It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 6/15/26

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
For readers of all ages

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop we host which focuses on sharing what we’re reading. This Kid Lit version of IMWAYR focuses primarily on books marketed for kids and teens, but books for readers of all ages are shared. We love this community and how it offers opportunities to share and recommend books with each other.

The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. The Kid Lit IMWAYR was co-created by Kellee & Jen at Teach Mentor Texts.

We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up below, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Happy reading!

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Wednesday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: When Haru Was Here by Dustin Thao

Friday: Student Voices: Reading Benefits from Julianna G. and Merida W.

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Mahmoud, Aunt Melodie, and the Fight Against Censorship: Including LGBTQ+ Characters in Books for Kids” by Kristine Rudolph, Author of The Twin Stars and the Soccer Superstar

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

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Kellee

First: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! 🥳🎈🎉🥳 Happy to be sharing my reading on my birthday 🙂

It has been about a month since I’ve shared what I’ve been reading, so I have some greatness to share.

Adult

My reading has mostly been filled with: FREIDA MCFADDEN!
I have read 20 of her books since I started reading her books in late April.
With her books, I find myself enjoying reading, picking up my book instead of my phone, and usually being surprised by the twist. She definitely knows how to write her type of thriller!

Picture Books

  • Is This a Plum? by Dan & Finn Ojari: I love that this book was made by a father which his son after they had a realization about plums, and it is not what you think! This book definitely made me laugh out loud; make sure to pick it up!
  • Milton Makes a Move by Jonathan Graziano, Illustrated by Dan Tavis: So, I did not know who Noodles and Jonathan were until I received this book, and now that I am all caught up with Jonathan and his pugs, I am smitten. The book is a story of friendship and perosnality and facing fears. I can definitely see why Milton’s story was one that was wanted in a picture book. I mean, check him out!
  • Dad by Christian Robinson: I am totally bias on this one because Christian Robinson is one of my favorite picture book illustrators, and I found these simplistic yet beautiful art in this one was perfect. I loved this celebration of dads that started with animal dads and moved to human dads. I loved that the statements about animal dads were accurate to their species but can also be applied to human situations. So much to love in this book. I was also really lucky to be asked to be part of the advertising for dad, and I was honored to share how my dad lead me.

Middle Grade

  • The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh: Oh man, I am so glad that Trent was assigned this book to read for his language arts class, and I decided to read it with him. I can see why it is a National Book Award Finalist and all the rave reviews from adults and kids alike. It is emotional, informative, and suspenseful. It is also important–the Holodomor should be taught and talked about more as it is horrific and another example of history we don’t want to repeat. I liked how Marsh had the COVID lockdown within it as well.
  • Octopus Ocean: Geniuses of the Deep by Mark Leiren-Young: Octopus are so fascinating, and this text was a great overview of everything about them.
  • Spooky Lakes: 25 Strange and Mysterious Lakes That Dot Our Planet by Geo Rutherford: I really liked learning about all these cool lakes though I think calling it spooky is misguided; however, I will say they were definitely strange or mysterious!
  • Seeds of Discovery: How Barbara McClintock Used Corn and Curiousity to Solve a Science Mystery and Win a Nobel Prize by Lori Alexander, Illustrated by Rebecca Santo: Barbara McClintock is brilliant, and I had never heard of her. I am so glad I learned about her now because how innovative she was in her field and truly in love with science is important to teach kids about. Hopefully they learn about all of these awesome women much earlier than I did.
  • Trunk No. 3 by Allie Millington: This magical realism book was special. Told in 3 points of view: Earl Grey, a young girl living in a magical library; Cleo, a young boy who is new to town; and Trunk No. 3, a magical trunk that has a secret of its own. It is definitely a character driven story, with the reader wanting to help our young protagonists and learn the secrets hidden within the book, that will suck in readers who love emotional reads.
  • Fire Escape: How Animals and Plants Survive Wildfires by Jessica Stremer, Illustrated by Michael Garland: There is so much more to wildfires than most of us know and this book shares so much interesting information with the reader focused primarily on the survival of floral and fauna. A nonfiction read that I will definitely put in my library.

Young Adult

  • Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown by Candace Fleming: I only knew about Jonestown because of the Kool-Aid idiom that is now in our venacular, but there is so much more to Jonestown than just the end. The “lost dream” part of the subtitle really holds a lot of what the story is about–people who had a dream and were sucked into a system of corruption and manipulation. Candace Fleming, again, writes a fascinating nonfiction book that you cannot put down.
  • American Spirits: The Famous Fox Sisters and the Mysterious Fad that Haunted a Nation by Barb Rosenstock: I learned about the Fox sisters by reading Spirit Sleuths by Gail Jarrow, but this book is such a more in-depth look at the sisters specifically, I would almost classify it as a collective biography of the three sisters. It was fascinating learning about the beginning of spiritualism and how the sisters were such influential parts.

