Hello, lovely Janeites. Do any of you remember the first time you came across one of Jane Austen’s works? You might’ve picked up a book at the library, flipped through the channels and found an adaptation waiting to be watched, or even gone to the theatre and enjoyed a performance. While you might recollect the first time you dipped your toes into Jane Austen’s literature, I cannot claim to be in the same position. Try as I might, I can’t recall the first time I encountered one of Jane Austen’s works. I’ve glanced many times at the well-loved editions in my personal collection, yet I just don’t know when I purchased them or even what prompted me to do so.
This perplexes me slightly, but every time I get worked up, I remind myself to take a deep breath and feel secure in the knowledge that while my love of Jane Austen’s works apparently sprung to life, fully formed, without provocation, my daughter will never have to second guess in such a manner. Some of the earliest purchases I made for her were board boards that delved into the main plot in Jane Austen’s Emma and introduced the major characters in Northanger Abbey. Because the text was written so simply and the pictures were inviting and engaging, my daughter adored these books and learned to read aloud the sight words.
There are many splendid adaptations available at local bookshops or for sale online. The good news about all these products is that each is targeted at a different reader. If your child is just learning to identify individual words, there are board books, like the ones I used with my daughter, to get the journey started. For those who want to give their middle school student a peek into the world of Jane Austen, there are adapted readers that will suit perfectly well. There is no right or wrong time to share the original works with young friends and family members, either. Quite often, a youthful reader might not be able to follow the text easily, but they will connect with an audiobook or film version.
Ultimately, the best thing we can do is move slowly through the literature and encourage our charges to ask questions. A healthy discussion of Austen’s books, or any classic novels for that matter, isn’t just good for strengthening reading skills, but can help forge connections and build bonds as well. This year--let’s welcome as many new members to our expansive Janeite community as possible by sharing our love of literature with all readers—young and old.
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