Many parents dream of raising a voracious reader, but what happens when a child's literary taste is dictated solely by a book's jacket? This is the dilemma faced by one mother, who sought guidance from advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith.
The Cover Art Conundrum
The mother explained that her eight-and-a-half-year-old son is both a keen reader and an aspiring writer. However, his enthusiasm is easily derailed by cover art. He will immediately dismiss a gifted book and refuse to try it if he dislikes the cover, not even reading the blurb. While she understands the appeal of great illustration, she wishes he could move past "the two least important pages" of a chapter book to discover the story within.
A Creative Compromise
Gordon-Smith's primary suggestion is pragmatic and engaging: why not simply change the cover? She proposes turning the issue into a creative project. Parents could encourage their child to design new covers through collage or artwork, perhaps using coloured foils or dramatic illustrations like laser eyes. Books could even be wrapped in brown paper, with the child designing a cover only after they have started reading and understand the story.
The columnist recalls making personalised exercise book covers with her own mother, which made standard schoolbooks feel special and reflective of her identity. "If your son understands the appeal of illustration, he could make his books feel more like him," she writes.
Nurturing Sensibility Over Shoulds
Gordon-Smith acknowledges the parental instinct to refine a child's aesthetic judgement, citing an anecdote about a child finding Van Gogh "the boringest thing I’ve ever seen." However, she cautions that making art a proof of virtue can turn it into a drag. The fact the boy reads for joy, not because he "should," is positive news.
With algorithms, peers, and media all vying to shape his tastes, the reaction shouldn't be to add another "should" about book covers. Instead, parents can encourage him to develop his own sensibility. Ask why he prefers one cover over another. Challenge him to design a cover he'd be happy to put on any book. This engagement deepens his relationship with literature rather than forcing a capitulation.
Ultimately, working with his focus on covers can be a pathway to helping him love the books you hope he'll love, transforming a potential barrier into a bridge for deeper literary exploration.
