5 stars = Outstanding!

It was no surprise how excellent this book is. I have come to expect this sort of quality from anything produced by Donalyn Miller. The book focuses around the central idea that reading should be an enjoyable experience, so avoiding things that kill the joy and fostering the things that help it grow.

Great blend of stories and real kid quotes alongside research, practical examples, and advice for education professionals. Looking forward to sharing this with every teacher I know.

As an English teacher, this book really encompasses the joy and love u try to install in my students when it comes to books.
My one gripe is that it wasn’t on the kindle, which made it difficult to read on my phone!

As a reader and librarian, I know firsthand the joy of reading. I also know how hard it is to sometimes impart that joy to my students. How do I truly capture everything reading does and is and convince those reluctant readers to take the plunge. In The Joy of Reading, Donalyn Miller and Teri Lesesne bring decades of experience to highlight the importance of reading joy and how teachers can support this joy.

The Joy of Reading is divided into five parts. In the first, the authors address the key part of this book. What reading joy is and why it is important. They also raise the issue of how reading in school can sometimes kill that joy. Part two focuses on access and time. Citing research around the time children really need to engage with reading, this section of the book provides practical ideas for encouraging students, including using classroom libraries, school libraries and public libraries. They also raise the issues and barriers that censorship creates.

Part three brings us to the importance of readers’ choice. From book talks to reader surveys, this section providers readers with lots of ideas for sparking reader choice. In part four we move to reading responses and how we can make these more authentic for students. Finally, part five takes a wider look at reading communities and how to build a community of readers. Along with a range of appendices that includes a reader survey, this book is designed to be used in practice. This book is targeted at teachers, but there will be some appeal to librarians. I love how the authors are not afraid to raise important and contentious issues or call out bad practice.

Throughout the book, the authors provide personal reflections, examples from their classroom practice and anecdotes. It makes it an easy book to read cover to cover. I adored the little graphics scattered in the pages, especially the frequent book recommendation stacks. Super cute and the colours, graphics and design make this a really beautiful book, which is so important (and often overlooked) in professional books.

I hope this book inspires teachers to help direct their students towards a love of reading joy.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

As a middle school librarian, I always feel inspired after reading anything from Donalyn Miller. This book is no exception - anyone who reads this will walk away with a lot of inspiration to help young people find joy in reading. As books need to compete with online/digital entertainment, it's more important than ever that we promote and celebrate a love of reading in students; this book will help any educator/parent in doing that.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-galley!

This is the perfect read if you are looking for a succinct yet comprehensive book on how to foster the love of reading in students.

Growing up, I was the kid who always had a book in my bag on the off chance that I could sneak in some “fun reading”. I loved school and learning, but would get antsy to read a book of my choosing. However, I soon learned that little to no time was allotted to free, independent reading outside of the curriculum.

Sadly, having worked in the educational field, I know all too well that teachers are forced to focus on teaching to and meeting standards. This is one of, if not the biggest pit fall we have in our education system. As a result, reading for the purpose of pleasure has taken a massive hit. It is usually the first thing to go from the daily agenda at school and allocated to the home for homework.

Teri Lesesne and Donalyn Miller’s The Joy of Reading is a masterpiece that should be required reading for all adults who work with students. It calls into question why we continue to perpetuate outdated practices and white, male authors that no longer represent all of our experiences. It highlights our need to diversify the authors we promote, ways in which we allow students to communicate their learning, and how to encourage peer to peer recommendations.

Special thanks to NetGalley.com and Heinermann Publishing for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest feedback. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know in the educational field and buying a copy of my own!

This was a delightful book about the transformative power of reading. As an educator, this is one I'll return to again and again. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

As a secondary ELA teacher, I am always trying to help my students cultivate a love for reading. I feel strongly that there is a book for EVERYONE. Kids don't hate reading. They just haven't found the right book that pulls them in and holds them tight. I look forward to implementing the strategies mentioned in the book and continuing to help students find the joy of reading.

Me and my family love reading. Actually we doing fine with this hobby. But this book still give me information and tips to doing more of it without make reader feel overwhelmed. I will glady recommendation this one to friends.

Thanks Netgalley for providing me with this ARC.

It is well done. I love the colors, style of writing, and mostly important the information.
Great job ♡

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

I loved this book and I'm recommending to my reading group.

Donalyn Miller is my reading guru. Teri Lesesne is a close second. Pairing them together on a book about how to get students to love reading is a hit! This book talks about the need for joy in reading and how that joy will help students become lifelong readers. I loved it.

“Remember the firemen are rarely necessary. The public itself stopped reading of its own accord.” Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451.
❤️
The Joy of Reading is a guide for educators, teachers, librarians, administrators and parents/students on how to create an environment where ALL students find the joy in reading. Filled with facts, data, quotes, book recommendations and so much more, @donalynm @professornana put their hearts on the pages to show/remind us all what teaching reading should be all about.
📚
Reading Donalyn’s books always fill my cup and remind me of my why. If you haven’t read The Book Whisperer, Reading in the Wild or Game Changer—run, don’t walk to read these now. These books (including this new one) are my inspiration, fuel me and push me to be better every time I read them. A librarian’s Bible, if you will. Read woke, read diversely, read with purpose and share that love of reading and books with others. Another 5 ⭐️ nonfiction book filled with great book recs, quotes and ways to bring the joy of reading back into your life and those of the students around us.

by Donalyn Miller; Teri Lesesne
#TheJoyofReading #NetGalley

I can still remember learning to read. I can picture the covers of my first school reading books to this day. From age five, I have loved and valued reading. Reading has led me to marvelous adventures, thoughts that provoke, information and facts and more. I still remember the delight of my first Nancy Drew book and then devouring the series. I have NEVER stopped reading, no matter what else has gone on around me.

Today, reading competes with many other diversions for kids. Of course, there are screens and more. However, part of the problem, as these authors note is that the teaching of reading has not encouraged joy in kids. Instead, reading is a challenge or chore. There are too many rote tasks involved and often projects that do not excite. The authors, who are widely and deeply experienced, have many thoughts on this.

One solution put forward in this book is to set the conditions to help children to read what they want. Let them discover the books that speak to them and not always be performance based. I know that in my tutoring, along with teaching phonics, I want to read stories to the kids that are about their interests and that will leave them wanting more. I know that with my two children, I did not care what they read so long as they read. Trips to bookstores and libraries were highlights for them and me.

This book is for those who teach reading but there are lessons for all of us in these pages. I love the quotes throughout the book, beginning with the very first by Roxane Gay. It is inspiring to remember what reading brings to people.

Some section headings give an idea of the authors’ focus. These include Joyful Reading Relies on Abundant Access and Time; Joyful Reading Encourages Readers’ Choices; Joyful Reading Honors Readers’ Responses; and, Joyful Reading Thrives in a Supportive Community. Throughout there are quotes from students that bring the text to life. Also, keep an eye out for the illustrations with book stacks; there are lots of good suggestions here.

Those who currently teach, those who aspire to teaching, student teachers, all will benefit from a deep dive into this wise text. The generosity of the author’s in sharing their personal experiences with reading adds so much to this book. It offers an engaging and thoughtful experience.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Heinemann publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.