We all have heard that books are our best friends. You know why? Because they never leave you alone. The moment you feel alone or bored, books can be one of the best companions to have. Pages of the books can take you to the places that are magical and unexplored.
Reading books is not just an adventure or entertainment, but you can also get a rich source of information from them. Your knowledge enhances as well as your reading skills. You also get to learn new words, and reading is the best way to enhance your language skills. That is the reason that the best schools in Faridabad have started taking this hobby seriously. Schools like MRIS Sector 14, Faridabad, are working in this direction. They are now building kids' reading habits in different ways. Today, we will discuss 5 books that can shape young minds.
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Why is Book Reading Important?
Book reading is crucial in many ways. This hobby can help you grow and understand a lot of things. There are a number of books available in this world, in different languages by different authors. You have free will to choose any book of any genre. Whether you pick a book by a writer from the Classic English Era or a book of contemporary age, you will never be left empty-handed. Here we have mentioned the top 5 benefits of reading books.
- Strengthens the Brain: Book reading is like a brain exercise. Immersing yourself in books helps enhance concentration and memory retention. This builds new neural pathways and delays cognitive decline.
- Reduces Stress: Any sort of reading can lower your stress. It helps in reducing heart rate and decreasing cortisol levels, which is the primary stress hormone.
- Improves Sleep: If someone wants to get free from the screen so that they can get good sleep, it is always recommended to keep the phone aside and read before sleeping. This stimulates good sleep.
- Builds Vocabulary Knowledge: Reading is an amazing way of learning different words. You learn different words and can use them in day-to-day life.
- Improves Writing Skills: Reading is the best way of enriching your communication skills and broadening your perspectives.
What are 5 Books that can Shape Young Minds?
There are endless options to choose from and pick 5 books. And this decision to choose 5 out of all is not easy. But on the basis of certain factors, we have given 5 books that have different purposes and genres. Look at the list to get clarity.
- The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry(1943): A story about a pilot lost in the Sahara desert, where he meets a young prince who has travelled from a tiny asteroid. As the Prince tells about his journey experience to the pilot, he shares profound truths about loneliness, love, responsibility, and imagination that adults tend to lose. The story ends with a farewell.

The book can teach about the importance of the things that are invisible to the eye. Children will get to know about the genuine connections over material things. It builds empathy, imagination, and courage among children. It is best for students aged from 8th to 12th.
- Matilda by Roald Dahl (1988): If your child is a bibliophile, they will enjoy this book. This book is about Matilda Wormwood, who is passionate about books. This book shows how powerful the bond between a teacher and a student can be. It teaches the students that intelligence and kindness are superpowers. It also shows how children can stand up to injustice, believe in their own abilities even when adults doubt them, and find allies in good teachers and true friends. This is an amazing book for children aged between 7 and 11.

- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon(2003): 15-year-old Christopher Boone, who experiences the world very differently from most people, discovers his neighbour's dog has been killed, and a lot of mystery is building. However, his findings reveal family secrets he was never meant to find, taking him on an unforgettable journey across London alone. It teaches students that every mind works differently, and that is something to celebrate, not fear. Best for students aged between 12 and 16.

- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho(1988): Santiago, a young Andalusian shepherd, has a recurring dream of treasure hidden near the Egyptian pyramids. He sells his flock and embarks on a journey across continents, through markets, deserts, wars, and wonder, guided by omens, wise strangers, and the whispers of his own heart. The treasure he eventually finds is not quite what he expected, but far more meaningful.
That the journey toward one's dream is itself the greatest reward. The book urges teenagers to listen to their hearts, persist through setbacks, trust the universe's signs, and understand that fear is the only real obstacle to a fulfilling life. It plants the seed of purposeful ambition at exactly the right age.

- Wonder by R.J Palacio(2012): August Pullman was born with a severe facial difference and has been home-schooled his entire life. When his parents decide it is time for him to attend a mainstream school, he learns a lot of things, like kindness is not just a small act, but it can be a choice that changes lives. Children learn to look beyond appearances, stand up for peers who are being treated unfairly, and understand that everyone is carrying a story they haven't shared.

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How is the MRIS Reading Ecosystem different from others?
One of the best IB schools in Faridabad, Manav Rachna International School, is following a different approach to building reading skills in children. Rather than asking them to read daily, they believe in following a practical approach. They follow a morning reading ritual of 15 minutes of independent reading. Another approach that is a read-aloud activity by teachers is the educator's model reading, where teachers read aloud and introduce complex vocabulary.

Other initiatives in this direction include Book Circles and discussions where the books are read in the club and later on discussed by the group. These small groups interact and share ideas and opinions. Annual Reading Challenges, where MRIS hosts inter-house reading competitions, story writing festivals, and many more. There are family reading partnerships where parents are also involved in the reading session.
So if you are looking for a school that has such reading programmes and takes initiatives to build such skills in their kids, so that their kids can efficiently pursue their hobbies along with studies in Faridabad, MRIS Sector 14, Faridabad, can be the right choice.
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