SLJ Talks to NBC's Al Roker about His Summer Book Club for Kids
This article originally appeared in SLJ’s Extra Helping. Sign up now!
Debra Lau Whelan -- School Library Journal, 5/23/2007
"Today Show" weatherman Al Roker isn't exactly Oprah Winfrey when it comes to book clubs. But he's hoping that his new children's reading program will help prevent the summer slide, something that happens to young minds when they remain idle for three months.
Al's Book Club for Kids gathers a group of New York students ages 8 to 13 and invites them to sit down and chat with some of the hottest children's book authors. The program already got off to a great start last week, with award-winning Brian Selznick talking to kids about his latest book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret (Scholastic, 2007). Next up is Rick Riordan, who wrote The Lightning Thief (Hyperion/Miramax, 2005).
SLJ caught up with Roker to talk about what inspired the club and what he considers good summer reading.
How'd you get the idea for a book club for kids?
I would like to take credit for it; however, Jaclyn Levin, who is our book editor, came to me—she knows I love to read and it's something I do with my kids—and she said, "What do you think about doing a summer book club?"
Ironically, about a week before, my second-grade daughter's teacher was talking about the summer slide and about getting kids to read to keep them active mentally during the summer break. [The summer slide] can affect any kid over the summer if they don't read. There are no socioeconomic factors involved. It's all kids.
How does your club work?
Jaclyn and her panel of literary folk pick a book, we announce it, and then three weeks later, we have a group of about eight kids [appear on the "Today Show"] and we talk about the book. Then we bring the author in, and those kids come in, and they get to talk to the author and ask questions. And we take some e-mail questions from viewers.
What are some favorite books your kids are reading now?
My eight year old daughter is waiting for the next Harry Potter book. She's only on the fourth book, but she's waiting for it like everybody else. She has friends who've read them all. We just read Hugo Cabret and The Higher Power of Lucky (S & S, 2007).
What do you think about the whole scrotum scandal surrounding Susan Patron's book?
It was interesting. We talked about it, and her mom was involved too. On the other hand, that's the power of reading—the idea is to spark thought and discussion and interest. I don't think it was totally inappropriate. I think as long as kids are reading—I think it's a broad spectrum. I'm OK with kids reading graphic novels. I think that form has really come a long way, so as long as they're reading, as long as they're picking up a book and reading the printed word, I think that you spark the imagination and you keep those neurons firing.
What's the secret to getting more kids into the library?
By starting book clubs and making book clubs cool. And libraries offer that information and offer those book clubs. It really is up to municipalities to make sure that libraries are vibrant, vital places. If you keep them open and offer good programs, they will come.
Are you flattered that someone recently said, "Al Roker is likely to do for kids reading what Oprah has done for adult reading?"
From her mouth to God's ears, that would be a wonderful thing if we could have that effect. I've had parents come up to me and say my kid is reading this book, they're really excited about it, so we're hoping that in our own small way, we can do the same.
Look, I have no delusions of thinking that I'm going to have the same effect on kids reading as Oprah did on book clubs, but if we have a fraction of that, it'll be a success.
