Indulging his current obsession with all things dolphin, my son and I recently went to see the movie, Dolphin Tale. As the story unfolded, it became obvious that he was putting himself in the main character’s shoes. When that boy swam with the dolphin, my son had projected himself into that swim as well. He rose and fell with every emotional arc of the movie.

While working on a recent manuscript, my editor explained this to me. She said that when children are really drawn into a story, they will read themselves into the experiences of the character with whom they most identify. If they’re reading a Percy Jackson book, in a way, they are living out the adventure as if they are Percy Jackson.

Washington University psychologists recently studied brain scans to determine the impact of reading upon the brain. One of the findings suggested that, according to the authors of the study, “readers mentally simulate each new situation encountered in a narrative.” In other words, they internally experience the story they are reading.

The stories our children read help them learn how to feel, and through the eventual resolution of the plot, they learn how to better understand and deal with their own emotions.

I recall this in my own childhood as I read the first BOXCAR CHILDREN book over and over. I shared in the worry and loneliness
the four Alden orphans experienced as they tried to build a home for themselves in a boxcar. Gradually, they figured out how to take care of themselves, and as they did, I began to feel more confident that I could take care of myself too, if the need ever arose. That book literally helped me learn to manage one of the most common of childhood anxieties: losing one’s parents and being alone.

Last fall, The Journal of Psychological Science published a study by Dr. Shira Gabriel and Ariana Young that tested the effect of reading on children’s empathy. Some children were given passages from TWILIGHT in which Edward describes the experience of being a vampire. Others were given a passage from HARRY POTTER, in which Harry and the other first years are sorted into their houses. Following the read, the children underwent a test in which words associated either with vampires or wizards were randomly shown on the screen and they could respond with either a “me” or “not me” answer. The next test asked the children questions such as, “How sharp are your teeth?” and “If you really tried, do you think you could make an object move with your mind?”

Results of the study revealed that most of the children had self-identified as either wizards or vampires, according to which passage they had read. Further, they found that the “fictional communities” they joined gave them the same emotional satisfaction as their actual peer relationships. In fact, Gabriel wrote that reading “fulfills a fundamental need – the need for social connection.”

Interestingly, a 2010 University of Michigan study found a sharp decline in the empathy levels of college students over the last thirty years. This comes during a period in which fiction reading has been on a similar decline. Which begs the question of how closely the two are related.

The ability to understand not only one’s own emotions, but the emotions of others is a critical life skill. And it appears that for anyone with a child in their life, the easiest way to help them develop empathy is to give them a great book.

Jennifer Nielsen is the author of THE FALSE PRINCE (Scholastic Apr `12), and The Underworld Chronicles beginning with ELLIOT AND THE GOBLIN WAR (Sourcebooks `10).

So it’s the Holidays again and that means tons of wrapping paper, lots of ribbon, some delighted faces and some hidden bits of disappointment when that one gift didn’t make it under the tree. (Like Cassandra Clare’s Clockwork Prince: I’ll remember this, Santa!! *shakes fist in air*)  And of course every book lover is hoping for their favorite book this year, or a copy of their favorite much-anticipated sequel. This is especially true of teenage girls around the U.S. who have to and I mean HAVE TO KNOW what happened to so-and-so in whatever land. But when you are the relative of an author who loves supporting other authors you are especially lucky when Christmas comes around.

Each year when a fellow author of mine happens to publish a new book I RUN to the nearest bookstore to buy it. Well, run to my car, and then from the car to the store and back again–or maybe stroll from the car to the door  but you get the drift . Then proceeds the agonizing  wait until I’m done with my current project or writing my own book or that book I started reading last week until I can read my newly purchased book!

Well, needless to say, many exciting must-have books come out each year so when I go and buy my book there may or may not be a group of books who may or may not wait a while until I can read them—but rest assured I eventually get all my piles of books read!

I also love to share books so a couple of times a year I gather up all the books from the various parts of the house they’ve ended up in (my kitchen, the living room, nightstand, under my pillow, peeking out from under the clothes pile in my son’s room, etc.) and sort them into Middle-Grade and Young Adult. Then I box up the stacks of beautiful books with ribbon and lots of packing tape; print out some lovely labels, insert notes, and ship them to some Adorable Girls who share a last name with me (usually my nieces to whom I dedicated my recent book, Circle of Secrets).

