Sobering but not surprising...

The Scholastic/Yankelovich 2008 Kids & Family Reading Report was released in June and here are some statistics:

• 82% of parents wish their child engaged in more pleasure reading


• 80% of 5-8 year olds believe reading is "extremely important


• 56% of 15-17 year olds feel reading is "extremely important"


• After age 8, children are more likely to go online daily than to read for fun daily


• After age 15, children are more likely to have read a magazine than a book in last 7 days


• After age 11, friends surpass mothers as the top source of ideas about books to read for fun


• 62% of children prefer books printed on paper rather than digitally on handheld devices


• "Trouble finding books they like" is the key reason kids say they don't read more


• Parents who read are 6 times more likely to have kids that read frequently for fun


• More than 6 in 10 kids age 9 and older have read Harry Potter


• 29% of children who are "high frequency" Internet users are also "high frequency" pleasure readers.

To read the full report go to: www.scholastic.com/aboutscholastic/news/readingreport.htm

As of today, July 9, we have over 450 children and teens registered for our summer reading programs: kids who read for fun (and well, yes, for prizes too!). Although 450 is a fabulous number, I do sometimes think of all the kids in Dover who don't sign up, who aren't frequent readers and who, perhaps, won't do as well in school come September. There's still time to sign up...and we have plenty of wonderful reading suggestions for all ages. We promise we'll find you a book you'll absolutely love!