Book Clubs for Kids

As soon as possible kids, should be running their own book clubs. You can whisper guidelines in their ears, but if they run their own show, they will take ownership of the club, and that is what you want.

A book club is not school. While adults may join book clubs to force themselves to read books they would otherwise not read, children typically participate in a book club only as long as they're having fun. Creative field trips that help to bring a book to life -- fossil hunting, dolphin watches, zoo visits, trips to a "haunted house," visits to a working farm -- are invaluable.

At the first meeting of the club, being as subtle as possible, help your kids to create the club rules.

1. How will they select books to read?
2. Will they take turns being moderator?
3. Will there be food? (Boys love food.)
4. Where do they want to meet, and how often?
5. How many kids can join the club?
6. What do they hope to get out of the club?
7. How much adult participation do they want...if any?
8. What different responses to a book interest the group: discussion? reading favorite parts out loud? creating skits based on scenes in the book? Doing Readers Theater for a presentation to parents?