Getting hooked on books

I DON’T think you should ever undervalue the importance of reading.

In an age where technology is taking over vast aspects of our lives, where spellcheck and predictive text are just part of our lives, reading remains fundamental to our lifestyles.

Being able to read opens doors and broadens our understanding of the world. It also helps unlock our imaginations and tap into creativeness.

It is amazing to think of the power of words. That is why it is vital we encourage children to read and key to that is finding books that children find interesting and engaging.

There are many great children’s authors out there, too many to list, but it’s great to see that a swag of comedians are now turning their hand to works for youngsters; what better way to get children engaged than with laughter.

Another trend that I see working for children is the adaptation of electronic games, such as Minecraft, into books for young readers.

For children who are immersed in the Minecraft world, these books are the perfect way to get them interested in reading.

Once you have them hooked on a book, add other titles from the series or, even better, expand their library to other authors and genres.

The trick is to get youngsters engaged early, from there, their love of literature will only blossom given the right environment.