6th March, 2019

Our kids have always been big readers. Everywhere they go – there is always a book or two in hand.

Whenever we travel to a new place, the bookstore is one of the first places we look to find. We would spend hours searching the isles.
Our two little bookworms just love to read. Immersing themselves amongst tall tales and stories. Time travelling to foreign lands, casting spells.
Sometimes they’ll stick to one particular series for a while, sometimes they jump between different books and sometimes they have 3 books on the go at once!

We visit our local library once a week usually, and if what they are looking for isn’t available – they’ll place an order and I receive a text message when it’s ready to collect. Got to love community libraries!

We buy so many books. We have considered the kindle, but we all prefer the feel of a book in hand. Dog ears, turning each new page.
Each school holidays we head to Kmart, Dymocks or Big W to check out their latest stock. These three stores tend to be our go-to’s when shopping bricks and mortar.

When shopping online – I use booktopia, and Book Depository
Their ranges vary as do their prices, so it pays to compare.
Book Depository has free worldwide shipping, where booktopia has a $6.95 flat rate.
Both have a huge range.

Just like adults, I think kids will either enjoy reading or they won’t. Not all children are keen readers.
I often receive emails and messages asking me for advice and tips on getting kids to read. I’m afraid I don’t have a magical answer.
Perhaps try reading together, or take it in turns. Select a book that is also a movie, and make a deal that once the book is read, then you’ll watch the movie together.
Make it fun. Let the kids select their own (age appropriate) books, and don’t push them into the serious stuff too soon. They have the rest of their lives to read Pride and Prejudice and To Kill a Mockingbird.
Let them be kids.
Set a reading time each afternoon or evening. Set some goals. Perhaps a sticker chart. Something for them to mark off each day and follow their achievements.

And always, always keep it fun and positive.

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Here are Lily’s current favourites for 12 year old girls:

– Harry Potter box set 
She’s read these books so many times and just loves them.

– Maddie Ziegler dance books. The Audition, The Callback, The Maddie Diaries.

– Pages & Co – Tilly and the Book Wanderers by Anna James
This was a book that Lily could not and would not put down! She read it in about 2 days.
It’s a beautiful story of a girl named Tilly who lives with her Grandparents above their bookstore.
“Tilly realises that classic children’s characters are appearing in the shop through the magic of ‘book wandering’ – crossing over from the page into real life.”

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Spencer has just turned 11, and he is loving these:

– David Walliams – Gangsta Granny, The Ice Monster…

– Morris Gleitzman’s Once series. An incredible series about Felix, a Jewish boy living in Poland during the Nazi takeover. (This series is his FAVOURITE at the moment)

– Enid Blyton’s Famous Five series

– Ross Welford’s latest – The 1000 year old boy, What NOT to do if you turn invisible, Time travelling with a Hamster – are all amongst his current favourites.

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I’d love to hear what your kids are reading and if you have any other recommendations for my two little book lovers.

Happy Wednesday .

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