If you’re anything like me, you love a good book - and you want your child to love reading just as much as you do.
Unfortunately, while some kids seem to take to reading gleefully and easily, others either show zero interest in the activity, are reluctant readers, or even (gasp!) hate reading.
But that may just be because they haven't found the right book yet!
For a bookworm, having a child who doesn’t share your passion for reading can be a tough pill to swallow.
Even if you’re not exactly a bookworm, though, you still know that having a love of reading will offer your child so many amazing benefits and, of course, you want that for them.
The Benefits of Reading
There are so many benefits to raising kids who love to read, especially as it is such a great escape from the realities of everyday life.
However, there are so many more reasons to encourage a love of reading in your kids:
- Reading expands their vocabulary
- It opens their mind to different perspectives
- Helps them develop empathy and compassion for others
- Improves their memory
- Increases knowledge
- Sharpens their imagination
Whatever stage of learning to read your child is at need not be a barrier to reading great books.
There are some amazing books out there for early readers, such as Mo Willem's Elephant and Piggy stories.
You can also introduce read aloud time as part of your family's routine, whether at bedtime or another time of day, and read books a couple or more levels above your child's own reading ability.
This way you can cover the classics with your children, such as The Chronicles of Narnia, and enjoy them again yourself too.
How to Encourage a Love of Reading
Ypu can help to give your child a lifelong love for reading by selecting books they’ll love to read - or hear read - from the earliest age.
Remember what fascinated you when you were little and consider what other books have been published over the years.
Many books, from Dr Seuss to Little Women are classics or much-loved tales for a reason!
One of the best ways to get kids interested in books is to encourage them to pick their own titles.
Head to your local library, a bookstore or even a thrift store or charity shop and let your kids decide what to bring home.
It will give you a great insight into their interests and what appeals to them.
If you can, set a budget and make this a regular event each month or quarter - or if you use the public library it's a free shopping trip!
New York Public Library Suggestions for Children’s Books
Here are 5 ways the New York Public Library has suggested you can evaluate books to see fi your child will love them:
1. See if you like it.
Great books appeal to all ages. Share your childhood favourites with your sons and daughters.
Think of the trip you’ll have down memory lane as you read them together years later.
You may also discover some new titles and learn something new along with your kids.
2. Look at the illustrations.
With many books, especially picture books and early readers, the pictures matter as much as the text.
Images help you interpret the story.
However, books without words, such as this collection by Jim LaMarche, can give kids the chance to create their own masterpieces.
3. Welcome diversity.
Tales from other lands introduce your children to new cultures.
You can talk about what life is or was like for people in other parts of the world.
Try Usborne's Illustrated Stories from Around the World to get started.
4. Get a little scared.
It’s natural for parents to be protective, but we all need to face our fears.
Fiction is a safe way for kids to explore dark woods and meet monsters in the safety of their own home.
This experience prepares them for real life challenges.
5. Check for deeper messages.
Moral direction is an important part of literature.
Think about The Velveteen Rabbit. He learns that being real sometimes hurts, but it’s worth it.
You become authentic and loved, even if you look a little shabby.
What a great life lesson!
Use these suggestions and other tips for helping your kids find some awesome books to read.
More Ideas on Selecting Children’s Books
One of the keys to keeping kids love of reading strong is to know when to drop it.
You may think it's amazing and a must-read by age X, but if your child seems bored with the story, put it aside for later.
Switch to something that captivates them and keep story time fun!
When picking books for them to read to you or to read by themselves, understanding reading levels is important.
Check the publisher’s age recommendations on the book jacket.
Reading levels are mostly determined by the vocabulary and complexity of the story.
If your child struggles to read, or has to look up or ask you the meaning of more than five words per page, the book is probably too complicated for them.
Here are some more tips on how to choose books your child will love:
1. Describe familiar events.
Younger - and older - children like hearing about their own lives and interests.
Favourite subjects might include the adventures of a family pet, welcoming a new baby sister, or visiting with grandparents.
2. Engage in fantasy.
On the other hand, make believe characters and worlds have a magic of their own.
Let your child exercise his power of imagination with The Hobbit or Harry Potter.
3. Complete the series.
If you’re stumped about what to read next, serials make your work easier.
Try works that are published in a series or browse online for recommendations that are similar to books your child already loves.
4. Rhyme and repeat.
There’s a good reason why children love watching the same cartoon endlessly.
Many of the words are still new to them so repetition is reassuring.
Text with repeating and rhyming lines also makes it easier for your children to join in and read to you.
5. Don't forget other media.
Books are excellent, but there are many other ways to encourage reading.
Shop for comic books and graphic novels.
Make a game out of grocery shopping or driving home by observing the signs around you.
Books That Get Kids to Love Reading
Reading with your children creates pleasure, builds their language skills and knowledge base, and helps them to do better in school.
Make story time even better by choosing books that will enthrall them.
There are as many ways to encourage kids to read as there are books in the world - so keep searching for books they'll love.
This list of 101 fantastic books kids LOVE may be a great place to start...
Just click on the pink writing to read more or to purchase.
- The Monster at The End of This Book
- The Book With No Pictures
- Elephant and Piggie series
- Amelia Bedelia
- Magic Tree House series
- The Adventures of Dog Man
- The Adventures of Captain Underpants
- Cat Kid Comic Club
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid
- Paddington
- Roald Dahl books
- The Baby-Sitters Club
- The Borrowers
- Encyclopedia Brown
- The Boxcar Children
- The Penderwicks
- My Weird School Series
- Frog and Toad
- Ivy and Bean
- Junie B. Jones
- Spiderwick Chronicles
- Pippi Longstocking
- The Chronicles of Narnia
- A Series of Unfortunate Events
- Heartwood Hotel series
- The Mysterious Benedict Society
- The Books of Elsewhere
- The Lunar Chronicles
- Origami Yoda
- The Wildwood Chronicles
- Timmy Failure
- The Unwanteds
- The Tale of Despereaux
- The Hobbit
- The Lord of the Rings
- The Phantom Tollbooth
- A Wrinkle in Time
- The Girl Who Drank the Moon
- The Wild Robot
- Swallows and Amazons
- Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
- Fortunately, the Milk
- Crenshaw
- Watership Down
- The City of Ember
- Ghosts
- The Wind In The Willows
- Roller Girl
- Coraline
- Bone
- Charlie Bone
- Hachiko Waits
- The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street
- Nevermoor
- Spy School
- The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
- Beezus and Ramona
- Lunch Lady
- Nancy Drew series
- Mighty Robot series
- The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
- The Star of Kazan
- Smile
- The Wayside School
- Journey to the River Sea
- Judy Moody
- Flat Stanley
- Nate the Great
- The Bad Guys
- Bad Kitty for President
- Captivating Stories for Curious Kids
- The Hundred Dresses
- Little House on the Prairie series
- The Trumpet of the Swan
- Harriet the Spy
- Harry Potter
- The Secret Lake
- Charlotte's Web
- The Maze Runner
- Emil and the Detectives
- Anne Frank: The Diary of A Young Girl
- Percy Jackson series
- Skellig
- The One and Only Ivan
- Holes
- The Silver Sword
- Anne of Green Gables
- Bridge to Terabithia
- The Indian in the Cupboard
- The Mouse and the Motorcycle
- His Dark Materials trilogy
- Tuck Everlasting
- Little Women
- The Secret Garden
- A Little Princess
- From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
- Ballet Shoes
- Varjak Paw
- How to Train Your Dragon
- Island of the Blue Dolphins
- Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
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