It is a sad realization that reading for some families is not a priority. Growing up in my family everyone had a book in their hand. Trips to the library were frequent. My siblings and I were read to every night. Summers were spent reading as many books as we could. As an adult I have an almost compulsive need to have a book with me at all times. I share this love of books and reading with my children. Their bookshelf overflows with many different books, including bilingual books. I want to promote their Hispanic heritage, and the best way I know how is through books.
Families reading together definitely brings families closer, at least in my personal experience. It allows time for parents and children to sit together, and be engaged in imagination, thought, and conversation together. It gives parents insight into how their children view the world around them through questions and answers centered around the books they read together. It gives parents and children topics to discuss and share with each other. It empowers parents to also be their child's teacher.
Providing bilingual books for families encourages parents and children to embrace both languages. As a parent I would be comforted to know that my child would not have to "lose" their first language in order to learn English. This experience also provides a mutual learning opportunity for the parents, if they do not read in English. The children could help their parents read the English, and the parents could help their children read the Spanish.
There seem to be so many benefits from promoting family reading. It would be fantastic to see this encouraged in all schools for all students.
