My son is a voracious reader, but he judges books by their covers. How can I help him see past them? | Leading questions

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AetherDash

For Eight-Year-Olds Who Can't Decide on a Book, Sometimes It's Better Not to Try

Eight-year-old readers can be notoriously finicky when it comes to choosing their next great read. While many parents want to steer them towards the classics, others just wish they could get past the cover and into the story.

In her latest dilemma, Eleanor found herself exasperated by her son's preference for books with eye-catching covers. As he unwrapped gift books, he'd immediately dismiss them if the artwork didn't strike his fancy. Eleanor admits that she once shared a similar enthusiasm for illustrations when she was reading to him, but now wants him to see past the cover and into the world of words.

So what's behind this fixation on book covers? Can Eleanor encourage her son to look beyond the surface and discover new favourite books?

The key might lie in giving her son some creative control. A clever solution proposed by another parent was for Eleanor to get her hands dirty, literally. Instead of changing the cover herself, she could ask her son to design his own book covers – using a collage, watercolours or even computer software. This approach encourages him to take an active role in choosing what he reads.

Another theory is that this fixation on covers might be related to growing up and being exposed to different influences. As Eleanor pointed out, children are increasingly bombarded with social media recommendations and peer opinions – all vying for their attention. Perhaps the best strategy isn't trying to dictate their tastes but instead focusing on nurturing his own unique sensibility.

Ultimately, it's a delicate balance between giving him the space to make his own decisions and guiding him towards discovering new worlds of literature.
 
ugh i mean, cant say im surprised 😒... kids these days and their book covers 📚👀 its like they have eyes on the back of their heads or something lol. but seriously though, maybe elizabeth should just chill out about it and let her son be his own little bookworm (and designer) 🤣🎨. i mean, isnt that what childhoods are for? experimenting and finding whats cool to you? 🤷‍♀️
 
OMG 🤯 I can totes relate to this! Like, remember when you're at the bookstore and you just wanna dive into that super cool-looking book? But then you start reading it and it's like, "Uh, why is it so boring?" 😴 Yeah, same with my younger cousins - they get so caught up in the artwork on the cover 🎨 but can't seem to care about the story itself... maybe giving them a DIY project like designing their own book covers would be a total game-changer? 📚💡 They could express themselves and create something all their own, and who knows, they might just stumble upon a new fave author 😊
 
🤷‍♀️ I mean, who hasn't been there right? Like, I know my little sis has this major crush on anime covers and if they don't have that super cute character on it, she's done. But then again, my mom used to love reading the same old storybooks as a kid and now she's all about getting her hands on newer releases with sick illustrations. I think the key is just letting them explore and figure out what they like on their own... or at least let them try before dismissing it 📚💡
 
omg u feel like ur kid is super picky about books 2?? i mean i get it tho, kids can be super particular about stuff they like n dont want 2 change. but its actually kinda cool dat he's developing his own taste n sense of what he likes. my friend's kid loves designing book covers 2 & its become a fun hobby 4 them both! maybe u can try asking ur son 2 design some covers himself or even make one together w/ u? that way he'll feel more invested in the books he reads & might get past the cover n into the story
 
I feel so bad for Eleanor 😔. I mean, who can blame her son for loving those cool covers? But at the same time, she wants him to look beyond the art and get into the story. It's like, good luck with that! 🤣 My kids are still in that age where they wanna be in charge of everything (and, honestly, sometimes I'm like, "Uh, no..."), but it's great that Eleanor is trying to find a balance between letting them make their own choices and guiding them towards new adventures.

You know what? I think giving her son some creative control with those book covers would be genius! 🤓 Let him design his own cover, and who knows, he might just discover a new favorite author or genre. And you're right, kids are getting bombarded with so many influences these days – maybe it's about finding that unique sense of style that makes them happy? It's all about being patient and understanding, and I think Eleanor is on the right track 👍
 
I feel so bad for Eleanor 😔 her son is just like most kids these days with his favorite book covers 📚💄. I mean, who doesn't love a pretty cover, right? 🤷‍♀️ But it's good that she's not trying to force him into reading something he's not interested in, that would be super frustrating 😩. Maybe getting him involved in designing his own book covers is a great way to get him more invested in what he reads... that's so cool! 🎨
 
😂 oh come on, parents are always worried about what their kids like, can't they just chill? I mean, an 8-year-old who loves pretty covers is probably going to love even more when they get into the story 📚👀 it's not that hard to look past the cover, right? My little sis used to be super picky about her books too, but then she started getting into graphic novels and LOVED them! Maybe Eleanor should just let her son explore different genres without being all judgy about the covers 😊
 
I think it's kinda relatable when kids get stuck on covers 🤔📚. I mean, who hasn't gotten sucked into a cool-looking book just 'cause the art is fire 🔥? But you're right, too much focus on looks and not enough on what's inside can be super limiting for their reading experiences 🚫. Maybe getting them to design their own covers would be a sick way to get them more invested in the books they read 🎨📝... just think about it, they'd be like little authors 👩‍🎤! And honestly, with all the social media noise out there, it's great that we're being encouraged to let kids find their own interests and tastes without us trying to impose ours 🙏.
 
