Raise a Lifetime Reader

So far, you’ve explored why it’s important to read aloud regularly and what key home habits you can adapt to cultivate a reading-friendly home. Now, let’s wrap up by identifying how you can tie it all together with practical strategies. Before we close, we want to remind you of two important things:

Enjoy

Relax

Reading aloud to your kid doesn’t have to be a chore. Sitting down to read doesn’t have to be a punishment. Raising a lifetime reader can be a fun process, and its successful outcome will come because you made it just that: fun! Plus, you’ll lay the groundwork for your kids to become successful adults.

Tips to Raise a Reader

Raising a lifetime reader will be an ongoing process, starting at birth. As the parent, you have an instrumental role in setting the tone and role modeling behavior. Trust in your ability to be a wonderful example for your kids; just by watching you, they’ll learn what to do!
Let’s talk about easy, practical tips that you can do – starting today – that will instill a love a reading in your kids, and build the road toward success in school and in life.

Read aloud daily for at least 20 minutes.

Let your children select books to read.

Diversify reading materials - books, magazines, comic books & more.

Let your children help create a reading nook.

Read anywhere - at the park, in a waiting room, on vacation.

Store books with their covers facing out.

Set an example - read on your own.

Visit your local library every week.

Set strict timeframes for electronics.

Be flexible and explore new options!

Recommended Books

Are you ready to head to the library? When you get there, remember to ask the librarian to help your children get their own library cards! This increases their sense of ownership and excitement! After you’re all set, explore these titles. You can even download our free activity book, “Let’s RAP!”, which helps you extend the fun of reading to related activities.
 
The age and grade levels indicated below are only suggestions. Choose what works best for you and your children!

Infants and Toddlers (Birth- Age 2)

  • The Going to Bed Book, by Sandra Boynton
  • Clifford's Bedtime, by Norman Bridwell
  • Big Red Barn, by Margaret Wise Brown

Preschool (Ages 3-4)

  • There's a Wocket in my Pocket, by Dr. Seuss
  • Marley Goes to School, by John Grogan
  • The Light within You, by Namita Moolani Mehra

Kindergarten - Grade 1

  • More Spaghetti, I Say! by Rita Golden Gelman
  • How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Janet Yolen
  • We Dream a World, by Yolanda Renee King 

Grades 2 - 3

  • The Gaspard and Lisa Series, by Anne Gutman
  • Junie B. Jones Series, by Barbara Park
  • Henry's Freedom Box, by Ellen Levine

Grades 4 - 5

  • Superfudge, by Judy Blume
  • Frindle, by Andew Clements
  • Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhhà Lai 

Grades 6 - 8

  • The Magician's Elephant, by Kate DiCamillo
  • The Call of the Wild, by Jack London
  • New Kid, by Jerry Craft

High School - Adults

  • Samurai Shortstop, by Alan Gratz
  • Honolulu, by Alan Brennert
  • A Piece of the World, by Christina Baker Kline

Ageless Favorites

  • The Littles, by John Peterson
  • The Red Badge of Courage, by Stephen Crane
  • Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell

Enrichment Activities

Fun with books can be endless when you find enjoyable activities related to stories you read! Before you explore our final two book-based activities below, remember that we have a whole activity book packed with easy and fun ideas to make stories come to life!

Download our Free Activity Book

Get Creative with Carle's Caterpillar

Pull out the family classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle. Have some fun acting out the caterpillar's pursuit through some most yummy fruits! Then, bring it to life by following the link above to make this simple and fun caterpillar necklace. It's inspired by the beautiful artwork inside the book!