Free Reading Books For 5 Year Olds

[Jessia Adachi]

Thisis a hot topic among parents of the upper elementary set - and it's gotten even hotter since the movie version of Hunger Games came out. For me the decision wasn't hard: I have read the book and when my almost-ten-year old daughter asked if she could read it, I said yes enthusiastically.

The Hunger Games is a trilogy by Suzanne Collins about a 16-year-old girl named Katniss who lives in a futuristic dystopia. Katniss volunteers to take her sister's place in an annual battle in which 24 teens fight to the death on live television. The book is rated by Scholastic as grade 5.3 and for ages 11-13.

Parents' concerns about The Hunger Games center around violence. The book has a lot of it, and it is graphic at times. Much of the plot focuses on "the games" in which children kill children. The violence itself, however, is not gratuitous and it is not celebrated. Quite the opposite. The violence is deconstructed, analyzed, and mourned by the lead characters. The book has a powerful anti-violence and anti-war message. And unlike cartoons and video games, the violence in Hunger Games has emotional and physical consequences.

To say that this book is about violence or children killing children is to miss the point entirely. The themes are loyalty, humanity, social equality, sacrifice, oppression, and the complexity of moral choices. It also carries political messages about authority, control, and rebellion. The book indicts reality television and spends a good deal of time eviscerating the genre. I have no doubt the trilogy is destined to be a classic along the lines of The Giver and Animal Farm.

My daughter is now on the third book and we talk about it most evenings, sorting out interesting vocabulary (repentance, treason, and uprising, to name a few), discussing the important themes and characters in the book, and going over the thoughtful prose she's written about it for school. Having discussions about fairness, injustice, and loyalty are much more organic through the lens of this book than just sitting around the dinner table discussing them, which kids often see as a "lecture." We know that she understands the book because of what she says and asks. She's at an age when children are grappling with issues of fairness and injustice - especially against themselves as children - an issue the book handles well. It is well-written and has a strong female protagonist, which is rare in literature for her age group.

Despite this, many parents and teachers are having angst about the book. In fact, my daughter's school came close to banning it (which would have been ironic, since the book is partly about censorship and suppressing information). Her teacher approved her reading it during independent reading time. But then a few parents complained about this: they didn't want their child to read it, but now their child was being tempted by others in the class who were. It was an interesting process to work this out in discussion with the principal and teacher. In the end, they decided to let my daughter (and two other students in the same position) read the book in school.

Usually parents have the best intentions when they tell their child they can't read a book. They want to protect their child from difficult and emotional topics they don't think the child can handle. But in general, I don't think banning is a good idea. Saying no to a child who wants to read a particular book conveys a negative message about their choices, interests, and needs. I think most kids - at least once they get to my daughter's age - are pretty good at figuring out, both intellectually and emotionally, what they can handle. If they start the book and don't understand it or it they feel uncomfortable, they'll put it down.

What's more, if we parents say no to a book, it's a good bet that our kids will find a way to read it secretly. Then we've put them in a position to lie and be secretive, and we've lost the opportunity to discuss something important to them. I'm embarrassed to admit that when I was 12, I read Helter Skelter, and more than once! Now, as a parent, I shudder at the thought, but for some reason I needed to read that book and I imagine that if my parents had forbade me, I would have read it anyway in secret. And that would have closed communication.

It's important for us as parents to think through a decision to allow or forbid our child to read a particular book. Here are some questions parents might ask themselves if their child wants to read The Hunger Games or another difficult book:

If you find you're still nervous about allowing your child to read the book, but he or she still really wants to read it and has good reasons for doing so, try having a discussion about it, as you would with any problem or conflict. Ask them to articulate why they want to read it. Honestly share your concerns about the book. See if you can work something out. You can read it first and then see if that allays your fears. Or, you can read it together. Perhaps you can let your child read a few chapters and then reassess the situation. Let your child know that you respect her or his interests and choices and that you want to work something out.