Then I bask in the love, affection, and “OMGosh!” texts that proceed to follow for the next month as they plow their way through the piles of books, and devour the written word of So Many Talented Authors from Around the World.

So there is a weird little tidbit  from my world to yours this Holiday Season!

The moral behind this story is Get yourself an Author Relative who likes to share! Or an Author Friend might do just as well, too!

Hope y’all received lots of great books this past week, and are enjoying a bit of snuggle time in front of the fire with cocoa or tea.

In the comments, please tell us about one of your book-giving traditions!

Kimberley Griffiths Little is resting contentedly with a tottering stack of 25 books to read after a fun and crazy Fall launching Circle of Secrets (Scholastic), and turning in her new manuscript, When the Butterflies Came. Teacher’s Guide for Circle of Secrets & Mother/Daughter Book Club Guide 

I am a writer and an athlete. I’m also prone to bouts of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) that crush my motivation to write or exercise.  And as those who suffer SAD or depression will tell you, the longer you go without doing something, the harder it is to get started again.

I’d heard about treadmill desks from Mixed-Up Files alum Hélène Boudreau and had it in my head the desk had to be attached to the treadmill. But I didn’t want an attached desk because I use my treadmill to run, and so never pursued the idea.  Flash forward to the end of October when I was curled up on the couch, berating myself for being a non-writing, gelatinous waste of humanity. The thought of the long, dark months ahead had me in tears.

I needed to do something.

I remembered the walking/writing idea and did a little research. Guess what? Treadmill desks do not have to be attached! Treadmill desks can be free-standing shelving!

I went to a restaurant supply store and bought two 14” x 48” shelves and four poles for about $60. I thought I wanted shelves that were only as wide as the treadmill but am glad I was forced to get the 48” size because it turned out that extra room is great for my water bottle, dictionary, notebook, etc. I recommend getting two shelves so you have extra space but also because the second shelf makes the “desk” more stable.  This type of shelving is fully adjustable so you can tweak the height until it feels comfortable.  (We had an extra ping-pong table net and I attached that to the poles to create a backstop so I don’t have to worry about knocking my laptop onto the treadmill).

So far I’ve walked 47 miles and logged over 2,600 minutes of walking and writing time. I use a spreadsheet to keep track of my sessions, including calories burned (7,050!)  In addition to  those stats, here’s what I’ve learned:

• It’s important to take frequent eye breaks. Every ten minutes or so I look up and out my window where I’m fortunate enough to see things like this: 

• Because I’m a runner and geared for “faster/farther,” I initially also had that attitude for walking and writing. Wrong!  I learned the hard way it’s best if I work in 60 minute sessions at the slowest speed: 1.0.  This means I walk exactly one mile in one hour, but it also means I don’t suffer eye strain and upset stomach. I do, however, set my incline at 3.5 because that’s most comfortable for me. (Note: my heightened vision sensitivity may be due to the progressive lenses I wear and you may find you don’t have any problem walking faster and/or longer.  The key is building slowly.)
• It’s helpful to increase the screen magnification.
• There are days the treadmill seems extra creaky and loud, so I keep earplugs handy.
• When I’ve reached my walking/writing quota I stand on the unmoving treadmill to continue working because while walking beats standing, standing beats sitting.

Verdict? My mental, emotional, and physical health improved via the treadmill desk. You know what else happened? (Beside gaining a new-found evangelism for treadmill desks? Ahem.) My writing life has improved. I’m writing more consistently and the writing feels stronger. My current work-in-progress is more cohesive than the second drafts of other manuscripts I wrote while sitting.  Granted, much of that is due to writing from an outline for the first time, (HA!) but I also believe my brain is working in different ways.  Now when I’m stuck, I walk slowly and gaze at the finches and clouds as I work out the solution. I don’t quit and go visit the refrigerator. I don’t quit and check my email.

I don’t quit.

(Speaking of email, when I first mentioned having a treadmill desk my spouse wondered if I’d want internet connection in our basement and I said, “Absolutely not!”)

The walking/writing has also reignited my exercise routine. I’m back to daily yoga and runs, and even hooped outside one warm afternoon. I’m no longer the weepy woman on the couch. I realize converts can be an annoying species, but hope you’ll look beyond my zealotry and consider incorporating a treadmill desk in your life.

Remember: when you walk and write, you’re always moving forward.

Tracy Abell plans to walk and write her way through her latest middle-grade novel which she hopes doesn’t end up being the equivalent of walking to her former home in Alaska.