I believe Annie is the same age as my Emily (9 years old) and while I’m thrilled that she has always loved reading, I’m even more thrilled that when she reads to me, I’m starting to hear more emotion and inflection in the narrative. She’s finally getting the idea to make it sound angry, excited, quiet, etc. depending on what the narrative demands.
And I don’t understand the lack of bookstores. My mom’s town finally got a Books-A-Million and she couldn’t be happier. She’s not in a rural area either. It’s like retailers just assumed that people aren’t interested in reading.
Actually, Amy, Annie is 8!
I wouldn’t say that she loves reading. She is good at it, and does it because I make her. Once she gets started, she enjoys it, but it takes away from fun time for her. Some day I hope she sees it as fun time. Not everyone does. I have a good friend with a Ph.D. that would never think of reading for fun.
We have tons of books. I sincerely hope she gets an interest in books that I like so we can share them, but am not opposed to buying ones that she likes that I don’t. She is still young, but I look forward to the day when she ventures off to her room to read one of the Harry Potter books or some other such thing…
Go to an independent bookstore, instead! If you’re all the way down by the mall, go to the Capitola Book Cafe. Or, if you’re downtown Santa Cruz, go to Bookshop Santa Cruz. It’s worth it to go to an independent!
Julian is about at the same point as Annie, I think, in terms of enjoying reading. He has to be dragged into it, but once he’s there, it’s good. Unfortunately, it’s hard to keep him focused on it. Books on tape have gone a long way in helping out. He has “read” the entire HP series that way.
I think this comes from the area you live. People are to busy to read. If they drive along way to work by the time they get home and do house stuff and take time with the kids they have no time to read. I know your sister loves to read and both of the kids do but they have little time to do it. Bolivar has a great library and if you want a best seller you have to get on a list to get to read it. Hermitage has a small library and they are vey busy. I am so glad Annie likes to read. She comes by that naturaly I think.