Raising Readers

Parents who encourage and successfully develop children who read see greater school success and satisfaction. This series reviews various examples of children’s literature and provides insights for parents to discuss with their children. Reading and sharing the wonderful stories available to children sends a message that reading is important, creates positive “shared experiences” for families, and helps parents exert a subtle influence on their children’s development.  

Harriet the Spy, by Louise Fitzhugh

Harriet is a lonely 11 year old who doesn’t realize she is lonely. Her parents are Manhattan socialites who leave the daily running of the house and the care of Harriet to hired help. 

She is raised by a very wise nanny whom she calls “Ole Golly." Harriet talks with Ole Golly and looks up to her, but generally retreats to her “spy notebook” in which she writes observations of her friends and interesting people in the neighborhood. These observations are brutally honest and are written “in the moment” with absolutely no filters. The highlight of her day, every day, is when she walks her “spy route” to observe the different people and record her candid observations and thoughts in her notebook.

Then, two simultaneous events happen to Harriet: Ole Golly marries and moves away, and her spy notebook falls into the hands of her friends who read it. They become very angry with the descriptions of themselves and they plot revenge against Harriet through a series of mean jokes. Harriet finds herself in a terrible pickle at the very moment she is without the help of Ole Golly. She begins to misbehave and avoid school. Harriet’s parents step in and find a unique way to channel her impulses into something creative and worthwhile, while helping her recognize her own flaws. 

Children like this book because the character of Harriet is so deliciously real. Who hasn’t thought evil and un-filtered thoughts of others? Harriet is stubborn, occasionally naughty, and pretty self-centered while also being intelligent, observant and energetic. There isn’t a “happy ending” to this story, but rather, a realistic acknowledgement that a complete person consists of some good and some bad, while pointing out that one’s flaws are what cause one's problems. Depending on reading level, this book is for 9-year-olds and up.     

Raising Readers is written by Steve Arnold of Club Z! In-Home Tutoring Services.  He can be reached at 610.831.5101 or ChesMontClubZ@gmail.com. Find out more about Club Z! In-Home Tutoring at www.clubztutoring.com/ChesMont.