It's not just for Oprah: Book clubs for kids
How to get started
How do you find members for your book club? Start by checking with your child's friends or putting up a flyer at your school, library or recreation center.
Size: A good size for a book club is eight to 12 members, or four to six parents and four to six children.
How often to meet: Have an initial meeting to decide how often to meet, at what time and how to choose the books you'll read. Most groups meet once a month, to give everyone time to read the book.
Figure out your focus: Some groups choose to read a particular kind of book, such as mysteries, or include all kinds of books.
Choosing leaders: You may want to choose one person as your group's leader, or rotate leaders each time you meet. The leader can be responsible for guiding the discussion, as well as researching and presenting information on the author. It's a good idea to appoint someone to be secretary, to be responsible for reminding members of each upcoming meeting.
Book clubs for reluctant readers
Regina Neu, a California mom, is an avid reader who read to her young son often. When he began to read on his own, reading didn't come easily, and it was not the pleasure she hoped it would be. In comparing notes with other parents, she discovered several faced the same issue with their children. Since Neu belonged to an adult book group, she thought, "Why not start a book club for kids?"
Together with five other moms and second-graders (a mix of boys and girls), she formed a neighborhood book group. When the children were young, they met every other week and quickly established rules: They would take turns hosting dinner and discussion at each other's homes. Whoever was the host got to choose the book. They started by letting the children choose whatever book they wanted and always allowed them some time to play. As the group evolved, they met monthly and the parents narrowed the book choices to award-winning children's books, such as the Newbery award winners. The parents would facilitate but not participate in the discussion, leaving that to the kids. Sometimes they would discuss books that had been made into movies, such as Tuck Everlasting. The group continued to meet all through the elementary school years.
"My son is in seventh grade now and is a huge reader," says Neu. "The book group — reading with his peers and having choices — made a difference. Reading outside the classroom made it less stressful and more enjoyable. Choosing award-winning books helped to show the kids what 'good' books are."
Book clubs for bright students
For California mom Jan Robertson, forming a parent-child book club was a way of encouraging her 9-year-old daughter's academic interests, and, she says, "It is a great bonding experience." Together with another mother in her neighborhood they formed a club and included six kids — four girls and two boys — and their parents.
The group started in fourth grade and has continued through sixth grade. The children choose the books and then after reading them, give them a rating. On a scale of 1 to 10, a few books rise to the "gold standard of Harry Potter," says Robertson. The group typically meets monthly and reads fiction but has recently gravitated toward more historical fiction, which, Robertson says, has provided a good jumping-off point for discussions on historical events and what lessons we can learn from history.
How do you make a parent-child book club successful? "It's important to draw the quiet kids out," says Robertson. "Whoever is hosting takes responsibility to make sure everyone gets a chance to be part of the discussion. The kids choose the books and do most of the talking. The adults are there to serve as traffic cops and to help the kids gain knowledge of historical context when the group reads historical fiction."