📚😒 just think about all those books collecting dust because they don't have the perfect cover 🤯 and now parents are worried that kids will never discover them 🙅‍♂️ meanwhile, climate change is still a thing and polar ice caps are melting at an alarming rate ❄️
 
You know I'm telling you, this is more than just kids being picky about book covers 🤔. It's like they're trying to tell us something. All these social media platforms and online influences are shaping their minds, and now they're carrying that over into what they read. We need to be careful about what we let them consume 💻.

I mean, think about it – they're not just choosing a book, they're choosing an entire world and its values. And if they're already being bombarded with ads and opinions online, who's to say what's truly influencing their taste in literature? 📚 It's like we're playing a game of whack-a-mole, trying to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of childhood entertainment.

I'm not saying Eleanor is wrong for wanting her son to look beyond the cover. But let's be real – there's more at play here than just a child being finicky about art. There's some deeper stuff going on, and we need to start paying attention 🕵️‍♀️.
 
omg u feel me? like, i remember when i was 8, i used to get so caught up in book covers lolol! my friends and i would be like "ooh we wanna read that one cuz its got a unicorn on it" and not even care about the story. but now i get it, parents just wanna make sure ur reading something good 🤪

i think its super cool that eleanors son is still into that lolol. and yeah, giving him creative control would be a sick idea!!! like, u let him design his own covers and hes more likely to read them cuz he invested himself in it 🎨💡 maybe thats the way to go? rather than just trying to make ur kid read something u think they should?
 
I gotta say, I agree with the parents who think it's better not to force their kids to read something just 'cause they don't like the cover 🤷‍♀️. Eight-year-olds are at that age where they're still figuring out what they want and need, you know? And let's be real, sometimes a book's got a dope cover but its content is straight trash 😂.

What I think Eleanor should try is letting her son pick the books himself, but not necessarily before he's even read them. Like, why not just get him some reading time and see what sticks? You could always have an open conversation with him about what you're reading and getting his thoughts 📚. It's all about finding that balance between giving him space to make his own choices and being there to support him.
 
OMG, I totally get it! My little nephew is going through the same thing right now 🤔. He's super into graphic novels and only wants to read books with awesome covers 🎨. At first, I was like "but what about the story?" but then I realized that he's actually trying to express himself and find his own style 🌈.

It's so cool that the mom is giving him creative control by letting him design his own book covers! That's like, totally awesome 💡. And you're right, kids are getting bombarded with social media and peer opinions, it's like they need a space to breathe and make their own choices 😌.

I think it's all about finding that balance between giving them independence and guiding them towards new experiences 🤝. Maybe instead of fighting his love for book covers, we can just roll with it and encourage him to express himself through art or writing? 📚🎨
 
OMG I feel u!! 😩 my little sis is like that too! 🤣 she only reads books with super cute pics on the cover! 📚💕 i remember when i was a kid, me & my friends would totally judge a book by its cover lol 🙃. but i think it's kinda cool that u wanna let ur son have some creative control? 🎨 maybe he'd actually read more if he got to make the covers himself 🤔! 👍
 
I mean, I get it 🤔... kids these days love pretty covers, who can blame 'em? 📚 But is it really that hard for parents to just let them have some creative control over their reading choices? Asking the kid what they want and letting them design their own book covers seems like a no-brainer. And what's with all the talk about social media influencing their tastes? I've got a source on this one... research shows kids are more likely to try new things when they're in charge 📊, not when some adult is trying to tell 'em what to read.
 
OMG I'm like totally with Eleanor on this 😂. Her son is literally obsessed with book covers and it's kinda cute but also super frustrating at the same time! 🤣 I remember when I was 8, I used to love reading these graphic novels with amazing artwork on them, but my mum would always try to convince me to read 'the classics' 🙄. Like, what's wrong with a cool cover anyway? 😎 But then again, maybe Eleanor is right and he needs some creative control 🤷‍♀️. I think it'd be so cool if her son got to design his own book covers - that way he could express himself and still get excited about reading 📚💖. And honestly, sometimes I feel like parents are just too involved in what their kids read... maybe they should just let them discover new books on their own 🤔?
 
I'm so done with this idea that kids need to look beyond book covers! I mean, come on, who doesn't love a good eye-catching cover? It's like they're advertising the best part - the story! Let's be real, some books are just gonna grab you and pull you in, and it's okay if that means looking at the cover first. Maybe instead of trying to change his mind, Eleanor should just let him pick what he wants and deal with it? I mean, she's already dealing with enough stress as a parent...
 
🤦‍♀️ I mean come on! It's just a book cover, right? Can't he see past all that flashy art and get into the story already?! 😩 My own kid is like this too... always picking out books with the most eye-catching covers, it's like they're trying to be cool or something 🤣 But honestly, I think Eleanor has a point. Maybe instead of fighting it, we should just let them have some creative control? Like, who knows, maybe she'll design his own book cover and end up discovering a new favorite author! 🎨💫 That sounds like a win-win to me...
 
OMG, I totally get why Eleanor is struggling 🤯 her son can be super picky about book covers! I mean, who hasn't had those days where you just wanna jump into a story already? 📚 But honestly, it's kinda awesome that he has an opinion about it 🤔. Giving him creative control to design his own covers is a genius move 😎. He'll learn to think outside the box and maybe even develop his own style! It's all about finding that balance between giving him space and guiding him towards new adventures 🌟
 
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