Why you NEED to read

(Takes place in and near Sitka, AK)

I believe in reading and have been a reader from early. Do I believe in reading because I hope people will buy and read my books? No, I just believe in reading, though I don't mind if you read my books.

Readers think differently

Two of the most powerful words in any language are these: "What if ...?" Put simply, people who read are more likely to say them. Reading lets them become other people, live other lives, feel other feelings, solve other problems. Reading—and writing—is a muscle you build. And it's not like the basketball muscle, or the video game muscle, where you enjoy a thing and can do it when you want. 

Reading is like the swimming muscle. You can do it when you NEED to—in your life, on the job, wherever—for as long as you need to do it. You have endurance. 

In any business, in any situation, "what if?" makes a person the problem solver, the solution finder, often the person who gets ahead in life. 

Why writing for children is important

Tomorrow I drive to Seattle to appear in a video produced by boysread.org. The truth is, they're also concerned about girls reading, but it's the boys whose reading numbers have fallen so drastically. 

They'll ask why my work is important. But you won't have to wait to see the video, I'll tell you now. When 8th grade boys in Vermont, known to be reluctant readers, were assigned my book, "Cheechako," they not only read it, they sneaked to read ahead. Of all the comments I've had about my work, that one makes me happiest.

Read aloud for real results

Small children who are read to, reach school with bigger vocabularies. They can understand more and communicate more than those around them. So yes, they go to the head of the class. And studies indicate that the benefit of being read to continues, at least through 8th grade ... so keep reading!

Small children being read to, actually develop new brains cells, that they'll keep all their lives. And there's some evidence that reading when old, helps to retain brain cells, never a bad idea.

Importance of living by your wits. 

When I'm visiting in schools, kids often ask why my stories are all in the past. Clever kids! I'm currently writing my 8th book, and I do write in the past deliberately. A cell phone or a computer changes everything—so I don't write them. In my books, everybody has to live by their ideas and energy—by their wits. 

As readers we get to participate. 

So here's the bottom line, literally. If you want to change a life—really change it—find a child today and start reading. Yes, it's good for them, and you'll always look back fondly at the quality time you spent together.

Check out "Cheechako" here, and happy reading.