By Heather Peterson , youth services librarian, Eden Prairie Library 

Is your child stepping into the wide, wonderful world of reading? If you regularly read to your child and if you're a reader role model, he or she probably has developed a positive attitude toward reading. Now, with a library card, you can help your reader search for books to read alone or out loud to you.  Where to start? 

Go directly to KidLinks on HCL's Web site (www.hclib.org/kids/). You'll find tools selected for children, ranging from homework help to booklists for every reading level. A click on Books & Reading will link you to hundreds of books listed by genre. For new readers, there is a special "Beginning" tab to help them get their feet wet. Encourage your reader to try many different choices, from picture books to informational books, biographies to poetry, chapter books to magazines. Variety in the early reader's diet is so important. As with vegetables, they may never know they like it until they try it! 

 How can you determine if a book is appropriate for your child's reading level? Use the "Five Finger Test." Open the book to a page in the middle and ask your child to start reading aloud. If he or she stumbles over a word, have them hold up one finger. If they're holding up all five fingers by the end of the page, it's probably a bit too difficult for them right now.   If the child is holding up only one or two fingers by the end of the page, the book will probably be a nice challenge for them. If there are no fingers up by the end of the page, it will be an easy read.  Should you worry if your reader is interested in books that appear to have no educational merit?  Or if they want to read what their friends and classmates are reading? Every book in a series? Everything written by a particular author? What if they still like to read picture books, or reread a book over and over?  

Children gain different skills by reading at various levels of difficulty. Reading fluency — the ability to read accurately and quickly — is acquired by reading at or below reading level.  Reading comprehension — understanding what was read — is much easier when the reader doesn’t have to struggle with the words. Just as you don't read only long, challenging, educational, works of literature, neither should your young reader.  Reading for fun is a great way to get hooked on the reading habit!  Finally, when children have reached the "Olympian" achievement of being able to read on their own, continue to read to them, make sure they see how important reading is in your life, encourage them to challenge themselves, and above all — have fun reading!  

 Suggested titles - check the Catalog for more:

• Reading Makes You Feel Good (picture book) by Todd Parr. Using colorful cartoon illustrations, Todd Parr describes various advantages of being able to read.

• I Can Do It All (Easy Reader, Rookie Reader series) by Mary E. Pearson. When a boy goes to the library, he realizes he can pretend to be and do anything by reading books.

• Junie B., First Grader at Last! (children's chapter book, Junie B. Jones series) by Barbara Park.  Junie B. thinks first grade is a flop when her kindergarten friend Lucille prefers the company of twins Camille and Chenille, and Junie B. needs glasses.