Listening to kids talk about books

I’m on a national children’s book award committee so submissions have been arriving at my home/office in increasing quantities. Even though I read a lot of books for young people anyway, I’ve been reading them to the exclusion of just about anything. (I can’t give up the newspaper though; it’s a must-have either online or in print.)

I’m reading so many books so quickly that I’ve been wondering how I can keep them clear in my mind – beyond taking notes (which is not always possible given all the places that I find myself reading these days).

But I have started asking colleagues, family members, and young friends to read the books that I think are worth their time and energy. And I’ve actually rediscovered a valuable and downright fun way to gain deeper insight into what works and why: simply talking (opens in a new window) to young readers provides a look into a book’s appeal that I may not have considered.

For example, a young friend named Julia, a 3rd grader, read a book by Claudia Mills, How Oliver Olson Changed the World (opens in a new window) (Farrar). I was interested in her response even though the main character is a boy (also a 3rd grader, by the way). It was a girl in Oliver’s class, Crystal, who intrigued Julia.

Apparently Julia was also interested in the demotion of Pluto. (opens in a new window) You see, Crystal becomes Oliver’s friend over their shared interest in Pluto’s astrological standing.

Julia told me she liked Oliver but kind of felt “sorry for him.” When I reminded her that he found a way of dealing with his overprotective parents, she noted that he was “kinda smart.”

It seems to me that the more we talk to children about substantive things, the better we get to know them and their tastes. In fact, sometimes the power of the story just takes over itself.

I’ll always remember the mother who told me that if she put her mind to it, she could do anything – including raising her daughter as a single mom. That was a line right out of Mary Hoffman’s Amazing Grace (opens in a new window) (Dial).

So, as we pack up for our family vacation, I’ll take a batch of books and rely on my family – a captive audience – for feedback!

I’ll let you know how it goes at the end of next week!