Reading can transport your child to new worlds, but they won’t understand the excitement of stories if they don’t pick up a book. Some children take to reading naturally, but if you have a kid who refuses to read, you must work with them. With some encouragement, your child might also become a reader who consumes every book in their library.
101 Ways To Read A Book by Timothée de Fombelle, illustrated by Benjamin Chaud, translated by Karin Snelson and Angus Yuen-Killick
A joyful picture book to suggest 101 ways and poses in which to read books. This is not just fun and funny, but will also likely get kids reading! [picture book, ages 6 and up]
1. Model Good Reading Habits
Your child will look to you as their first role model. If they never see you reading a book, they may not be interested in reading. Think back to the last time you enjoyed a book. About 22% of men and over 10% of women don’t read any books, and most adults read no more than five per year. If reading becomes your passion, it might also become your child’s passion. Find other books like it and start reading again.
2. Find a Book on Their Interests
Your child might be more willing to read something if it’s about a topic they enjoy. Find an age-appropriate book about one of their favorite things, like an animal or vehicle. Give it to them and tell them they can learn much more about the topic by reading. Then, once they finish that book, buy another — possibly one that can teach them about another topic they’re interested in. In time, your child will come to understand that they can gain knowledge by tackling a book.
3. Offer Different Reading Material
To a child just starting to read, chapter books or things with lots of text might be overwhelming. Show them that there can be diversity in what they read and that they don’t always have to pick up big books. You can introduce them to magazines with a pretty even ratio of pictures to text.
Find one specifically tailored to children that your kid might enjoy. Some children’s magazines might tackle tough topics that can teach them about the world and how to connect with other people. Then, they may look forward to their monthly magazine subscription and read it through, cover to cover, on the day they receive it!
Tomfoolery!: Ralph Caldecott and the Rambunction Coming-of-Age of Children’s Books by Michelle Markel, illustrated by Barbara McClintock
Looking for good suggestions in the picture book department? Look no further than the Caldecott Picture Book Awards and learn about what life was like before children’s books existed! Ralph Caldecott invented the picture book to give children stories they can both understand and enjoy. This picture book biography will make the reader appreciate the range and depth of children’s books that we all enjoy today! [picture book biography, ages 5 and up]
4. Learn Their Preferences
Not every book will resonate with every child. Just as some adults prefer nonfiction to fiction, and others prefer fantasy to sci-fi, your child might have their own favorite genre of literature. Pick out their favorite books and find similarities between them. Then, you can consult your local librarian to see what they would recommend for your kid. You can always borrow and return books from the library, which means you’ll only really need to invest in them if your kid wants a copy of their own.
5. Encourage Their Imagination
Childhood imagination means that your child can play with just about anything. A stick and some leaves might become a book, for example. The symbolism in their play can lead to a desire to learn and an interest in literacy. Encourage your child to play and use their imagination frequently. You never know how it could benefit them in real life!
6. Look for Interactive Elements
Books with interactive elements might capture your child’s attention more than flat words on a page. A pop-up book might be a good idea for younger children, while older kids might benefit from a choose-your-own-adventure story. See what your child prefers and find ways to get them involved in reading.
If you can’t find a book with interactive elements, make some yourself! Plan a family reading night where you can each read individual books while eating tasty snacks. Introduce them to a book club where they can talk about characters and plots or what they liked and didn’t like.
7. Give Them Notes
Whether you pack a note in their lunch box or stick one on their bathroom mirror, leaving little notes for your child to surprise them can make them happy. They’ll be delighted to read the messages you’ve left for them, particularly if they’re encouraging. Affirmations can improve people’s self-esteem in just two weeks, so offering your child those messages they can repeat to themselves can do more good than you know.
8. Let Them Read the Same Book
While reading the same thing over and over might sound torturous to you, it could be exactly what your child needs to foster a love of reading. They might want to have the same bedtime story every night. Instead of you reading it to them, have them read it to you once they can! If your child really likes a book, they’ll be more determined to read it and others like it.
9. Frame Reading as a Wind-Down Activity
Reading doesn’t need to be a huge, difficult activity that your child has to overcome. Teach them that reading can be relaxing. In fact, they can read books about mindfulness to understand how to stay in touch with the present, which can help them when their emotions feel too large for themselves. In time, they might be reading before bed and having a more restful evening.
Foster a Love of Reading However Possible
As with many things, whatever works will work for your child. If they’re reading, no matter what it is, you should encourage the habit. Show your child you believe in them and that reading can take them far. Once they find the books that are right for them, they may always ask for new ones. Encourage a love of reading whenever they show it. If you have room for it at home, you might consider getting them a book whenever they point out one they like!
p.s. Related posts:
How to Instill a Love of Reading in Your Child
New Early Chapter Books to Get Kids Reading
40+ Great Diverse Graphic Novels for Kids and Teens
#OwnVoices Diverse Soccer Books for Kids
My Son’s 7th Grade Recommended Reading List
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My books:
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
