Pick the right book to keep your child interested in reading

"Parents need to be involved in their child's reading," said Nancy Verhoek-Miller. "They should present the child with quality literature and help their child self-select what to read. Then they should read along."

The associate professor of curriculum and instruction says parents should be aware of what's appropriate for different age groups in selecting the "right" book.

"Of course, you should read to your child from birth, and all very young children enjoy books with a repetitive story line," she said. "Once your child is talking, he or she can chime in after the first line has been read."

Children enjoy cumulative tales and stories with a set beginning, middle and end. These stories allow the child to understand a definite pattern.

She offers additional suggestions for locating the right book for your child:

• Always read the book yourself before sharing it with your child.
• Take a second to tell the child about the story, but don't give away the ending. Create interest by asking what the child thinks will happen to the characters. "It's important that parents are more than providers of the stories; they need to be facilitators of the stories," Verhoek-Miller emphasizes.
• Associate the books with reality. Use everyday items around your home to provide real-life tie-ins to the story. If your child is reading "Peter Rabbit," for instance, cut a sandwich in the shape of a rabbit to illustrate the fictional character. Imaginative uses of ordinary items will draw your child into the story.
• Be a reader, too. Share the love of reading by reading for yourself, as well as reading to your child. "Remember, children's books can be meaningful for adults as well," Verhoek-Miller says.