Library news

Being a Librarian, I am of course, thrilled that my 10 year old son is addicted to books. Every waking moment his nose is deeply buried in literature of some sort. However, what do you do if your child refuses to pick up a book, finds them boring or would rather fling a ball around than even glance at a book?
There are a number of attractive options for those reluctant to read which we can show you at the library. Puzzle and maze books are a good introduction as there are minimal words but visually interesting. Another very popular series are ‘The danger zone’ books. Slim volumes with cartoon visuals and juicy titbits of information dotted throughout. With titles like ‘Avoid becoming a pirates’ prisoner!’, they grab a child’s imagination.
Along the same lines are the Geronimo Stilton novels which use colour lavishly and vary the typeface to keep attention for longer. Graphic novels (or comics in old language) are great for getting youngsters interested and we have a new range of Tintin in different reading levels.
Of course, getting children interested in following up with a book after seeing a film like Tintin is another option (the DVD is free to borrow from the library). Recently acquired are a number of books marked as ‘Dyslexia friendly’ where typeface and page colour are specially utilized. Some children may never be persuaded to embrace books but, if you can, start them as soon as they are born familiarizing them with the feel, smell and sound of books and generally they will quickly develop of love of reading.
There is nothing a Librarian loves more than a library full of all ages messing around with books.
Shirley Nightingale