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 advice for her eight-and-a-half-year-old son, a keen reader and budding writer who instantly dismisses gift books if he doesn't like the cover art.
The Core of the Problem: A Pact Broken
The mother explained that her son is extremely easily influenced by cover art, often refusing to even read the blurb of a book if the illustration doesn't appeal to him. This presents a challenge now that he reads chapter books independently. While she once had a pact with him to listen to at least one page when she read aloud – a tactic that introduced him to many favourites – that strategy is no longer viable.
She is torn between appreciating the appeal of great illustration and wishing he could move past the "two least important pages" to discover the story within. Her question to advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith was simple: how can she help him not to judge a book by its cover?
A Creative Solution: Redesign, Don't Just Redefine
In her response, Gordon-Smith offered a refreshingly pragmatic approach. While acknowledging the virtue of seeing beyond the cover, she posed a counter-question: "could you just change the cover?"
She suggested engaging the child's obvious interest in visual art by making it an active part of his reading process. Practical ideas included:
- Creating new, personalised covers through collage or original art.
- Designing generic "all-purpose" covers to stick on any book.
- Covering books in plain brown paper and having him design a cover after he's read it, based on the story's content.
Gordon-Smith drew on a personal memory of making decorated exercise book covers with her mother, which made standard school books feel special and personalised. "If your son understands the appeal of illustration, he could make his books feel more like him," she wrote.
Developing Sensibility Over Imposing 'Shoulds'
The columnist recognised that some parents might balk at this idea, preferring to guide a child away from such a superficial sensibility. There's a natural instinct to improve a child's aesthetic judgments. However, Gordon-Smith warned that making art proof of virtue can make it feel like a drag.
She emphasised the excellent news that the boy is reading for joy, not because he "should". In the coming years, his tastes will be shaped by many forces like algorithms and peers. The reaction shouldn't be to add another authoritative "should" – "you should like this cover."
Instead, she advised using this focus on covers as a springboard to develop his own critical sensibility. Parents can encourage deeper thought by asking why he prefers one cover over another, or if he can design a cover he'd be happy to put on any book.
"Allowing and working with his emphasis on covers doesn't have to be a capitulation," Gordon-Smith concluded. "It could be a way to deepen his relationship with the books you'd love him to love." By meeting him where his interest lies, a potential barrier can be transformed into a tool for greater engagement and ownership of his reading journey.
