My Mission Statement: Children Who Love Books

A number of people have asked me why I started this website. I have an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering and a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering. I co-own a software company, FabTime, that works with computer chip manufacturers to improve their manufacturing cycle time. I've never worked in a library or for a bookstore or for a school (except as a volunteer), and I don't have children (though I do have four lovely nieces who live near Boston).

All I can say is that for my entire life I've loved children's books. I was the child reading in the corner, or up in a tree, or even on the roof. I was the kid who couldn't possibly go on a 20 minute car ride to Grandma's house without something to read. I remember riding my bicycle to the public library in the rain. To this day, I can tell you which authors were located on which shelf in my elementary school library (and I am not ordinarily someone with a good memory). Books opened up new worlds to me, and I never tired of them.

As I grew older, I was unable to let go of children's books. During college and graduate school I would read children's books sometimes for a study break. When I went home during the holidays, I would revisit old favorites from my bookshelves at home. When I would visit used bookstores and see old favorites on the shelf, I would be powerless to resist. I was fascinated by vintage children's books, and started collecting older books from certain authors (The Maida Books, The Enid Blyton Books, The Oz Books, etc.). And so my love affair with children's books continued.

When my friends and relatives started having children, I naturally bought these children books. I still remember giving books at a cousin's baby shower for her second child about 10 years ago. My cousin told me that I was the only person who had given them books, and how pleased her older child was. When they were little I sent my nieces books by mail every month. I LOVE to buy books for children. I like to keep up on what books are available, so that I can make good choices. It pleases me when friends tell me that this or that book that I gave to their children is still a favorite.

I also read to children on every possible occasion - to my nieces, to my friends' children, to children I meet at parties at friends' houses. I can't tell you how thrilled I am when Andrew or Amy or Charlie or Gracie comes running up to me with a book to read. This happens often, because children are pretty sharp - they know a soft touch when they one. But the truth is that it makes me unbelievably happy when the children in my life are interested in books. Perhaps because I feel that I'm finally finding companions for that long-ago child, sitting up in a tree by herself with a book.

Recently I have been reading some non-fiction books (Never Eat Alone, The Accidental Millionaire, Leave Me Alone, I'm Reading : Finding and Losing Myself in Books, The Read-Aloud Handbook) that have me reflecting on what I'm passionate about, and what's important to me. And the answer has been very clear. It's important to me that the children in my world grow up with at least the opportunity to love books. If I were to get to the end of my life and look back, and know that I had contributed to children growing up to love books, I would feel that I had accomplished something valuable. I think that children who love to read grow up with better vocabularies, and the ability to read more quickly, and that they do better in school, and have more opportunities in life. But I think it's even more fundamental than that for me. I think that I just loved reading SO MUCH as a child that I want to give that gift to other people. And it's tough to grow up loving books if you don't start very young.

That is why I've started this website. This site is for anyone who has an interest in raising children who love books. It is for librarians and teachers, and parents and aunts and uncles and grandparents. And it's for people like me, who believe that the world will be a better place if more children grow up with the opportunity to love books. I hope to provide encouragement and education, a sense of community, and of course book ideas. I welcome your feedback. Thanks for reading! -- Jen

Technorati Tags: children's books, parenting, literacy, reading, kids, books, family

Comments

[Dana Robinson]

I remember that little girl up in the tree with her book quite fondly, and I'm glad to see that she's still there. I may have picked on her some, as little brothers are apt to do, but I also picked up that love of reading myself. From Narnia I passed to Tolkien, and on to Stephen R. Donaldson. But having recently re-read the Narnia books here in the Middle East I can tell you they never grow old, they only get better.

So keep on reading Sis, thanks to your example I know I will.

[Jen Robinson]

Dana's comments made me realize that I was actually successful in my goal of helping kids to grow up as readers long before I knew what I was doing. What a wonderful gift he's given me today by telling me this! Thanks, Dana!!

