Sparking young readers' interest

Amy Lewis portrait

Photo by Kevin England

Welcome to December, the biggest gift-buying season of the year. I had great intentions of reading several books over the Thanksgiving break, but to be frank with you all, it just didn’t happen. I spent time this week writing down one of my favorite stories my mom would tell about an encounter she had with an Avon lady and it cheered me up no end.

Instead of reviewing a book for you this week, I have some literary ideas for your gift-giving season. My favorite gifts to get as a child were books, and I was lucky to have a librarian for a mom. They’re still my favorite thing to get.

I have some suggestions for books to give young readers besides the Harry Potter series. Beyond the fact that they are huge books to read, the author has expressed some alarming views lately. There are lots of other books out there that don’t get the attention they deserve. These are in no particular order and are not all Pacific Northwest (PNW) books. They’re just the ones I loved. If I missed one of your favorites, please list it in the comments. I know you all have great ideas.

Here's some ideas for younger readers:

Nikki McClure’s books and calendars are delightful. A renowned papercut artist, her books are exquisite and approachable. 1, 2, 3 Salish Sea is a great first counting book, as it also introduces the beauty of our environment. Old Wood Boat and In are a few of my favorite kid's books. I can really feel the kid's desire in In to not leave the house!

Corrina Luyken’s The Book of Mistakes not only normalizes that mistakes happen all the time, it also shows that mistakes are often the inspiration for great things. Bonus, both McClure and Luyken have Olympia roots.

Ursula LeGuin’s EarthSea series enthralled me as a middle schooler, and I reread them as an adult. The stories follow Sparrowhawk on his journey learning magic, talking to dragons, and finding the true names of things. Magic is based on knowledge of what a thing is, and what it can do. Sparrowhawk's quest to discover himself evolves over the books in the series; the story shifts to his wife and daughter and their connections to dragons throughout the books. I’d tell you Sparrowhawks real name, but it just isn’t done to bandy that around. LeGuin was a prolific PNW writer, and this series has stood the test of time.

One of my family favorites is The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. Mole’s return to his home on Christmas Eve is funny and heartfelt, and the characters are so beautifully written. When Rat realizes he has hurt his friend, he goes to great lengths to make things right. We read this chapter many times during December. Ratty, Mole, Badger and Toad are complete with flaws and foibles, and they demonstrate over and over that family and friends are powerful things indeed.

Jason Reynolds' books Ain’t Burned all the Bright and A Long Way Down are beautiful poignant graphic novels that blew me away. They deal with the realities of life for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) kids, in simple words and images, and I keep going back to them, looking for the things I didn’t see and didn’t know. Reynolds collaborates with other writers and artists, and I have enjoyed all that I have read.

The Golden Compass Series, also known as the His Dark Materials, by Phillip Pullman, Peter Brown’s Wild Robot Series, An Epic Series of Failures series by Christ Rylander, Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children series by Ransom Riggs are just a few of the great fantasy series out there for younger readers. They are well written, engaging and I encourage you to try them out. Exploring new worlds instead of staying in the Hogwarts world is a good thing.

Don’t forget about The Hobbit, or other classics you loved. There’s a reason Winnie the Pooh and Paddington Bear and Mary Poppins whimsical stories stay with us.

Haboo, Native American Stories from the Puget Sound translated by Vi Hilbert is a collection of Lushootseed-speaking people of Puget Sound stories and legends. It’s beautifully illustrated and a nice introduction to these important stories.

These are just a few of my favorites. I know I probably missed yours.

If you have the time and energy for it, a weekly or monthly trip to the library with a young person is a gift that just keeps on giving. Our public libraries are one of the last places you can spend time in and enjoy without needing money. Spend some time with the people you love away from screens, reading silently or together, writing or telling family stories.

Other gifts you can give your young readers, writers, and artists is a class or membership to foster their gifts and grow their community while gaining skills. This is a great idea for adults as well. Maybe you’ve been wanting to try out learning how to make books and do letterpress or take a writing course. Buy two for you and a friend.

Here’s a list of organizations that offer classes or communities around the literary arts in the area. If you know of more organizations, please let me know or pop them into the comment section.

Community print

Arbutus Folk School

Hugo House

Puget Sound Book Artists

Cascadia Writers

Amy Lewis focuses her column on the literary world of Thurston County, spotlighting writers, small presses, book artists, poets, and storytellers of all types. Contact her – amy@thejoltnews.com – if you have a literary event, book, or reading.