One Easy Way to Get Kids Reading

Nine-year-old Emma is such a bookworm that I have t o put an end to reading so that other things can get done, but my other kids don’t automatically pick up a book and read. I was thrilled when Tidy Books emailed telling me that they have decided to expand their market to the US, and would I like to review their book display bookcase? I have wanted a bookcase like this one for years – and this is a particularly nice front-cover-display bookcase!

One Easy Way to Get Kids Reading

Kids (and adults) are heavily influenced by what they see. If you want to kids to read, put the books where they will see them! I put this bookshelf on the stair landing, so they would see it first thing in the morning as they were waking up, and stocked it with some of our favorite books.

And you see how well it works! They even got my sister K, who was visiting, to sit and read with them! Can you figure out which book Johnny and Lily each picked as soon as they saw the bookshelf? I have admired front-display bookcases like this one for years, but never invested in one. I am really happy to have this one! It brings books front and center into our home and gets the kids noticing them!

I have been swapping out books based on books I want my kids to notice, books I think they will especially like, and also books around themes we are learning about (Japan, this week – more on that later). I featured some of our all-time favorites for the photos for this post (affiliate links):

• Usborne Illustrated Dictionary. I bought this book because it reminded me of a French children’s dictionary I got when we lived in France (and still own, I love it that much). This book is full of interesting information and wonderful illustrations that get kids curious and thinking.
• When Dinosaurs Came With Everything is a picture book that will get you and your child giggling! The illustrations are fabulous, and so is the plot. There is even a little bit of a message about responsibility thrown in.
• Show Me a Story is really marketed to adults (parents and educators), but it is beautifully done and my kids love to look through it for ideas that they incorporate into both storytelling and pretend play (which is, actually, storytelling).
• The World According to Humphrey is a delightful early chapter book narrated by a hamster who is the class pet.
• Nine-year-old Emma loves to write stories, and Writing Magic has been a wonderful resource for her as she works on character and plot development.
• Karlson on the Roof is a funny adventurous story written by Astrid Lindgren of Pippi Longstocking fame.
• Mrs. Piggle Wiggle’s Magic is an early reader chapter book full of magic and fun.
• I didn’t love Goodnight Moon the first time I read it, but it has really grown on me over the years and I now consider it the perfect soothing bedtime story for toddlers and preschoolers.
• My kids love all of the sensory That’s Not My… books. That’s Not My Puppy is three-year-old Anna’s current favorite.
• Gingerbread Baby is one of many books we love by Jan Brett. It includes several fun twists on the classic Gingerbread Boy tale.
• We Are in a Book is the story that made my family fall in love with Mo Willems’ Elephant & Piggie series, and it remains our favorite. The friend who gave it to Lily as a birthday present a couple years ago said it was his favorite, too!
• Press Here is the wordless picture book that every family needs to read! It is the definition of an interactive book!
• The Poky Little Puppy is a book I spent hours looking at as a child, and my kids also love it! I feel like the illustrations really build empathy in this story about choices and consequences.

What books would you put on a bookcase like this in your home?

MaryAnne Kochenderfer

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MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.