[Jen Rouse]

Thanks for the commont on my page. Your list of recent Newberry award winners has given me some more material for my future reads, and I definitely plan to check out some of the Children's Book Blogs. I may link to your site on my blog.

[Louise Hayes]

Hi,

Just wanted to stop by and say that I enjoyed your site. I am a Frontier College Volunteer in Ottawa, Canada. Frontier College is a Canadian National Literacy Organization (www.frontiercollege.ca). In Ottawa, we are mainly volunteer-based and currently run five free drop-in reading programs for high-needs children. I currently run a free Reading Circle for kids 5-8 on Saturday mornings - so I am always looking for new ideas and books to keep them engaged and, well, showing up:) We generally have about 6 volunteer tutors a week and try to do as much one on one or small group reading with the kids as possible.

I have been involved with Frontier College in Ottawa since 2001 because, seemingly like you, I loved books as a child and can't believe that there are children out there who, for whatever reason, aren't given the same opportunities to grow up with a similar love of books.

At any rate, thank you for the site. I will come back often and add you to my blog links.

Sincerely,

Louise

[firstimpressionist]

Hi,
As usual I was drawn to a children's book post. I'm a dealer in rare and out of print childrens books and have spent a lifetime reading and cherishing young adult literature.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Beci

[Jen Robinson]

Hi Beci,

Thanks for visiting! Your website is beautiful. All those wonderful vintage children's books!

[Richie Partington]

Hi Jen! Richie was here.

You should check out my friends David Levithan and Rachel Cohn, authors of NICK AND NORAH'S INFINITE PLAYLIST at Books, Inc. in SF on 6/8.

[Jen Robinson]

Hi Richie,

Thanks for visiting, and thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, I'm going to be out of town that week. But I do like your website, and I just signed up for your newsletter. Thanks again for stopping by!

[Arpi Boudakian]

Hi Jen! I really, really liked your website and have lots more to read but I am looking forward to browsing the site with Sophia and in a year or so with Luke. It was GREAT to see you and Mheir. We missed you guys a lot! Take care and I will definitely keep in touch!
Arpi

[rebel]

I've been reading your blog for a while but this is the first time I've gone back to your mission statement. I love books, have always loved books, and was with you reading in the corner and up a tree, though not in the car due to severe motion sickness. I lived in the US but my extended family was in England so I read ALL the Enid Blytons possible and thank goodness my mom kept them till I had kids of my own and then gave them to me all over again. I have a 10 year old and a 12 year old.

One of the best things about having kids is sharing with them the books I loved as a child, sharing with them the books that have been published since I was a child, and sharing with them all the books I could have read as a child but somehow never did. If only the paying job didn't interfere so much with my reading time!

[Ann Clemmons]

I really enjoyed this post, and I love your site. I'm a children's writer, whose spent the better part of twenty years single parenting and writing books. I have a children's picture book, or young reader manuscript testing the children's market. Until recently, I haven't pursued publication of my manuscripts. In addition to choosing the traditional publishing route, I decided to tackle publication at an ancient age! Better late than never, isn't it? I share your love for children's books! You know, people think I'm motivated by a love for children, and I am, however it's my own childhood I 'm revisiting! I just started writing a blog in April with articles for parents, children's book reviews , and my children's stories. Stop by when you have a chance. Here's the link- Best Wishes

Ann

http://aniceplaceinthesun.blogspot.com/

[Jen Robinson]

Thanks, Ann. I'll definitely be checking out your blog.

[Shirley]

Absolutely awesome! I am so impressed by how you are promoting children's reading with this web site. As someone who routinely got lost in a story and had to be called to dinner 5 times, I understand completely.

My only regret is that I gave up "kids books" for a while as a teen and then adult and it took me awhile to get over the "sillines" of reading kids books again. (Especially since I too have no kids of my own, and therefore no valid excuse to be in the children's section.) :0)

[Jen Robinson]

Shirley, I think that it's never too late to start reading children's books again, even after an absence. Thanks so much for the positive feedback, and happy reading!!