Anton is the self-proclaimed ruler leader of Year 9 and with his friends, rules the school. But he faces a dilemma when he strikes up an unlikely friendship after a life-changing event. Will he remain loyal to his new friend or stay true to his previous reputation? Suitable for early teen readers, this compelling contemporary comedy explores themes of friendship and identity and offers relatable insights into peer pressure and personal growth. Highly recommended.

Part three of the Chaos Walking trilogy, Monsters of Men explores the effects of war. A fast-moving dystopian thriller set in a fantasy world war to end all wars. Todd and Viola have to fight, but what are they fighting for, and is it worth it? A modern classic and a great book for 13-year-olds.

In a quiet English village, everyone falls asleep unexpectedly. When they wake up a day later, all the women are inexplicably pregnant. It soon becomes apparent that the children have abilities and powers that are not normal, threatening the community. Brilliantly written, this unsettling story is ideal to spark philosophical debate and discussion. Recently adapted into a TV series by Sky, The Midwich Cuckoos is a classic work of science fiction that has renewed relevance in an age of conformity, information wars and distrust in political leadership.

Mysticism, fear and West African witchcraft are blended into this heady and lyrical potion of a modern fable that explores friendship and loyalty. When Sheba discovers her magic abilities, she uses them to uncover dark family secrets that threaten to untie all that binds her life together. Memorable and atmospheric, this novel would be a powerful and provocative read for KS3 book clubs.

A rocket-paced thriller set in a dystopian near future. The only survivor of a terrorist attack on a packed train, Cillian starts to wonder if and why he was spared. Soon he finds himself drawn into a web of deceit and mind-bending revelations. Ideal for reluctant teen readers in Year 9.

A page-turning collection of six books (separately: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner and Midnight Sun) will appeal to young adults. Teen Isabella Swan starts at a new school and quickly has to tread a fine line between romance and dangerous vampires. All six stories are addictive reads.

In the future, all society is overseen by the World Controllers. Everything is ordered and efficient. But Bernard has other ideas and wants to do more than ask questions. An ideal book for year nine book clubs.

Allie Fox is a father who wants to change this world. He is on an unstoppable mission to bring ice and other inventions to the jungle, and a relentless pursuit of his dreams drives his wife and children to despair. After reading this, family holidays will never be the same. An interesting choice for a Year 9 book club.

McMurphy thinks he has escaped prison by being moved to a mental institution. Slowly he realises he is even more confined than before. A startling exploration of sanity and madness; and freedom vs control. Warning, some adult themes and a challenging read for 13 & 14-year-olds.

12-year-old Edgar grows wary of a Baron he meets on holiday in this period story from Hapsburg Germany. He begins to think something is amiss, and when he finds out what it is, he takes revenge in a shocking manner. Short, and tense.

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The thing with giving your 8-year-old child the Harry Potter books is that they will love the first two books, and these are books that are age-appropriate. But unlike the original readers of the series, who grew with the books, your child does not have to wait for ten years to read the final book; they have all seven books waiting on their shelf from day one. The books are so good that even adults are sucked in, so it will be very hard to convince your child to wait a year or two and read the later books. If your child is a good reader, they will be able to plough through the tomes (the last four books have 600+ pages) in the series. You will pat yourself on the back for having encouraged the reading habit in your child. But would you allow your eight-year-old child to sit with a fifteen-year-old girl and discuss her boyfriend problems with your daughter? Would you let your child watch a movie where close friends and father figures are killed?

What then is the right age for a child to read the Harry Potter series? The short answer is the same one that I'd give to someone asking the question - what's the right age to carry a child a phone? The later, the better. If you manage to put off your child reading the Harry Potter Series till age 9 or 10, that's good, and if you manage to put it off till 11, that's great. Given the popularity of the series, and peer pressure to read the book, it's impossible to hold off the books after that. At an older age, not only will your child's emotional maturity be better evolved to handle the sexual and dark themes introduced in the later books, but they will also be able to 'get' much more from the book. I want to add the caveat here that you know your child best, and you are the best judge of your child's ability to handle the books; so if you feel that your eight-year-old can handle the books by all means give it to them. However, please be aware that while the effects of these books will be evident in a sensitive child, these books do impact even hardier kids who look like they can shrug off the violence.

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