Books can be uplifting, inspiring, faith-promoting, relaxing and entertaining. Reading good books, in addition to the scriptures, can improve your attitude on life and your worth as a child of God and can help direct you toward becoming a better person, while invigorating your entire being.
There’s new information coming out about how our reading processes are changing. Technology seems to be re-wiring our brains. The way we look at computer screens affects how we receive information. Our eyes scan over pages quickly as we search for the information we’re seeking. This process creates that re-wiring so our brains are just working on topical information and not actually reading for deep meaning and comprehension. The movement of our eyes isn’t going from left to right as much. They are moving in a more non-linear fashion and attempting to grasp the page in its entirety in a quick swoop.
This approach slows down our visualization process, word usage process, and directly affects our comprehension and memory. Reading an actual book, and not an e-book, helps slow down the reading process and encourages enjoyment as well as remembering large and small events in the story. This is called “slow reading” and research is showing that this type of reading isn’t tempting to scan or go on to other technologies as with e-readers. Having the experience of actually turning pages helps the reader remember where to locate parts in the book to go back to re-read.
And books can help bring families together by reading out loud and enjoying well-written books such as the classics or poetry. Reading to children strengthens the bond between parent and child. We know that reading the scriptures daily helps strengthen the bond between us and our Heavenly Father and promotes our faith. It helps make us better people and instills in us a desire to do good towards others.
By reading books that promote good, or entertain with righteous intent, directs us toward a happier and more “Christ-like” life. Children who read a lot strengthen their minds and become better at assimilating and dealing with situations later in their lives. Reading builds reason and vocabulary, processes logic, enhances focus, interconnects past, present and future experiences, strengthens comprehension and concentration and ultimately helps make you smarter. Books can fill the void of loneliness and boredom. Hopefully, reading can become a prime part of entertainment. Parents who take time to read out loud daily teach their children that reading is pleasant and enjoyable – not a chore. Daily reading exercises and strengthens the mind, enhances creativity and propels imagination. Poetry is a beautiful type of read-out-loud literature to showcase the lilting pentameter of words and phrases. Poetry begs to be read out loud and with expression, it can be invigorating and inspiring.
Unfortunately, unacceptable reading material can promote inappropriate thoughts and behavior. It can attempt to validate acceptance, making it appear that it’s acceptable and even normal. There are books being published that cleverly infiltrate such unacceptable actions into a story and attempt to navigate children towards subjects that interest them. Seldom are these themes included on the information on the back cover of the book. The subjects of these stories include transvestites, acting on gay impulses and being raised by gay parents. Some publishers and authors tie these inappropriate situations into likable story-lines in order to get kids to read them.
A safe way to stay clear of these types of books is to refer to my reviews. My main purpose of writing these reviews is to find books that are well written, interesting andappropriate. You can always count on my recommendations to help children and families enjoy the books I review.
To see past reviews and recommendations from Holly, click here.
