The right book for the right kid at the right time
Why you shouldn’t let the title of my newsletter fool you, book matchmaking tips, and what I'm currently reading.
A note on the title of this newsletter
I’ve managed to gather quite a few new subscribers this week, mostly thanks to plugs from two Substacks I greatly admire—Emily Gale’s beautifully-written Voracious and the kid lit powerhouse Your Kid’s Next Read. I am so grateful for their support as I start this new venture.
So, for those of you who are new here, welcome! And I thought I would take this chance to point out that the title of my newsletter may be a little misleading… (sorry!)
That is to say, I Read a Lot (so you don’t have to!) possibly comes across as a little more negative than I intend. I think everyone should be reading more kids books, but most importantly, educators and parents who are around young people every day, and could really benefit from dipping into the world of children’s literature as much as time allows.
My hope is that I can encourage you to do just that, but also save you time by suggesting some things that you should consider reading, depending on what you’re looking for.
We are fortunate to live in a time when there is an overwhelming choice of great children’s literature out there! Which is a good problem to have. But it’s also not possible to be across everything. That’s where I come in. I have good insider access to the Australian children’s literature world, over a decade’s experience working with kids and books, and mostly, I read a lot… (so you don’t have to!)
I love giving suggestions for reading for pleasure, books to hook reluctant readers, new adventures for young people who feel like they’re already read everything, and texts to consider putting on booklists, or using for lit circles, or in school book clubs. But! Take note! I have been putting this little warning on all my paid subscriber posts, which typically include more detailed recommedations for educators:
Despite the name of this newsletter, if you are an educator, it’s really important that you read any book yourself before choosing to booklist it. I can happily recommend books for days, but you know your students and your school community best, so make sure you don’t trust me blindly on these suggestions.
I hope that makes sense and helps explain the good intentions of this newsletter a little more, anyway. I’m not reading a lot so you don’t have to read anything at all, I’m reading a lot so you busy educators and parents can be empowered to make good decisions about what you intend to read (with the little time you probably have), and therefore what you decide to give your kids to read.
I’m glad we cleared that up.
Book matchmaking
I am a really big advocate for one-on-one, personalised, and considered readers’ advisory.
According to Diana Tixier Herald, author of Genreflecting, readers' advisory is: "the act of putting people together with the books they love."
There are plenty of kids out there who will happily seek out their own books, and read diversely and thoughtfully, but they still may need a hand finding something new from time to time. Every young person should have the opportunity to speak to a qualified librarian (ideally at their school…) or children’s literature expert whenever they need something to read.
I’m very lucky to have been that person at several different schools, and I’ve always taken that responsibility very seriously. Professionally, there is nothing more rewarding to me than building a relationship with a young person around their reading habits; knowing what kind of books they like, or don’t like, and where their interests, abilities and sensitivities lie.
Without giving away all my secrets, here are some of my top tips for working through a readers’ advisory session with a student.
Some initial questions I may ask:
Tell me about a book you’ve read recently. What hooked you in?
Tell me about a book you didn’t like (or didn’t finish). What turned you off? (Knowing what a kid doesn’t like is just as helpful as what they do. And they tend to LOVE bad-mouthing books they hate, so it’s a good way to get them chatting.)
Do you prefer realistic stories, or adventure/sci-fi/fantasy/horror?
What kinds of things do you do in your spare time? (Points you towards particular interests and also allows you to get to know them a bit more.)
Is there a TV series or movie you really like?
Some typical responses I give to negative comments I may get from kids in the library:
Books are too long. Try a short story collection, verse novel, or graphic novel. Maybe even an audiobook, or a long-form magazine article. There are also some really great short novels out there to consider. You don’t have to read a 700-page epic!
I hate all books. Give me a chance to find one you don’t hate. I love the challenge! I really believe you just haven’t found the right one for you yet.
All of your suggestions so far are really bad. I’m not offended! Let’s find some more and start over!
I can’t read. Tell me more about what you mean by that. What is it that you struggle with? (Sometimes this is just a kid who hasn’t found something they connect with BUT this is also possibly a bigger conversation with some further input from teachers / integration aides / other education professionals.)
And some things I may say to convince them to at least try something I recommend: (while noting that I only say these things if they are TRUE because I’m genuinely not trying to hoodwink my young patrons… not that they would fall for it anyway…)
This one has some mature themes, but I think you can handle it. Or: This book is for kids a bit older than you, but I think you’d like it. (This works nearly every time—we all know teenagers love to read up! All the same, I make sure to give a content warning and let them know they can stop reading if they’re uncomfortable.)
I’ve never met a kid who didn’t like this book!
Your friend read this and loves it. (I would then get the friend to explain why. Peer reviews can be the best drawcard!)
I can’t stop thinking about this book and would love someone to chat with about it.
This is huge on social media. (Great for those popular BookTok books.)
Try reading the blurb and the first page and see what you think. If you don’t like it, move on. There’s no pressure and no rush. We’ll find something.
And finally, a couple of contemporary Australian books that I’ve had a very high success rate with because they seem to work for many different types of kids, and are my go-tos for young people who are grouchy about reading…
How do you get young people to try new books? I’d love to hear some new ideas.
What I’m currently reading
I’m halfway through an adult book that I know older teens would love, the Penguin Literary Prize winner Jade and Emerald by Michelle See-Tho.
Lei Ling is a compelling young character who is both frustrating and relatable. She is bored, desperately wanting to grow up, and seeking to escape the harsh rule of her strict mother. Of course this leads her to push boundaries, take risks, and ignore the red flags of a glamorous older woman who starts to open doors for her.
Jade and Emerald is a fierce and deeply felt novel about the joys and pains of growing up, of accepting who you are and where you come from.
I haven’t finished this one yet, so I’ll leave this recommendation with the caveat that the story may get much darker and less appropriate for high school readers. It’s certainly hinting at something unsettling! But I’m always looking for great adult books for advanced young adult readers, and so far, this is one I’d add to that list. Some others along that line include: The Coconut Children by Vivian Pham, A Light in the Dark by Allee Richards, and After the Rain by Aisling Smith.
I’ve also been diving into some more CBCA Book of the Year Awards picture books this week. That includes:
Gymnastica Fantastica! by Briony Stewart
Endless joy, excellent rhymes and fast-paced fun. I’ve made the mistake (several times) of reading this at bedtime, and amping up everyone in our house to do twists and kicks and flips. This is a really nice celebration of the performances children put on for their friends and family, and how great it feels to get your body moving.
Can You Teach a Fish to Climb a Tree? by Jane Godwin and Terry Denton
For fans of All the Ways to Be Smart, this is a great reminder that not everyone can do everything, yet we’ve all got our own special talents. Horses may not be able to drive cars, but did you know they can sleep standing up? This book is silly and intriguing, with great illustrations.
Grace and Mr Milligan by Caz Goodwin and Pip Kruger
We experienced the loss of a pet this year, so I’m extra keen to find books that can express that deep sadness in a sensitive way to very little people. Grace and Mr Milligan is just perfect for that. I am really grateful stories like this exist. I also love the nod to intergenerational friendships, something that has always been important in my life, and I hope to pass down to my daughter. A very special book that I know I will return to again and again.
Get in touch!
Is there a topic you’d like me to cover in a future newsletter? Get in touch at karysmcewen@gmail.com and I’ll see what I can do!
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