This is part of our Cardinal Way project on promoting civil discussions.
The General Assembly’s research arm recently produced a report on how many books had been removed from school libraries in Virginia over the past five years.
The number: 223 different titles, with 75% of those removals concentrated in just five localities, with Hanover County pulling the most (125). After that came Rockingham County (57), Goochland County (34), Madison County (23) and Spotsylvania County (19).
Most localities didn’t remove any.
You can read our account of that report or the report itself.
The report prompted us to ask readers some questions about how they handled their children’s book choices. Here’s what readers had to say:
How much parental supervision should there be in overseeing what kids are reading? At what age do you let them make their own selections?
When I took my children to the library I let them choose their books. This allowed them a choice to read or look through a variety of topics. I remember my children choosing books because the cover looked fun or they themselves just randomly chose.
Christine Gibbons, Lynchburg
5
Randall Wolf, Stuarts Draft
Parents should maintain an interest in what their children are reading as long as they are parents. By that I mean they should be aware of and engage in conversations with their children about what they read to (a) demonstrate an interest in their child and (b) exercise some oversight about the content of their reading. As to an age to allow them to make their own decisions, that is an “it depends” answer. Children mature at different rates. Generally, though, they should begin making their own decisions, with parental knowledge, before they even enter school. A four-year-old knows which books they like.
Wayne Tripp, Roanoke County (retired school superintendent)
I always allowed my daughter to make her own selections, but would discuss them with her. It was the same with television and movies. If I felt it would be too upsetting for her, but it was a popular book, we talked about it first. Often, she had questions or thoughts she hadn’t shared before the book or tv show. It allowed us to discuss her feelings and concerns.
Laura Reichenbaugh, Bent Mountain
When they learn to read, age 5 or earlier. They choose well. They will enjoy reading if left to explore multiple books and allowed to freely read wherever they are.
Marie Pridgen, Chatham
I think it’s more important to oversee who kids are hanging with and what they are doing as well as the books they are reading. Some books are popular and everyone reads them but that doesn’t change behaviors if values are first established in the home and the books are discussed. There’s no specific age appropriateness for a book. Again it’s about communicating. If your child reads a book that you feel is inappropriate, ask why they are reading it, talk about the book.
Sandra Knodel, Lynchburg
Parents should be aware of everything the child is reading, but should not be overtly controlling. Rather, in cases when the books are not obviously predictably innocent and bland, the parents should read or flip through the books the kids are reading (not necessarily with the kids’ knowledge) and be prepared to talk about their themes or messages. Take away a book if necessary for blatant bad content, sexual or violent or otherwise. That would be more the case when the kid is reading adult books. My daughter went through a Colleen Hoover phase at age 12, but I let her continue unimpeded, because the books prompted her to long discussions about romantic control and danger, and she probably paid more attention to those lessons she came upon herself while reading and thinking than any talk from a parent or teacher.
Holly Kozelsky, Martinsville
My grandson is 3. His parents read to him daily from a wide range: picture books to middle school series. They give him wide choice and allow him to pick out books in the children’s section of the public library. Their policy is to be actively aware of his interests and participant in his reading practice.
Lillian Trettin, Roanoke
As an English major and teacher, I am familiar with most books and what my kids are reading. I let them pick what they want, but I do make suggestions. I don’t restrict them from reading controversial books.
LeAnna Earls, Rosedale (Russell County)
I never restricted my children from reading anything but I carefully monitored what they watched on screens
Molly O’Dell, Buchanan (O’Dell is a member of one our advisory boards but board members have no say in news decisions; see our policy)
Children should choose their own books from the beginning. Parents are there for guidance — to help them find books related to their interests, as well as helping them find books closer to their reading levels, for a more enjoyable experience.
Melissa Kile, Alum Ridge (Floyd County)
Let child choose but talk about what they read regardless of age.
Louise Werner, Henrico County
My daughter has chosen her own books since elementary school. I scanned the titles and occasionally asked her to hold off on reading a book till I had read it (to be prepared to answer any questions).
Patrick Johnson, Riner
Awareness and engagement in discussion, not controlling supervision. Reading and curiosity are more important than hard boundaries.
Carol Nelson, Reva (Culpeper County)
My kids are grown now, but I always wanted to know what they were reading, mainly so we could talk about what they were reading. My oldest is 28 now, but we still talk about the current books they are reading.
Bonnie Lindsay, Warrenton
You should know what your kids are reading, to know is to know them. I let my kids make their own selection at first grade.
James Otto, Virginia Beach
Some supervision, including reading books with complex issues that their child wants to read. No specific age; it depends on the child and what they want to read.
Janet Eddy, Hanover County
If you have children in school, how involved are you in what they’re reading, or are you just glad they are reading? How old are those children?
I do not have children in school currently. However, I made a contract with my younger son when he was about eight that I would buy him any book he wanted as long as he read it. I often bought myself a copy too so that I could understand his interests and talk with him about them. It cost me a fortune, but he is still an excellent reader with wide-ranging interests who often refers books to me.
Wayne Tripp, Roanoke County
No children presently in school, but I always encouraged reading. To promote fear of a book is an exercise in mind control and narrowness by those seeking religious or political dominance. I taught my child to defy the book banners by reading whatever appealed to her. Nothing in a book will harm you. It will, instead, help you avoid being manipulated.
Marie Pridgen, Chatham
My daughter is 16. I skim through or read the books she reads to be aware. I would take away a book if it was too racy. I would be worried about a book’s content/message if the kid only read very few books, but when a kid reads a lot, they balance each other out.
Holly Kozelsky, Martinsville
My kids are going into 7th and 9th grades. I am just happy they are reading, but I would never intervene in a teacher’s choice for their own classroom. I personally believe that people who try to ban books are morally reprehensible.
LeAnna Earls, Rosedale (Russell County)
I now have grandchildren in school, and have a library of kids’ books in our home for them when they visit. I was a teacher and librarian, and was always just glad that my students (and my daughters) were reading.
Melissa Kile, Alum Ridge (Floyd County)
I ask her what she is reading and suggest authors and titles she may want to explore. With her starting college in the Fall I am looking forward to seeing what she will be reading in this next stage of life.
Patrick Johnson, Riner
When they were young, there were books they were reading that had misspellings and poor grammar, and language we wouldn’t want them to use, but I’d just let them know what I thought was wrong with the book, but let them keep reading it. We’d also talk about scary books or with troubling stories where the main character was emotionally or physically hurt.
Bonnie Lindsay, Warrenton
We also asked readers two other questions:
Is there a book you read in your youth that opened your eyes or minds to something very different from what you heard and learned at home, school or church? Did your parents know?
What else would you like to share on this topic?
We’ll share those responses in the coming weeks. You can still answer those questions here.
