Hello, Reader!

Do you like to read? If you’ve been around here for a while, you may know that reading is one of my favorite pastimes. I average about 100 books a year, in almost every genre, both fiction and non-fiction—though I am still a reluctant reader of fantasy sagas. I hate getting in a rut, so one day I may be reading a Jack Reacher thriller and the next a book of essays by Alice McDermott. Check out this screenshot from my Goodreads account to see what I mean.

I’m not telling you this to brag about how much I read, but to establish my credibility on what reading can do for you. When they say that books expand your horizons, they don’t just mean that you can imagine yourself on the Italian coast by reading “Beautiful Ruins,” or learn about tuberculosis thanks to John Green. Books can introduce you to lives that you’ll never otherwise encounter, helping you expand your understanding of other people’s perspectives. Studies have shown that reading fiction increases empathy, and that’s something the world can use more of.
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I’ve been thinking about this since a few days ago when I finished “Help Wanted,” which gave me a whole new appreciation for the struggles of part-time workers. So many books have made me a more tolerant person because they’ve introduced me to perspectives I’d never considered. I can remember reading the young adult novel “The Hate U Give” a few years ago and realizing that while I knew on a surface level that it was hard to grow up in an impoverished neighborhood, I really had no idea what that would feel like. I’ve never had to grow up poor in the South, live on a reservation with an alcoholic mother, or raise a transgender child, but books have given me the opportunity to experience the reality of characters who did.

As a grandparent, I try to remember this when I choose books to share with my grandchildren. Reading about a wide variety of characters and situations will expand both our grandchildren’s horizons and their empathy. Seeking out stories that contain things they aren’t familiar with teaches them so much! And the earlier we do that the better.

Reading together creates some of the most meaningful connections we can have with our grandchildren. The next time you're choosing a book to share, consider: what new world could we explore together? What conversation might this story spark between us? While giving our grandchildren a love of reading is a tremendous gift, it's a much bigger gift to help them see through someone else's eyes.

Warm regards,
DeeDee

P.S. I’ve got several book lists for grandchildren in my Amazon shop. What other recommendations would you like to see? Please let me know!

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Thanks for reading! If you found this valuable, please forward it to a friend!

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DeeDee Moore | Founder, More Than Grand LLC | morethangrand.com