And you can always learn more about any of the books I’ve been reading by checking out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

This is my week off; see you next week!

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Kellee

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Wednesday: Alice Piper Speaks Up by Sage Andrew Romero and Loralee Sepsey, Illustrated by Morgan Thompson

Friday: Student Voices: The Importance of Graphic Novels from Isabel T. and Megan G.

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Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

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Author Guest Post: “Mahmoud, Aunt Melodie, and the Fight Against Censorship: Including LGBTQ+ Characters in Books for Kids” by Kristine Rudolph, Author of The Twin Stars and the Soccer Superstar

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“Mahmoud, Aunt Melodie, and the Fight Against Censorship: Including LGBTQ+ Characters in Books for Kids”

Writing for children has always been fraught. All authors are expected to conform to their chosen genre, of course, but writing for kids adds an additional layer of convention depending on the age of the readers we’re targeting. Once the book is written, if it passes through the ever-narrowing pipeline to publication then it needs to be sold. If we want to sell it, we must market and publicize it. But the selling, marketing and publicizing are also more complicated when writing for kids because until you get into the YA space, there are middlemen between you and your reader. You need a product that will delight your core consumer, the child reader, but it must be a product of which the middlemen approve. After all, they are the ones who hold the purse strings.

It’s a maxim of writing for children, then, that if your book can’t be shelved in a school, it’s not likely to sell. And by sell, I mean get published at all. Editors know not to spend time and money on a manuscript that its targeted demographic won’t be allowed to access.

Understanding all this, I’ve worked hard over many years to develop a platform to engage parents, teachers and librarians. I’ve specifically targeted upper middle grade readers, paying close attention to the lives, developmental phases and reading interests of 10–12-year-olds, especially girls. I’ve written four manuscripts for middle grade readers featuring diverse ensemble casts encountering realistic, contemporary challenges.

So, when the Supreme Court released its decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor, I was gutted.

Technically speaking, Mahmoud, decided in June 2025, held that the petitioning parents were entitled to a preliminary injunction based on their First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion. The practical consequence of this decision is that parents of public school children in Maryland may request their child be removed during classroom readings that feature LGBTQ+ characters or issues.

On its face, Mahmoud is not far-reaching. The trouble comes from the chilling effect it will have on all publications for children. My fear is that despite the good intentions of authors, agents, editors, bookshop owners and librarians, Mahmoud will be a death knell for books with LGBTQ+ characters, themes or plotlines.

Remember, if a book for kids can’t be shelved in a school, it won’t sell.

The decision in Mahmoud is one of the reasons I opted to publish my debut middle grade novel, The Twin Stars and the Soccer Superstar, with a hybrid publisher. My manuscript benefited from the professionalism of publisher Brooke Warner and the team at SparkPress. The product is high quality. But because I was the only financial investor in the project, I didn’t have to worry that someone would ask me to change or tone down the storyline involving Aunt Melodie, my protagonist’s beloved aunt who is married to a woman.

The Twin Stars and the Soccer Superstar is set in the Texas Hill Country. One blogger with whom I recently spoke said the Hill Country basically serves as a character because the story is so deeply ensconced in the geography, food, architecture and culture of the area. But the Texas Hill Country is also at the heart of a statewide movement to oppose books with LGBTQ+ characters and themes. In fact, my fictional Barons Creek sits only tens of miles from two book restricting hotbeds – Llano County and New Braunfels, Texas.

Despite my fierce belief in the importance of representation and my strong desire to get my book into the hands of readers, I will admit that I cringed somewhat when a reviewer noted, “Aunt Melodie is gay and married.” It’s true! It’s important to the story! Aunt Melodie is awesome! Kids need to know people like Aunt Melodie exist! And yet, I was still struck by a moment of panic.

Chilling effect, indeed.

I am not going to stop writing books with LGBTQ+ characters, plot lines and themes. I just know too many kids who have found their truth through the pages of fiction, and I know too many families who deserve to see themselves on the pages to self-censor. I’m also not going to stop setting my tales in places I know and love, like Texas and my current home state of Georgia. But I also know the winds of change are blowing against LGBTQ+ representation in children’s fiction and that reality is taking a personal and professional toll on many.

“You know, it’s not your job to go around fixing everything that’s broken,” Aunt Melodie tells Cassaty in The Twin Stars and the Soccer Superstar. I hear you, Melodie. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.

To learn more about the fight against book restrictions in Texas, visit Texas Freedom to Read Project.

