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Each morning of third grade my son loaded his backpack full of books. He carried his own personal library with him, picking out various titles each morning so he could dole out his favorites to friends.
Finding a Good Fit
I remember watching for that love of reading to emerge. In first grade, my son adored having books read to him and enjoyed the various Star Wars, Marvel, and Lego books I found at our local library. But no book seemed to bring him to the point of really wanting to read.
At that time, my then-seven-year-old had two favorite things: space and cats. One day I was browsing the library’s graphic novel section and found a book called Binky the Space Cat. Sold. Or rather, borrowed. That book captured my kiddo’s imagination, and soon he was reading all the Binky books and asking for more.
Going to the Next Level
The next year, second grade, we discovered the Catstronauts series. Yes, we found another graphic novel series about cats and space. Catstronauts was the perfect next-level after Binky, with more detailed references to the scientific, historical, and political aspects of space travel. With only two Catstronauts books available at the time, we supplemented with Chi’s Sweet Home, a cat manga which provided an additional twelve volumes of adorable reading material.
Second grade also was the year of Harry Potter, and my son devoured the first three books. And then…he was done. We set a limit on not reading the fourth Harry Potter book until my son turned nine, so he began reading those first three books over and over. He couldn’t find anything else that captured his interest.
Continuing the Search
By the beginning of third grade, my son had read Harry Potter, Catstronauts, and Chi’s Sweet Home again and again. He discovered some enjoyment with the classic Bunnicula series and a book called The Trouble with Cats, but once again he needed something special to rekindle his pursuit of reading.
A local children’s librarian recommended the Warriors series. Honest admission for a minute — I looked at the covers of those books and thought, “No. Way.” The books were huge and the covers featured dark graphics of fierce cats and words like “Shadows” and “Omen.” I TOTALLY judged the books by their covers and decided they were way too mature for my little boy.
Lighting the Fire
We kept searching for the next great series. I brought home book after book, trying to find a good fit. And finally, I surrendered. I read some reviews of Warriors and decided to bring the first book home from the library.
Our house has been covered in Warriors books ever since. The Warriors series captured my son’s heart like no other books, immersing him in a wild universe with a complex history and mythology. (My son adds that he forgot to read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire on his birthday because he was so fixated on Warriors.) I love watching my son advance as a reader, but most of all I love seeing him enjoy a good book. He loves reading so much that he carries his favorite books with him to share with his friends and family, and that passion is a true gift.
The Warriors series and the other cat books that came before them created a boy who loves to read. And for that, I will be forever grateful.
What topics or authors have captured your children’s imaginations? Are you still trying to find that “good fit” book for your young reader, or for yourself?
I love this!!