Why Just-Right Books?

     My father is a marathon runner.  Years ago, when he first got into running, he did so because he loves the outdoors and wanted to stay fit.  He began by getting the right gear – comfortable running clothes and supportive running shoes.  Then he set out to see what he could do.  At first, he couldn’t go very far, but over time the distance he was capable of at first began to lengthen.  Two miles became easy, so he extended himself to three.  When he reached five miles comfortably, he began to try different kinds of terrain to challenge himself and to learn what he needed to do as an athlete to strengthen his ability.  Over time, as he learned about how to pace himself appropriately and what he was capable of, he reached the point of training for the New York City Marathon.  Had he started out by running the marathon before learning or working or training, he would not only have become quickly defeated, he would never have learned to love the sport.  Reading development is no different.

     As readers grow and learn, they become stronger.  As they become stronger, they are capable of tackling slightly more difficult texts that carry with them more difficult vocabulary, sentence structure, and meaning.  Texts become longer so readers can strengthen their stamina.  Plot and conflict becomes more complicated, there are more layers of meaning, and characters are more complex.   Meaning must be developed over the course of many chapters and pages.  

     When we allow readers to consume text that is too difficult for them, we are allowing them to start with the marathon.  We deprive them of the ability to grow stronger in the ways they will need to tackle increasingly more difficult text.  And, worst of all, we risk them becoming defeated, frustrated, and hating to read.

This is why "Just-Right Books"