The Book Review The Sunday Special: The Books We Read in School
Oct 3, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Sadie Stein, an editor at the New York Times Book Review, shares her love for childhood reading, while Louis Sachar, renowned for his books like 'Holes,' reflects on his own school reading experiences. They explore how to keep young readers engaged, emphasizing the importance of humor and respect in children's literature. Louis suggests titles like 'The Giver,' while Sadie points to spooky stories as great gateways to reading. Both highlight the shift in pleasure reading and offer tips to reconnect kids with books.
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Classroom Read-Aloud Sparked Love
- Louis Sachar recounts being moved to tears when his fourth-grade teacher read Charlotte's Web aloud.
- That single classroom read-aloud sparked his deep love of reading.
Fourth Grade Reading Rituals
- Sadie Stein describes fourth grade as magical because her teacher read aloud daily and engaged in crafts.
- She credits the Betsy-Tacey books for turning her into an avid reader.
Write For The Reader You Respect
- Louis Sachar says books must hook the writer first, so he writes what he likes.
- He avoids talking down to child readers and respects their intelligence.