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Originally Posted by KrowNB
Thank you for your advice. One problem is that he lives in a small community with no public library. He can borrow some books from his elementary school where his teacher does her best to find material for him. It's not so much finding books at his reading level but rather trying to ensure they are at his maturity level as well. Most of the books he has ready access to are ones purchased for him. We, his grandparents, live in another part of the country and we like to encourage his reading by sending him books for birthdays and other occasions. At one time it was Robert Munsch and similar types but he's progressed beyond that now. I had suggested on the telephone last evening that he should see if he can get a copy of Treasure Island (not really considering his age). As it was, he called back a bit later and said he had found that book in his own library at home - must have been given to him at one time. Anyway, we were just speaking to him and he says he read the first chapter of TI today. I'm thinking it must be within his reading ability if not otherwise suitable.
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Just a suggestion if you are willing to take the time and trouble to look into it and it is probably more than a bit cumbersome from a distance.
All Canadian communities AFAIK have access to a provincial library system where they can order paper books sent to them. Remote communities usually have a longer borrowing time limit.
Ebooks they generally have the same access as any other community but not always. Yukon has less ebooks but Yukon residents can get a BC library card and I believe NWT and Nunavut residents can use Alberta library system.
You could also try and get a card for him from your local library or ask your librarian if it would be okay if he used yours.
I have lived in several communities that only have an elementary school library in the last 15 years. Most of these libraries function as well as a community library with another, often larger, area holding non elementary school books and even children's books that were not purchased by the school system. The have all had the same access to interlibrary loans and nowadays ebooks as standalone municipal libraries. Perhaps there is more available than meets the eye but the librarian/teacher does not think he is able to use it where if he is reading at a grade 5 level he could well be more than able.
It is hard to look into these things from a distance though and one does not want to interfere unduly. I admire your initiative.
As to maturity, I may be not understanding the nuances, but I don't see a grade 5 book harming a 6 year old or even a grade 6 book. Worst case they would be bored or not understand and just not read the book. Children are exposed to far more than I was as a child and often I am amazed at how much the very young absorb from TV and the world at large.
Helen