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Stuck for books? Ruth Concannon on books for the young readers in your life

Stuck for Books is full of great book recommendations from picture books to teenage reads and everything in between. 

Ruth Concannon on her new initiative Stuck for Books, which is aimed at parents, librarians, teachers, booksellers and book enthusiasts who have a young reader in their life.

by Ruth Concannon

Finding the right book 

We are living in a golden age of children’s literature; there have never before been so many options for young readers from toddlers to teens.  For adults, however, having a high volume of children’s books on the shelves of our libraries and bookshops can make the process of guiding young readers to the right book tricky. 

I have worked with children who are reluctant readers in a number of roles: as a bookseller; as a Reader in Residence with Dublin City Public Libraries; and of course, as a Book Doctor with Children’s Books Ireland.

Overwhelming

As well as coming across young readers who are unsure what to read next, I have often encountered parents, teachers and librarians who don’t feel confident recommending good books to young readers in their lives.

For adults, it can be completely overwhelming to know where to start when it comes to recommending books to children.

Young readers can get stuck in a reading rut, have challenges with learning to read or dyslexia, or might simply struggle to find interesting and age appropriate books.

It was with these enthusiastic, but overwhelmed adults in mind that inspired me to come up with the concept for my website and online talk series Stuck For Books. Stuck for Books is a series of talks that will tackle a number of common reading related issues that young readers can face.

Stuck For Books is aimed at parents, librarians, teachers, booksellers and book enthusiasts who have a young reader in their life that is in need of some guidance when it comes to books and reading. Filled with great book recommendations that cover readers from picture books to teenage reads and everything in between. 

The first talk in the series, held in November, recommended books for early readers. In my first talk, I provided reading recommendations and resources for readers who are making the transition from picture books, to learning to read independently.

Books for Christmas

Up next, I hope to tackle the tricky topic of buying books as gifts for Christmas. Sharing stories at Christmas is a special kind of magic and giving the gift of a book can create memories for young readers that stretch beyond the festive season.  

But, with the shelves full of bestsellers, it can feel overwhelming to choose the right book. If you are struggling to find the perfect children’s book for every stocking, join my Christmas Wishlist talk at 7pm on the 7th of December.

Aimed at helping adults to get some gift inspiration before the Christmas buying rush, I will be recommending books for readers from toddlers to teens with lots of time for questions or specific recommendations.

Tickets are available now via Eventbrite or through the website, or follow Stuck for Books on Instagram or Twitter to keep up to date—and if you have any questions, get in touch at hello@stuckforbooks.com.