By Ben Halder, Rockerbox Founder
There is no questioning the wonders of reading fiction. The limitless possibilities of the fictional world allow readers (and indeed writers) to get lost in books and the stories that they tell.
At the same time, we shouldn’t overlook the wonders that exist in our own world when it comes to inspiring children to read. The challenge is making them accessible to young readers.
I was the type of child who loved seeking out facts and figures and real-life stories that I could share with teachers, peers, and family members. Over a weekend I would read a Horrible Histories from front to back and arrive at school on the Monday with a proverbial pocket full of facts to share with anyone who would listen. The inspiration behind Rockerbox was to give young readers a platform to access unsung news stories that inspired them to do the same, discovering fascinating nuggets of information and sharing them with their peers, parents, and teachers.
Inspiring Content
To put non-fiction on a level playing field, it needs to inspire awe and empower the reader the way that fiction does. From the mountain community in India that uses bamboo sticks covered in bioluminescent mushrooms to light their way through the forest, to the ancient Peruvian canal system that could answer Lima’s current water problems.
There is no shortage across the globe of amazing new discoveries, innovative approaches to existing problems, or amazing forgotten stories from our past. When presented in an accessible and engaging way, these real-world stories can inspire the imagination and empower readers in the same way as the most fanciful fiction.
Non-Fiction as a Spark
As well as an ability to engage children in the written word, non-fiction content can also spark a curiosity in a specific culture or subject. Non-fiction reading can inspire young people to want to learn more about historical characters like Ching Shih, the Chinese Pirate Queen who commanded 80,000 pirates, or delve deeper into the innovative ways that communities around the world are tackling pollution.
The other thing about reading non-fiction content is that it is almost limitless in terms of its variety. Whether your interests lie in something as vast as science, or as narrow as early-nineteenth-century Chinese pirates, amazing real-life stories are out there waiting to be discovered.
It’s All About Accessibility
Accessibility is one of our core values at Rockerbox. World Book Day emphasises the importance of shared reading and the difference that just ten minutes a day of reading together can make.
We aim to create content that is not only engaging for children but for parents and teachers too. We love to hear stories about a young reader sharing a Rockerbox story with their classmates. But we are equally delighted to hear that after the child has gone to bed, their mum or dad returned to Rockerbox to continue reading.
By engaging young readers in stories from the far corners of the globe, we hope to help them overcome that daunting feeling you get when you first sit down to read about a new country, culture, or topic. Particularly at a time when physical travel is as restricted as it is, the written word becomes a vital medium through which young minds can develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for communities and cultures outside their own.
If you’d like to jump on the non-fiction bandwagon, we’d love to hear your thoughts on myrockerbox.com. We hope you and your family can enjoy the content together. If you have any comments or questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Lastly, my message this World Book Day: Fiction doesn’t have to be the default.
Photo courtesy of World Book Day
