The Library Basket Method
And other ways I get my kids to LOVE reading, plus an addition to my preorder giveaway!
Oh, hey there! Welcome back to Books & Other Things, my monthly newsletter that features book reviews and recommendations, writing updates, a behind the scenes look at an author's life, and random giveaways of my favorite books.
My Library Book Basket Method
My kids LOVE to read. Every morning, the two oldest are up by 6:30 AM. They find me on the couch reading and once they have their morning drinks in hand, they’re grabbing their own stack of books to flip through in the quiet room.
And this isn’t the only time they sit on the couch and quietly flip through books. This happens all throughout the day at random moments. Sometimes, if they’re playing and on the verge of bickering, I’ll even yell out, “Okay, it’s time for a break! Everyone grab some books and let’s have quiet time.” And yes, this actually works 🤣 they sit and read on their own.
One way I try to keep books exciting and fresh is by making regular trips to the library—duh! But one thing I started doing a few months ago to make it even more fun is to allow my two older kids to bring a wire basket with them to the library and allow them to fill it to the brim with whatever they want.
The only limitation I put on their choices is the t.v. character books. Yes, we watch Paw Patrol and Blaze and Dragon Rescue Riders at home, and because we watch those shows, we don’t need to read about them too. I want them to choose books with beautiful artwork, interesting story lines and vocabulary they don’t hear everyday—and that’s not usually something you find in these t.v. character books. I allow them one or two and then gently encourage them to choose anything else in the library. That’s fair, right?!
The nice part about the basket method is that it then becomes how we keep our library books organized at home. Each child has their own basket with their library books that we keep near the couches or their bean bags so they can sort through them whenever they please.
I also keep several books in our car (both library and ones we own). I stuff the pockets behind the driver and passenger seats with as many books as I can fit, and the first thing they do when we hop in the car—even if it’s just a quick drive to the YMCA or library—is grab one of those books to flip through. Even the baby is doing it now without any prompting! Her brother kindly hands her any book she points to ❤️
There are endless ways to help your children love to read. I hope my basket method helps you and yours with some inspiration this summer to get your kids in a book more often!
Did you hear? My new book received a starred review in Library Journal this month!
A Fun Addition To My Preorder Giveaway
In honor of the starred review my new book just received, I decided to add one more prize to the preorder giveaway I’m doing! A fourth winner will now receive FIVE copies of Where Wilted Flowers Bloom so they can form their own book club and gift their members a free copy!
As a reminder, if you preorder my book from ANY retailer before August 20, you can enter to win one of three four sweet prizes:
Winner #1 will receive a THREE month subscription to Urban Stems, a flower subscription company that sends gorgeous, premium bouquets straight to your door!
Winner #2 will receive a copy of the beautiful coffee table book, Floret Farm’s A Year in Flowers: Designing Gorgeous Arrangements for Every Season.
Winner #3 will receive a $25 Starbucks gift card in the hopes that you will use it to treat a neighbor to coffee or tea just like my protagonists in the book.
Winner #4 will receive five copies of Where Wilted Flowers Bloom for their bookclub.
We’re about 6 weeks out from book launch (ahhhh!), but have you read my first novel An American Immigrant yet?
It’s less than $12 on Amazon right now! And $6 on Kindle.
That's all for now, my friends. Want to chat about anything in this newsletter? Just leave a comment below! Or connect with me on Instagram or Facebook.