Synopsis: Aimed specifically at parents, this easy-to-read, practical guide is packed with simple strategies to help every child learn to love books. Paul Jennings cuts through the jargon and controversy to explain how all children can be infected with the reading bug and how their parents can help.

Review: This do-it-yourself manual on how to stimulate your children to become more interested in reading is a must for all parents. Not only does it give practical guidance for the busy parent who is juggling a full-time job, household chores and ferrying their children between extra-curricular activities, it also provides excellent booklists suitable for each stage of their child’s development - even if they require a book for a ten-year-old, that looks like it is for a twelve-year-old, but reads like it is for an eight-year-old. Whatever your child’s reading ability, Paul Jennings, demonstrates how reading can be kept fun. He emphasises the importance of having a fantastic time, so your child will want to read again and again… and again. He suggests some brilliant ideas to help parents motivate their children, which inevitably leads them to enjoy writing too.

Although aimed at parents, The Reading Bug would be a useful resource for teachers and librarians who want to be able to give parents an informed opinion on which books would be suitable for their child. The booklists would also be a useful asset when re-stocking library shelves and book corners.

2007-02-15