Children's radio presenter Rebecca Long on tuning your kids into books

Helen O’Callaghan talks to Rebecca Long, who presents The Word on RTÉjr Radio.

REBECCA LONG is named after the character in Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. Rebecca’s mum read the 1903 American children’s classic when she was 12 and loved it, so it was inevitable Rebecca would love it too.

With that start, it’s no surprise that the Wexford woman would be passionate about reading. Her mum read to her every night, without fail. “As though it was the most important thing in the world – and it was.”

With a masters in children’s literature, she’s now presenting the new 10-part series about books on RTÉjr Radio on Tuesday evenings. Rebecca says children deserve the best books and that’s what this show is about – finding great books for “readers who are dying to read them”.

The series, which runs until just after Christmas, features reviews and interviews and will talk about the classics and the newest books on the shelf.

“We’ll be searching for the best libraries in the land, we’ll have a book club and a writing corner – we’ll even have a Book Doctor Clinic for all those reading ailments! This is a show about books – which means it’s a show about everything.”

Rebecca is utterly convinced that books extend children’s experience of life. One of her favourite childhood series of books was Joan Aiken’s The Wolves of Willoughby Chase about an alternate version of the 1800s in England. She still recommends it today to 11 and 12-year-olds. “Dido Twite is a wonderful heroine to present to children. She’s independent, has a fiendish sense of humour and just gets the job done. She has a core strength that shines through.”

She also likes Eoin Colfer’s Benny and Omar about a hurling-mad Irish boy who moves to Tunisia because of his dad’s job. “He’s a relatable character in a complicated situation.

“He has to adjust to a new culture and the reader is learning alongside the character.”

Younger children – in the four to six-year-old age bracket – often have very domestic tastes. “They love to hear stories about children like them – about getting a new puppy or going to a new school.”

Among emails received by the show’s Book Doctor Clinic are some from children wishing their siblings would read.

“One little boy was desperate to get his brother reading. His brother was into football and the PlayStation. The little boy wanted recommendations of books that would lure him into reading.”

The Word with Rebecca Long is on RTÉjr Radio every Tuesday at 7pm. Visit www.rte.ie/rtejr.

Top tips

*Create a reading environment, somewhere cosy and warm.

“Squishing into bed beside your child to read creates a lovely connection,” says Rebecca.

*Be a guide for your child. Don’t push books on him – give him a selection and support him in his choice.

*Talk to your child about books. Bring it up at dinner. Ask what s/he has been reading.

*If possible, find time to read the book your child is reading. S/he’ll love the chance to chat about it with you.