Monday, January 12, 2015

Reading With a Younger Sibling

Winter is a wonderful time to read. The weather keeps you indoors, at home (such as today, in my case). However, it can be fun to share a book rather than reading alone. Just as having a parent read to you as a child is special, being a teen and returning the favor to your younger brother or sister is both enjoyable and rewarding. You get to introduce them to your favorite books from when you were younger, and spend time with them doing a quiet and relaxing activity. I have had many good times with my little brother, who is now an advanced and enthusiastic reader on his own, but we still enjoy reading together. Here are a few good choices of books to share with a younger audience:

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling- My brother read some parts with me and others by himself. It is one of his- and one of my- favorite series. If you have a fantasy-loving sibling, you can't go wrong.
The Theodosius Throckmorton series by R. L. LaFevers- This series has history, magic, and adventure all in one, with a clever, curious girl as the main character. My brother and I are currently on the third book out of the four that have been published, and a fifth one may be published at some point, though when is unknown.
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer- This scifi/fantasy series follows the story of technologically advance fairies hidden from the human world, and what happens when their world meets the world of Artemis Fowl, a very young criminal mastermind, and his companions. The series is action packed and humorous. I started reading it to my brother and he has gone on reading it on his own.
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart- This series follows the adventures of four talented children when they get a mysterious chance at "special opportunities." I read the first book to my brother, and we plan to read the next two books. I also recently discovered a book that tells the tale of one of the other important characters in the series, Mr. Benedict, but I have not looked at it yet.

Above all, find books that both you and your little brother or sister will enjoy together. Happy reading!