“Parents are happiest when they see their children absorbed in books!”
* The complete reading education edition of Kim So-young's "The World of Children," which sold 200,000 copies

How can we get our children to love books? These days, most parents have similar concerns.
The child is not reading the book.
While interest in literacy is growing day by day, children and books are becoming more and more distant.
In today's world, where there are so many things more interesting than books, such as reels and YouTube videos that provide immediate stimulation, what children need most is a 'reading habit' that makes them love books.
Reading books because you like them, not because someone told you to, is more powerful than any other education.


Author Kim So-young, a reading education expert and reading classroom teacher, has spent 25 years reading with children, teaching them how to read, and striving to help them immerse themselves in the world of reading.
The author says that the most necessary skill for children these days is 'reading'.
This is because books are the most important tool that can guide children to utilize diverse media appropriately and confidently face the coming era.

This book is a revised and expanded edition of 『Speaking Reading Method』 published in 2019.
Since the first edition was published, it contains all the know-how to help children become proficient in reading, speaking, and writing in a reading environment that has changed.
In particular, the table of contents has been reorganized to enable more intuitive learning of reading methods for each genre, such as picture books, children's books, fairy tales, and knowledge books, and various reading activities are introduced to help make reading a habit.
This book expands upon the educational program taught directly by the author in the reading classroom, making reading education easy and fun at home with just one book.

The author says that children's reading does not end with simply 'reading'.
It is absolutely necessary to 'speak' what you read with your parents and 'write' what you say.
The moment children begin to enjoy reading and develop a love for books, they grow into active readers.
This book will be your first reading lesson to kill two birds with one stone: from developing good reading habits to improving your learning ability by becoming proficient at reading and speaking.

There is a special joy and reward in reading and speaking.
In the reading class, we ask students to read the books we will discuss in class in advance.
In addition, we select books together from the reading classroom bookshelf, and I also recommend books based on the children's interests and needs, so the children usually read two or three books a week.
If you like a book you've read, have a question, or have something to add, the moment we open the reading room door, the conversation begins.
(Omitted) Most of the time, these words are spoken incoherently, without even fully unpacking their bags, but these words are full of life and honest emotions.
As I flip through the pages of the book, I find a scene I like and describe it, and then suddenly I become quiet for a moment as I read it again.
It's such a shining sight that it's a shame to just watch it alone.
---From "Chapter 1: Speaking Improves Reading Skills"

When adults read picture books, children can enjoy reading with peace of mind.
Because you can have enough time to listen to the story, look at the pictures, understand, and feel.
Some people worry that if they continue to read to their children even after they have learned Korean, they will not be able to develop the habit of reading books on their own.
But if you stop reading to your child for that reason, there's a good chance they'll stop reading altogether.
Because I have to stutter while reading, it is difficult to understand the entire sentence, and above all, I do not have time to immerse myself in the picture.
---From "Chapter 2: Pictures Stimulate Creativity: Talking About Picture Books"

Please highlight the poems you particularly like from the poetry collection.
This is a reading method that both the children in the reading class and I really like.
Even if you read the same collection of poems, each person can pick out different poems.
If you explain in words 'why that poem is better than other poems', your appreciation will deepen.
Conversely, if you find something awkward in a poem, you can say why you find it that way.
When we say 'criticism', it seems like we are pointing out something that is lacking, but that is not the case.
Even children can be critics if they can provide reasons why something is good or bad.

---From "Chapter 3 The Power of Language: Simultaneous Speaking"

If your child seems reluctant to read stories, it's because he or she is having difficulty with the thought processes required to read.
What happens if we try to soothe these children by recommending picture books with lots of illustrations? The result is that they end up relying on the illustrations to read the story.
There is no way that you can understand what is expressed in writing.
If you have a child who has difficulty understanding text, you should definitely practice reading.
Even if the book is short, you should read books that require you to read the text to follow the content.
Reading storybooks out loud at this time can also be very helpful.

---From "Chapter 4: Understanding and Expressing Becomes Thought: Telling Fairy Tales"

You don't have to read a book of knowledge from beginning to end.
You can browse through the table of contents to see which parts you find interesting or necessary first.
If you come across an unfamiliar concept while reading, you can just flip through it to find related information.
It is more important to have the experience of opening a book frequently than to understand it in its entirety.
---From Chapter 5, “From ‘Feeling of Knowing’ to ‘Knowing’: Speaking of Books of Knowledge”

Have them write 'Why I like writing' at the very beginning of their writing notebook.
When I suggest this, some children are startled and back off, saying, “I don’t like writing.”
In such cases, ‘pretending to like it’ can also help.
“Let’s just be hypnotized for the next 20 minutes.
You become someone who loves writing a lot.
Or maybe you want to become a really famous writer.
So, I write with the intention of persuading people who hate writing to want to write.
“It might be a good idea to introduce my writing tips.”
---From "Chapter 6: Writing What You Said"

If you want your children to become close to books, you must give them enough time to read.
Also, the adult who is leading the way should read it together.
Realistically, it's difficult for children to read every book they read.
How about starting with the children's books introduced in this book? Once your child has become somewhat comfortable reading, ask them to recommend books for you to read.
It's also a good idea to decide on a day of the week and a time to read the book you want.
Adults can also grow as readers.

---From "Conclusion - The Moment a Child Grows into an Adult Who Reads"