We are a family that loves puzzles. Though we usually work on 1000-piece puzzles, I couldn't resist this 400-piece gem when I saw it. It easily went together in one afternoon, and boy, was it fun! So much fun, in fact, that I resolved to throw a few more easy puzzles into the jigsaw rotation.

The ease and the picture turned my thoughts to books. Easy books sometimes have a bad reputation in schools or with the parents of the students we serve. Although we don't want students to read only easy books, it would be great if we could highlight their benefits as a staple of a reading diet.

Easy books

expand confidence,

increase comprehension,

build fluency and expression, and

aid in building stamina.

Yes, we want students to continue developing their skills. Yes, we want them to read and understand complex texts. It is also true that if we want to release lifelong readers into the world, they must see reading as enjoyable, not a chore. And there isn't an easier way to bring fun back to reading than allowing students to read easy books they love.

These books, which are for pure entertainment, promote a love of reading that can last a lifetime.

This article might be missing links that were included at the time of publication.