’s a good place to start!
