When I first decided to write a story, it was due to the fact that my eldest daughter, then ten was unable to find any reading material that she was really interested in. The funny thing is that it didn’t occur to me at the time, to take her across the street to the library. Instead, I sat down and began to type, not realizing at the time what an enormous project I’d undertaken.

At first I was unsure if the story would end up being suitable for her particular age group, but the more I wrote, the more confident I became. Chapter by chapter I’d read aloud to all three of my children, until we were all basically satisfied with the results. It was so encouraging, the “read more, read more!” I’d get back in return. They laughed and sneered at the story in all the right spots. By the time it was done, it had been read over not only by my own children, but by other children and adults as well, and I was asked by them all to write another story. Imogene of the Pacific Kingdom was published in December of 2003.

Writing the second story didn’t turn out to be a problem, as it had been swirling about in my mind for several months already. And so in December of 2004, the second story, Dager of the Tasman Empire was published.

Why didn’t I continue on at that point with Imogene’s adventures? The reason is simple. Although many boys who had read Imogene of the Pacific Kingdom enjoyed it thoroughly, for many boys in that age group, the idea of picking up a book with a princess on the cover is not appealing. My desire is to entertain children of all ages, and both genders. Having two books now where a boy and a girl are the main characters, I can reach a broader audience.

Children, much the same as adults have to actually want to pick up a book. Something about it has to have that special visual appeal, or the interest will not be present. However that’s not where it begins.

The desire to read begins is at a very young age. We are all aware that children learn by example, and if they never see their parents pick up a magazine, newspaper or book, it’s quite likely that they will follow suit.

I’ve done a lot of signings at bookstores, and quite often I’ve been detrimental to my own cause. My prime reason for being there is to sell my own books, and yet time and time again I’m steering customers toward the younger age geared books or others which would most likely suit their children’s age groups. More often then not, they go home with another book, by another author…and I end up feeling like I have done exactly what I’m meant to do, which is encouraging children to read.

There is so much reading material out there which will help encourage your children to read, it’s not only mind boggling, but it’s also right in front of you. Take for instance the menu in a restaurant. Most of the children's menus are simple and easy to read. Read the selections out loud with your child. And how about cereal boxes? A lot of them have fun activities for kids, or trivia on the backside. Books based on their favorite movies? Or how about books which movies were based on? Depending on the age of your child, you can then move on to simple books for young readers, or even comics. Their horizons will begin to expand immediately, as long as they’re not feeling overwhelmed by the information in front of them.

How not to overwhelm your child? Start with small steps, a little at a time, and your child will let you know when he or she is ready for more. And most importantly, set a good example. Read together, read out loud. It is truly amazing how much it all counts.

Statistics show that children who read not only when they have to read, but also when they want to, have improved literacy, comprehension, fluency and grammar skills over those who don’t tend to read a lot. Who wouldn’t want their children to have this advantage? Reading easily becomes a skill that will enhance and open their minds not only through their school years, but through their entire lives in general.

So have fun with reading. It shouldn’t be a chore. Play word games. Play sentence games. Create stories together. How else could you possibly travel to far away magical lands and meet amazing characters right from the comfort of your own home?

-- Teresa Saari