“The study of literature encourages empathy,
tolerance for diversity, imagination,
and emotional intelligence…”
of others through books, children receive insights into dealing with their own problems, a process called bibliotherapy.
Literature provides pleasure to listeners and readers. It is a relaxing escape from daily problems, and it fills leisure moments.
It also builds experience. Children expand their horizons through different experiences. They visit new places, gain new
experiences, and meet new people. They learn about the past and the present, and about a variety of cultures, including their
own. They discover the common goals and similar emotions found in people of all times and places. 5
In terms of our main interests at Saint David’s to fully engage boys in reading, I am happy to say, in my tenure, I have yet
to encounter one boy who does not like to read something. Obviously, their tastes and interests vary the entire spectrum of
literature. And of course, their particular reading level plays a large role in the literature they select. But the good news is that
Saint David’s boys want to read. Kudos to the parents, guardians, and other caregivers, and the reading teachers who have
worked so diligently to make this a reality. Some ways we can continue to promote reading with our boys include: making
time for reading, offering praise for reading, encouraging them to read to their younger siblings, making sure the reading
material is not beyond your son’s reading capabilities, and finally, looking for variety in reading material.
Happy Reading! M
Gretchen King is Lower School Librarian at Saint David’s School.
Works Cited
1. nownovel.com
2. Stan, Ruxandra Viorela, (2014) The Importance of Literature in Primary School Pupils’ Development and Personal Growth.
3. Kramsch Claire. (2010) Context and Culture in Language Teaching, Oxford University Press
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
The Lower School Library offers a wide range of classics, traditional and modern day, for boys to read.