Return Trips: The Joys of Re-Reading

by Kathleen THoming
ReadKiddoRead reviewer
and Director, The Cooperative Children's
Book Center at the University of Wisconsin

I sometimes overhear parents saying to their children "Not that book again! You've already read it. Why don't you find something new?" And, sure, most parents want their kids to expand their horizons and try something new, but when it comes to books, there's nothing wrong with re-reading the same one. In fact, it can help them grow up to be smarter.

Young children often want the same picture book read aloud to them again and again, and research into early brain development has shown that repetition causes connections between brain cells in young children. The more connections, the better.

Even many older kids enjoy re-reading. For some, it offers comfort through predictability and familiarity. With so many things uncertain in their worlds and so many things beyond their control, favorite books can become trusted friends. Other kids re-read to find new meanings in familiar stories. Re-reading allows for that sort of discovery, and when kids can do this on their own, it makes reading all the more rewarding and pleasurable.

So if you have are-reader in your household, consider yourself lucky. And encourage him or her. The best thing you can do for re-readers is to give them their own copies of the books they love. That way they'll have them to return to, even when they're all grown up.

         SOME BOOKS WORTH RETURN TRIPS:

THE ASTONISHING SECRET OF AWESOME MAN
by Michael Chabon; illustrated by Jake Parker
For ages 4-8

Even with his positronic ray beam eyes, his soaring ability to fly and his extraordinary power to hug, Awesome Man has asecret. Young children will love guessing what it is.

GRIN AND BEAR IT
by Leo Landry
For ages 5-8

All Bear wants is to be astand-up comedian. But the poor guy's got stage-fright. The solution to Bear's dilemma will please newly-independent readers almost as much as his jokes will.

SIDEKICKS
by Dan Santat
For ages 8 up

In this graphic novel romp, Superhero Captain Amazing needs anew sidekick. Enter four super pets, all vying for the coveted spot as his right-hand man...er. ..animal.

WITH ANAME LIKE LOVE
by Tess Hilmo
For ages 11 up

Who killed Henry Koppel? That's the mystery Olivene Love, 13, finds herself drawn into after her family arrives in Binder, a small Arkansas town, one summer evening in 1957.

ANGEL: AMaximum Ride Novel
by James Patterson
For ages 11 up

In this newest book of a favorite series, evil scientists are still trying to convince Max that she needs to save the world, this time by providing the genetic link in speeding up the pace of evolution