ABSTRACT
In this chapter, Jago makes a strong argument for why educators and parents should do everything in their power to instill a love of reading in children, and the implications for not doing so. This includes providing access to books that interest them, offering students choices and the freedom to read what they want, and “creat(ing) a world where all children can picture themselves in the pages of a book.” Jago includes the voices of authors and scholars, and provides lists of award-winning and notable adolescent books in fiction, nonfiction, and prose. The chapter ends on a cautionary note about the recent spate of book bans in the U.S., and what that means for teachers, school librarians—and students.
