Anne Britton: A book in hand is worth two in an E-reader

“I believe if you can turn a kid on to reading, you’re saving a life.”

I agree with author James Patterson, who said the above. I also believe an actual book – with paper pages that you turn – provides the best start to that process.

In the article “Does e-reading for toddlers count as story time, or is it screen time?” (Oct. 12, Page A3), New York Times writer Douglas Quenqua pointed to research that shows that compared with a printed book, an e-reader actually detracts from building vocabulary for toddlers.

Two more recent articles highlight the importance of “quality word interactions between parents and young children” (“Benefits of closing the word gap,” Oct. 23, Page A7) and efforts by local schools to close any reading gap by third grade (“Third grade is critical,” Oct. 23, Page B1). Third grade is the time students move from learning to read to reading to learn – or else face failure in school.

Why do we want to put a paper book in a young child’s hands?

Enlightened self-interest. A picture book shared at home cements the connection between reading and those good feelings as a child sits safely in a lap of a loved one. Vocabulary grows with the discovery of new words and concepts shared with a parent. Names of things, colors, shapes, letter sounds all develop meaning before the child faces “reading” as a chore for school.

Our self-interest comes in the decrease in our county’s high illiteracy rate (only 40 percent of Stanislaus third-graders read at grade level) and an increase in success in school and graduation rates. Ultimately, a better-educated (and reading!) workforce brings higher-level employers to our region. We all win.

You are a reader, so you already know the importance of literacy in your life. Think about this, though: It is in your best interests to get books into the hands of our community’s children and their families. The books fill gaps in their homes and lives.

It is in your interest that the children of Modesto and Stanislaus County come to school not only ready to read, but wanting to read.

You can help. Here’s how:

“Wish Lists” at the Friends of the Modesto Library’s Scholastic Book Fair, Nov. 12, 13 and 15, are one way to “turn a kid on to reading.” Donations buy books for local youth agencies such as Parent Resource Center, Red Shield Center, Haven, Sierra Vista and, of course, the premier effort in adult literacy efforts – Learning Quest, with its Family Literacy Program. Donations last year from book clubs, service groups, retirees and even other children totaled close to $1,400 for new books that were put into children’s hands through our book fair.

Every book from a wish list – whether an agency’s or the child in your life – is a gift that that lasts a lifetime: the gift of reading. In this season of giving, buy a little success for a child. Buy a book! It’s in your own interest.

This story was originally published November 7, 2014 at 4:01 PM with the headline "Anne Britton: A book in hand is worth two in an E-reader."