The number of American children who say they love reading books for fun has dropped almost 10% in the last four years, according to an article called “Report:  fewer kids are frequent readers” by Ami Albernaz.  The article shares finding from a biannual 2014 Kids & Family Reading Report citing the decline in reading due to the pressure of schoolwork and other distractions.

With only 37% of children reading a little and 12% who said they did not like it at all,  researchers have found a sharp decline in reading enjoyment after the age of eight. Sixty-two percent of children between six and eight say they either love or like reading books for fun. This percentage drops to just 46% for children between the ages of nine to 11, with the figure at 49% for 12-14-year olds, and 46% again for 15-17-year-olds.

A lot of children would say that they do enjoy reading but it is not at the top of the list of things they like to do. Providing encouragement and time in school and at home for children to enjoy books they choose to read will help children discover the joy of reading.   Motivating children to read more  will improve their skills too.

The article also discusses that technological advances as part of the decline in reading for fun. Forty-six percent of 17 year olds say they only read once or twice a year because they are forced to through school, but back before technology was advanced like it is today, 67% of 17 year olds said they read once or twice a week.

Reading is good for the brain and everyone should pick up a book every once in awhile. Los Banos High’s top three authors in the library are Steven King, John Green, and Nicholas Sparks.

According to readbrightly.com the top three of the most exciting YA (young adult) books to read in 2017 include Carve the Mark by Veronica Moth, City of Saints and Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson,  and We Are Okay by  Nina LaCour.