Listen to the book whisperer.

• Author: Miller, Donalyn
• Position: The Holidays - Books and children - Essay

IT IS THAT TIME of year again. Parents everywhere are perusing red-and-green-themed websites and bow-bedecked store windows as they plunge into the frenzy of holiday gift buying. If your kids are like most, they helpfully have supplied you with a wish list featuring toys, video games, clothing items, and more. If you are like most parents, though, you would like to supplement those items with a few meaningful presents of your own choosing.

If you can spark a love of reading in your offspring, you will be giving them a gift that will serve them well in school and in life. Plus, if you choose books with consideration, you can maximize the odds that your children will read their gifts cover-to-cover--and ask for more, as kids need only a few positive reading experiences to get hooked on books. Moreover, you have a built-in advantage during the holidays. This season is so thrilling for kids that giving them a book now--as opposed to some other time during the year--makes that book seem more exciting and special. If you play your cards right, the holidays elevate the status of the book and, by association, reading itself.

Book ownership is important for children because owning books goes hand in hand with a love of reading--something that increasingly is lacking amongst youngsters, but is very important. Studies show kids who love reading are most successful in school. Later in life, readers have better job prospects, enjoy more professional success, and are more socially and civically involved in their communities.

If you are ready to begin book shopping, then read on:

Paper or plastic? These days, the word "book" does not necessarily denote a paper-and-ink object. It also can refer to a digital file on an e-reader. As a parent, it is important to think about which format to buy. Neither is inherently better than the other. What is important is that your children get into reading, period--whether they are looking at a page or screen. However, one format might be better suited to your particular child. Here are some things to keep in mind when making this decision:

* While there is a focus on gadgets these days, elevators did not put stairs out of business. Do not assume that gadgets are the only way to go, or worry that print books soon will be obsolete.

* Not all e-readers are created equal. In addition to enabling users to read books, some support web browsing, game playing, and more. You know your children and will have a good idea of how...