I didn’t know we had an “Ambassador for Young People’s Literature” until I heard an NPR interview with Walter Dean Myers earlier this month. His term began January 10, 2012, and the theme of his ambassadorship is Reading is Not Optional.
Myers told NPR’s David Green that in today’s society, reading shouldn’t be considered a hobby; it should be treated as a necessary skill. He pointed out that his father couldn’t read, but he worked as a janitor, so it didn’t matter. Today, even factory workers must read well.
 |
| Walter Dean Myers talks with a fan |
During his two year post as Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Myers will encourage parents to start reading to their children while they are very young, and he will also work to diminish the stigma felt by teenagers who can’t read well.
Now aged 74, Myers has published over 100 books, and several of them have won awards, including Monster and Lockdown. In his writing, Myers explores gritty, difficult topics, such as teenage drug use and urban violence. He tells his stories in straightforward, powerful prose, and he has a loyal following.
Life has given Myers plenty of material to use in his writing. He grew up in Harlem with foster parents and early on developed a love for reading. As a teenager, he went to a special high school for gifted learners, but he skipped class, got in fights, and spent too much time playing hoops on the streets. As a result, he never finished high school or attended college, but he always read avidly and wrote well.
Myers is the third author to serve as Ambassador, a position sponsored by The Library of Congress’s Center for the Book and The Children’s Book Council and its foundation Every Child a Reader. He follows Joe Scieszka of Guys Readand Katherine Paterson, one of my favorite authors, who wrote Bridge to Terabithia. (Incidentally, Myers has contributed a short story to the recent Guys Read collection, Thriller.)
I emphatically agree with Myers about the importance of early exposure to books. I have always read to my children, even while they were still in the womb, and judging by the stacks of books we bring home from the library, it helped! So when a toddler picks up Good Night Moon for the 50thtime (our copy, a board book, is held together with duck tape), remember that Reading is Not Optional.
What have you seen or used to encourage literacy in young people in your family or community? Click on comments below to add your thoughts. Thanks!
Word Nerd Note: In the Post article, it says that Myers was “preternaturally bright”. Do you remember what that means? If not, check the Word Nerd Vocabulary Page.
Amy, your are welcome! There are quite a few “writer mamas” out there, I think. We need to stick together!
Thanks for all your help and for your kind comment on my blog, Julia! It’s so great to see that other writers have children 🙂
I love that theme. I’ve struggled with getting my boys to read, but it’s all about finding the right book.
Yes, and there’s so much out there now, if you can just find it! My 11 year old son loves THE RANGER’S APPRENTICE series.
Yes! Yes, yes, yes! Reading is not optional!
Love this post.
I missed this on NPR, and had no idea that we have an ambassador for young people’s literature–and reading is my field. Thank you so much for enlightening me.
As for supporting early literacy, I teach pre-service and in-service teachers how to teach reading, and I *always* include a lot of discussion and resources about outreach to help support reading at home. There are a ton of great early literacy events and outreach programs, so that’s always fun.
And as a friend and auntie, I give books as gifts. Always. I tell my friends that I’m going to be sure to keep their kids’ libraries stocked throughout their lives. There is no better gift than a book, after all.
Great post. Thank you so much.
Lori,Great ideas, especially giving books as gifts. I’m so glad you found this information helpful!
I love that- “Reading is not Optional”!
All three of my kids have had their own favorite book. You know, the one they bring to you as a toddler to read over and over until you can still recite the whole book from memory 8 years later. I don’t know why each one chose the one they chose, and none of them chose the ones I would have picked. But I love that they each have their own special story -no matter how much tape is required to hold them all together.
I used to read to my babies from my own books when they were too young to understand or care. I also think seeing mom or dad read all the time is a powerful suggestion that reading is good. So next time you feel guilty about taking time out of your day to read, DON’T! You’re setting a good example. At least that is what I like to tell myself. 😉
Thanks Crystal, you make some really good points. I know a lot of Moms who feel guilty about reading! (besides me!) But our habits will help influence our children’s behavior; at least reading is a worthwhile habit! Even a necessary one.