Make reading fun and memorable with activities and photos. From their earliest days I liked noting my children’s favorite books in their baby books. I treasure photos of reading with my grandchildren. There are many ways to make reading memorable.

Ethan enjoying book his Grandma wrote

Try these tips:

• Read to your child, even teens. It’s amazing how kids still like to have someone read a book out loud.
• Discuss the book (helps build reading comprehension) and write some of their comments in a journal, scrapbook, or baby book.
• Take photos of your children reading. Post them online. If they have a favorite author then tag that author with a note of how much you or your child enjoyed the book.
• Write some reviews online of favorite books. This helps them know their thoughts are important.
• Drop off a copy of your family or child enjoying books to your local bookstore. They may want to post them. You could even start a trend or contest at the store.
• Shop together for books, especially one to read in the car on a trip this summer.
• Model reading by relaxing with a book at home. I still recall sitting in the living room with my family while we each had a book to read.
• Use a how to book together. My book, Nature Girl, includes experiments on soil and recipes to enjoy as a family.
• Have your children fill out an index card with the title and a sentence about a book they read this summer. Add these cards to scrapbook pages as part of your summer memories. You can even fold the cards, add a printout of the book cover to paste on the outside, and have the sentence inside. This makes it into a mini-book.
• Make gifting books a special tradition. You can give your children books and also let them shop for books to give a needy neighbor or to donate to a library.
• Take photos at the bookstore when you shop too. Introduce your children to the workers at the store.
• Hold a book swap with friends to trade off books your children outgrew and get some new ones.
• Follow favorite authors online and interact with them. Many love to respond to readers.
• Make a book centerpiece with piling up a few books or adding objects related to a book. You can use crowns and princess symbols to create a centerpiece for princess themed books like My Princess Devotions.
• Hold a night of charades or other games focused on familiar book titles.

You”ll do more as you create memories with books. You’ll grow lifelong readers!     

Karen Whiting, Strengthening families

Finalist, Christian Retail Best Awards