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We need to tell kids flat out: reading is not optional.
Walter Dean Myers
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Reading is a fundamental skill essential for children's development and should be prioritized.

Walter Dean Myers emphasizes the necessity of reading in children's lives, suggesting that it is a non-negotiable aspect of their education and growth. By stating that 'reading is not optional,' he highlights the importance of instilling this habit early on to equip young minds with knowledge and critical thinking skills needed for their future.

Themes

ReadingEducationChildrenDevelopmentLiteracy

In practice

Example use cases

A teacher can use this quote to inspire students to develop a reading habit.

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The most difficult idea to reconcile in war is the notion that anything is going to be solved by killing a stranger, or in risking your life for a cause anchored in some distant political arena.
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I remember one time being told I could not play in a basketball game at the College of William and Mary because I was black, even though I was playing with a United States Army team.
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As a writer, I absorb stories, allow them to churn within my own head and heart - often for years - until I find a way of telling them that fits both my time and temperament.
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We need to tell young people that America was built by men and women of all colors and that the future of this country is dependent on the participation of all of our citizens.
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Yeah, that's funny, huh?...Something hurts you real bad and you get used to it. Like being hurt becomes part of who you are.
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Books transmit values. They explore our common humanity. What is the message when some children are not represented in those books?
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