Regular readers of Linda’s Book Bag know I frequently refer to my previous life where I worked to try to promote reading and literacy as an English teacher, adviser, consultant and inspector, so it gives me enormous pleasure to welcome Kaye Newton to stay in with me today because I think Kaye is probably a woman after my own heart!

If you’re an author who’d also like to stay in with me to tell me about one of your books, please click here for more details.

Staying in with Kaye Newton

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Kaye. Thank you for agreeing to stay in with me. Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

Linda, thanks for hosting me! I’ve brought along How to Get Your Screen-Loving Kids to Read Books for Pleasure.  I thought parents would be interested in practical advice on how to get children to put down the smartphones and gaming consoles and pick up books.

(My former life means I love the sound of this one!)

What can we expect from an evening in with How to Get Your Screen-Loving Kids to Read Books for Pleasure?

The first part of my guide delves into why parents (and grandparents, aunts, uncles, and godparents) should care if kids read long form sentences found in books and articles. (Research shows reading can reduce stress levels, help kids sleep better, and improve school performance.) I compare of the pros and cons of electronic eBooks versus paper books and write about what motivates kids to read books. There is also discussion of whether the reading experts count graphic novels, manga, and chat fiction, which kids read on their phones in text format, as “real” reading.

(That sounds fascinating.)

The second part of my book details how to carry out a revitalizing reading project with your family. Here I share lists of books that hook kids of all ages, how to use reading rewards, family book clubs, how to find a reading buddy for your kid, and ways to make the assigned school reading more interesting. I also detail what worked and didn’t work for my family when I tested the reading experts’ advice.

(I’m sure many parents will love these practical tips Kaye.)

Fortunately, my guide has been well received and thought I’d share one of my favorite reviews on Amazon:

This wonderful book is an essential resource for every parent/caregiver. Period. Even non-book loving adults need to get this information. In How to Get Your Screen-Loving Kid to Read For Pleasure, Kaye Newton has created an intelligent, quietly funny and superbly well-written guide to help parents (and other people who like /have kids: grandparents, aunts, caretakers, etc.) gently steer their offspring toward a true appreciation of reading.

(What a smashing review. I think some of Linda’s Book Bag Readers might try your guide with other adults as well as their children as many fellow bloggers tell me their spouses don’t read. Mine does, fortunately!)

What or who else have you brought along and why?

I have brought along my thirteen-year-old son Eddie. Eddie is still enamored with his Xbox One but now also reads books for pleasure. I thought we could share how this works.

(Great idea. Authors have brought all kinds of things with them to stay in but never a child before!)

Librarians, teachers and parents report that one of the best ways to hook kids on reading is to find books about their current passions. When trying to get Eddie excited about reading, my husband and I leverage two of his main interests – video gaming and watching Stranger Things, a scary TV show.

Kaye: So, Eddie, tell Linda about two of your favorite recent reads.

Eddie: “Ready Player One” is good. A kid searches for a fortune through a virtual reality game.  It’s got a lot of action.

Kaye:  That’s coming out as movie soon, isn’t it? And we all know that it’s always better to read the book before the movie! (Eddie looks askance. Short silence ensues.) How about another suggestion? (Medium length silence) How about the series that you are reading right now? The creators of Stranger Things said they are big fans of this author.  .  .

Eddie: Oh yeah. Stephen King’s “Gunslinger.”  It’s a western fantasy.

Kaye: And what got you to actually pick up this book and read it?

Eddie:  The Stranger Things writers are the G.O.A.T. * I saw online that they like Stephen King, so he’s got to be good.  And you told me that I have to read a book if I want screen time.

Kaye: True enough. Linda, what currently works for us is earning screen time. After Eddie reads for 45 minutes, he gets 45 minutes of screen time.  I notice that when Eddie reads a book that hooks him, he voluntarily reads for longer than 45 minutes. It’s human nature to get caught up in a good story, and when that happens reading sells itself.  Your child starts to think of himself as a reader and will continue to consume “readalikes” found on sites like Goodreads.

*Greatest of All Time

(How brilliant. I love this concept. And I’m glad you explained G.O.A.T. as I think I must be getting old and out of touch…)

Thanks so much for staying in with me, Kaye, to tell me all about How to Get Your Screen-Loving Kid to Read For Pleasure. It sounds a really practical and helpful book.

How to Get Your Screen-Loving Kids to Read Books for Pleasure

Reading improves kids’ abilities to concentrate, empathize, and do well in school. The author, Kaye Newton, spent over a year researching expert advice about promoting reading. She then tested it on her three screen-loving children. Get practical tips on finding books that hook kids, leveraging screen time to increase reading, and making the required reading for school enjoyable.

How to Get Your Screen-Loving Kids to Read Books for Pleasure is available for purchase here.

About Kaye Newton

Kaye is a bibliophile and award-winning author who spent over a year researching expert advice about promoting reading and road testing it on her three screen-loving children.

Kaye lives outside Nashville, TN with her husband, three kids, and two lively dogs. Incision Decisions, her first book, won a silver medal at the 2017 Readers’ Favorite Awards.

You can find out more about her experience and books on Kaye’s website and follow her on Twitter @kayenewtonbooks.