Philip will appreciate you taking the time to share your enthusiasms with him. But are you focusing on your idea of his interests, rather than on him? Why not find out what interests Philip? What has he read that he enjoyed and why? If he enjoyed those books, are there others he might like to try?

children's book sites to get to know more about what books young people are reading and what they think about them.

colleagues and on TRF Chat to find out more about current children's books.

You're more likely to succeed in tempting Philip to read something new if you use the power of peer recommendation. One young person recommending reading to another young person gives it so much more credibility. One of the things young people are most interested in is each other and what they think.

Reader Development FAQs: Encouraging Sharing

You need to have an idea what authors or series you might recommend. What about creepy stories... or funny poems? Which are the ones young people are talking about? Has Philip thought of trying them?

children's book sites.

colleagues and on TRF Discussion - and talk with the young people coming into the library and then you'll get the latest recommendations!

All you really need is a general idea of the range of interests that might influence young people's reading. Are there popular TV programmes with book tie-ins? What music or sports are most popular? Do you have books and magazines about them? But most important - find out what interests Philip.

Look in young people's magazines to find out what's popular at the moment.

colleagues and on TRF discussion - and young people.

Be careful not to try too hard to appear knowledgeable about young people's interests. Understanding something about young people doesn't imply that you need to become 'cool' (probably a deeply uncool term, anyway!), or start talking as though a teenager. An adult trying to seek acceptance by adopting youth language or appearance can be about the most embarrassing scenario imaginable!

Now try the next Scenario: Treating People Well