Elliot on reading
Posted by DAVID BC TAN under: Reading on 18 May 2009.
It is no secret that reading is a big thing in our home. It’s something we have consistently encouraged by a) modeling the culture of reading by being parents who read, b) building a home environment that is conducive to reading c) introducing books and reading to our kids as soon as they were ready. When our son Elliot was 12, we asked him about his reading habits and here’s what he said:
Q: Do you remember when you first started reading?
E: I don’t remember when I first started reading but from what I’ve asked mom and dad I started quite early, when I was about three or four. Mom used to read aloud to us when we were younger too. She also used flashcards.
Q: What sort of books do you enjoy reading?
E: I enjoy reading most books though I like fiction best.
Q: What happens if you come across words you don’t understand?
E: If I do come across words I don’t understand I normally just guess the meaning. Not a very good example, I’m afraid. Sometimes I ask Mom or Dad about some words.
Q: Name some books you have recently read, and say something about them.
E: I recently read the book `The Mirror Cracked’ by Agatha Christie, who is a famous murder mystery writer, in which the hero was a 70 or more-year old lady named Jane Marple who solves a murder. The story continues with a few more deaths and tension begins to rise. It’s very good. I also read ‘Murder in the Mews’, by the same author, in which the hero was a Belgian detective named Hercule Poirot. This book contains a few stories about murders with some clever detective work to solve the crimes.
Q: Name some books you are currently reading, and tell us what they are about.
E: I’m reading Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ – unabridged version. I have read the abridged version before, so I know the plot.
Q: Where do you go to learn about books to read, and how do you get hold of these books?
E: I don’t go anywhere to learn about books to read. Most of the time I just ask mom for a good book to read or I reread a book that I have enjoyed.
Q: How do you tell if a book is good or bad?
E: It depends on what you mean by good or bad. A bad book is one which is poorly written and it doesn’t challenge the imagination or interest me. It’s good if it’s interesting to me and I can’t put it down.
Q: What would you say to parents who want to encourage their children to read?
E: I would suggest that they restrict their kids from using the TV and to set a good example by reading books themselves. They can also read books aloud to their children. They can visit book stores and buy good books for them.
For further thoughts on reading, go the related posts below:
Help, Junior can’t read!
Reading and Reasoning
4 Comments so far...
Freda Lau Says:
22 May 2009 at 4:06 pm.
Could you share with us where we could purchase the Unabridged version of “A Christmas Carol”? We have the Unabridged versions of “Pilgrim’s Progress” and “Robinsoe Crusoe” and would love to add this to our collection.
Thank you.
DAVID BC TAN Says:
24 May 2009 at 11:56 pm.
Hi Freda, I can’t remember where we got the book from, but I think it can be found in any good bookshop, or you could go online: Amazon or Acmamall.com. It’s a classic that has not gone out of print since it was first published!
sook ching
DAVID BC TAN Says:
25 May 2009 at 12:28 am.
Hi Freda, we bought the book years ago and no one recalls where. But it’s certainly from one of the bookstores – MPH? Times? Kinokuniya? These days you can request the bookstore to place an order for you at no extra charge. Try MPH. They’re quite helpful.
Freda Lau Says:
25 May 2009 at 11:19 am.
Thank you for the info David/Sook Ching. We’ve tried the bookshops here (MPH, Popular – at Jusco). They do have some classics but it’s not easy getting unabridged versions. (However, we were surprised to find that Popular {Jusco} had an unabridged version of Paradise Lost by John Milton!) Anyway, we are planning a trip up KL – we’ll try there, otherwise, we’ll see how it goes. Thanks again for your help.
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