DETROIT – It can be challenging to get children to put down a cellphone and pick up a book. But at one of the country's largest bookstores, John K. King Books in Detroit, one passionate reader is using four steps to ignite an interest for reading in children.
"My mother used to tell me that you can go anywhere in a book, and that's really true," King bookstore employee Deborah Lee said.
How can teachers and parents encourage children to read?
"Bringing them in is the first thing," Lee said.
Trips to the library and bookstores are good ways for children to be introduced to different types of books. Then, bring books home so children can become familiar with them.
"If you stop down here, I always have five or six suggestions of great books that have proven to be timeless for young people," Lee said. "Your children will get interested as they pass by that book on the coffee table three or four times."
Another idea is to survey friends to find out who's reading and what they're reading.
"There's usually one person in the group who is a great reader and other people who will read to be a part of that group," Lee said. "So they will find suggestions among themselves."
Find books on topics in which children are interested.
Lee said she once had a customer who was a 4-year-old boy who loved Batman, and she she took him to the film section where he could find books on the Batman movie.
"He may be the next great screenwriter. He may be the next great comic book artist, but he's going to read on any subject that he's interested in. You need to follow them, their lead," Lee said.
Parents should keep in mind that they should also be examples to their children. It helps to see mom and dad with a book in their hands, too.
"And not just your Kindle," Lee said. "Even if you read the newspaper, if you don't read it online, get a physical paper. Leave it around. If you're reading magazines that are trade magazines related to your industry, leave them around. Let your child see you reading."