A few days ago I noticed a student who was having a difficult time finding a book to read. “Want me to help you find a book?” I asked. “Yes, please!” she replied. “Nothing looks really great to me.” We were fishing through book baskets, pulling out possibilities, reading the backs of books, when a friend chimed in. “Oh, I know the perfect book for you!” the friend said. And the two were off, in search of the “perfect” book. Before reading was over, she had selected a book and fell into the reading zone.
In our lives, our best recommendations come from those who know us well. Our friends recommend movies, stores, songs, games, and yes, books. Chances are, you share the same interest in literature as someone in our class.
Readers, I would like for you to recommend a book to the class. Think of a book or other piece of literature you love. It can be a poem, magazine, blog, illustrated book or chapter book, or any other well-written piece of literature. Write the title of the book, the author, and a meaningful, specific reason why it is so great. Avoid “nothing” words like funny, great, and cool. If you know of someone specifically who would love the book, go ahead and add their initials.
At the end of the day, I checked in with my student who was busily reading her newly-selected chapter book. “So, you found the perfect book, huh? Looks like a great choice.” She replied, “Yeah, it’s great! My friend recommended it and I even had it listed on my Books I Want to Read list.” I smiled. “Well, that makes it a perfect choice then.” “Yes. Perfect.” Then she fell back into the zone.
