Still Wild About Books

Although they love technology, 75 percent of kids ages five to 17 say they still want to read books, says a new study.

“The Kids & Family Reading Report” (www.scholastic.com/readingreport) also says that 62 percent of kids prefer reading printed books rather than those on a computer or a handheld device. Those who look up an author’s Web site, search for books by a particular author, or visit a fan site are more likely to read books for fun every day.

“Parents and teachers can tap into kids’ interest in going online to spark a greater interest in reading books,” says Heather Carter, director of corporate research at Scholastic, which conducted the study with consumer trends research firm TSC.

The report also confirms that the time kids spend reading books for fun declines after age eight and continues to drop through the teen years. One of the key reasons is that they have trouble finding books they like. Those who experience this problem are far less likely to read for fun daily or even twice a week.