Great Books That Inspire Reading
Sometimes just reading about something in a book can make it seem that much more appealing, and motivate us to investigate it further. My daughter recently read a book about list-making, and proceeded to spend several weeks making – and posting – heartfelt lists all over our house. With this in mind, why not choose books that celebrate the values you believe in, or better yet, model the behavior you want your children to ascribe to?
Because I believe in the value and empowerment of reading, I want my kids to be passionate, curious, eager readers.
Here, then, are some of my favorite children’s books that celebrate reading itself:
Reading Makes You Feel Good Todd Parr
It’s a Book Lane Smith
The Best Book to Read Debbie Bertram
A Book Mordicai Gerstein
The Phantom Tollbooth Norton Juster
Dog Loves Books Louise Yates
Word After Word After Word Patricia Maclachlan
Calvin Can’t Fly: The Story of a Bookworm Birdie Jennifer Berne
How Rocket Learned to Read Tad Hills
Miss Brooks Loves Books (And I Don’t) Barbara Bottner
And here are some of my favorite books for adults about reading, or about getting kids reading:
Best Books for Kids Who (Think They) Hate to Read: 125 Books That Will Turn Any Child into a Lifelong Reader, Laura Backes
Better Than Life, Daniel Pennac
The Between the Lions Book for Parents: Everything You Need to Know to Help Your Child Learn to Read, Linda K. Rath, Louise
Kennedy
The Book of Junior Authors and Illustrators Series, edited by Connie Rockman, 8th, 9th and 10th editions
Books Kids Will Sit Still For, Judy Freeman
Great Books About Things Kids Love, Great Books for Boys and Great Books for Girls, Kathleen Odean
Guys Write for Guys Read, Jon Scieszka
Honey for a Child’s Heart: The Imaginative Use of Books in Family Life, Gladys Hunt
How to Get Your Child to Love Reading, Esmé Raji Codell
The Kids’ Book Club Book: Reading Ideas, Recipes, Activities, and Smart Tips for Organizing Terrific Kids’ Book Clubs, Judy Gelman, Vicki Levy Krupp
The Little Guide to Your Well-Read Life, Steve Leveen
The Mother-Daughter Book Club: How Ten Busy Mothers and Daughters Came Together to Talk, Laugh, and Learn Through Their Love of Reading, Shireen Dodson
The New York Times Parent’s Guide to the Best Books for Children, Eden Ross Lipson
Reading Magic—Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever, Mem Fox
Read to Me: Raising Kids Who Love to Read, Bernice E. Cullinan
The Read-Aloud Handbook, Jim Trelease
The Uncommon Reader, Alan Bennett
Under the Chinaberry Tree: Books and Inspirations for Mindful Parenting, Ann Ruethling and Patti Pitcher
Valerie and Walter’s Best Books for Children—A Lively, Opinionated Guide, Valerie Lewis and Walter M. Mayes
Welcome to Lizard Motel: Protecting the Imaginative Lives of Children, Barbara Feinberg
What are your favorite books that celebrate reading?
