Rennaissance Reading Tip #1: How to help kids find books they'll love

Did you know 76% of kids think they should read more, but 41% have trouble finding books they like? They also think educators are the top source of good book ideas—more so than friends, family, book stores, or social media!

Your students need you to guide them to their next great read.

Ways to help students locate titles they’ll fall in love with:

Create a bookstore-style display.
You know the feeling you get when walking through a bookstore? Titles, authors, and covers call to you, piquing your interest. You pick up books and read their first pages or back covers.

Use the “Top 25 Books Overall” lists in What Kids Are Reading to identify which books are the most popular for each grade. In the school library or classroom, create a display that features a selection of the top books from the report. Use sticky notes or bookmarks to indicate a book’s ranking—and don’t be surprised if #1 is constantly checked out!

 Read aloud to students of all ages.
Even adults love hearing their favorite books read aloud. Scheduling an “author reading” can be a great way to expose students to new genres and authors as well as model comprehension strategies such as visualizing, making predictions, previewing, questioning, clarifying, and summarizing.

Look at the “Educators’ Top 5 Must-Read Books” for some engaging titles to read aloud. Pick a passage that can be read aloud in about five minutes. Before reading, introduce the book with an interesting fact about the story, an anecdote about the author, or a personal story about why you chose the book. Consider dressing up as the author if you can!

 Make reading a social experience.
Book clubs are popular for a reason—it’s fun to talk with others about books! Making reading an experience students can share with their peers can increase motivation, and discussing books after reading is a great way for students to review their understanding, share their opinions, and create personal connections with books and with one another.

As a whole class or in small groups, have students elect one or two titles from the “Kids’ Highest-Rated Books” list for their grade or nearby grades to be their new book club books. During the day or after school, set aside time for student groups to meet and discuss books. Put up a bulletin board—or create a moderated section on your class or library website—where students can post comments. Encourage book summaries and honest reviews!