Published June 9th, 2026 by SparkPress

About the Book: Perfect for fans of Laurie Morrison and Jenn Bishop, this lively middle-grade mystery follows a vibrant group of teens and tweens navigating grief, authenticity, and—above all—soccer, while taking an enjoyable romp through the Texas Hill Country.

Every year, spring in Texas means two very different things to sixth grader Cassaty Greene: her beloved Barons Creek High School soccer team, the Battling Billies, will contend for the state title, and the anniversary of her twin brother’s death will plunge her family into a deep, unspoken grief. But this year, the script changes when the Battling Billies’ star midfielder goes missing right before the playoffs begin. Presented with this mysterious disappearance, Cassaty seizes the chance to heroically bring the missing girl home—and hopefully, in doing so, help fill the hole her brother’s death left in her family so many years ago.

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About the Author: Kristine Rudolph lives in Atlanta, Georgia and Austin, Texas. She earned a B.A. in History and Religious Studies at Southern Methodist University, a J.D. from The University of Texas at Austin School of Law and a Graduate Certificate in Children’s Literature from Pennsylvania State University. She is a member of the Atlanta Writers Club, the Broadleaf Writers Association, SCBWI and the Children’s Literature Assembly of NCTE. She’s a Girl Scout troop leader and CASA/GAL volunteer. Her middle grade debut, The Twin Stars and the Soccer Superstar, is slated for publication in June 2026 with SparkPress. Learn more about Kristine at kristinerudolph.com.

Thank you, Kristine, for fighting for childrens’ freedom to read!

Student Voices: Reading Benefits from Julianna G. and Merida W.

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Reading Benefits

“Impacts of Reading on Writing” by Julianna G., 8th grade

Introduction

Writing is usually one of the most common subjects taught in school. You either love it or hate it. Starting off writing can sometimes be difficult. Alas, reading can help. From reading a lot of books over the years, it’s helped me write a lot more efficiently.  It’s even better when you have a wide selection of reading since each is unique and gives you a different style to help you find your own.

Essays

When writing essays, reading non-fiction books helps get a reference or a kind of idea on how to structure information and elaborate more. Since introductions and conclusions are hard sometimes for a lot of people.

I started picking up patterns when it comes to writing them from reading these types of books. What I’ve noticed is that they always try to allude in some form of a way to what the section is going to be about by bringing up something big or using appeals to bring attention to something. Like when I was reading Bobby Darin: A Life author Michael Starr started the book by introducing what Bobby meant to him with an anecdote. That helped me get a better idea on how anecdotes work so I can use them in my introductions. 

Even reading articles helps since they’re formatted similarly to an essay. Just using them and noticing ways that ideas are stated and elaborated helps give an idea on how to write.

Stories

Not only can reading help write essays, it helps write stories.  As many know, stories are based on something. I enjoy reading the series of authors I like. For example Rick Riordan. So over the years I’ve picked up tricks and ways to write or emphasize events. Like when he tries emphasizing or when a character is speaking a different language he uses italics to show this.

Also when reading classic novels like The Outsiders or The Modern Prometheus (Frankenstein) it helps with new vocabulary since they were written at different points in history, it lets you gain the vocabulary to use when writing which helps you sound more professional or more accurate to the time period your story takes place . For instance the word tuff  which means cool was used in The Outsiders when talking about Ponyboys wounds. I’d never heard of this word until reading the book so it gave me a new word to use. 

As well, each author has a different writing style and reading various books from various authors helps get reference and a way to learn them which can help when you’re writing. Even when you’re reading you’ve gotta use your imagination so it helps you picture the characters.  Since it helps you practice imagination it would help you imagine your own stories in which you picture your own characters to write.

Vocabulary

Reading can also help you with vocabulary. The national library of education found that “there is empirical evidence that, for older children and adults, much learning of new words occurs through exposure to written texts.” 

I’ve personally learned a lot of new words from texts like The Great Gatsby. I learned words like privy which means not something generally known so it’s something I can use now to sound professional. One of my friends was reading a book about phobias and learned Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia which is the fear of long words. They used words when writing a short story about a kid that fears long words. So each time you read a new book with different vocabulary the more widespread your vocab is for when you write.

Conclusion

Reading and writing go hand in hand. The more you read the better you get at writing and the more techniques you pick up. From writing essays to writing stories, you learn more each time. So what will you write next?

“Benefits of Different Genres” by Merida W., 8th grade

Everyone has their own favorite genre to read in books, but if you already have a favorite genre, what’s the point of reading others? The type of category a book is in or what the topic is, may seem pretty insignificant, however, certain genres can effectively impact certain areas of thinking more than others. Similar to how different fruits/vegetables are all good for your health but one fruit or vegetable might provide you a better source of a certain vitamin/micronutrient than another fruit or vegetable can. Here are some different genres and what area of thinking/learning they can improve.

  • Fantasy: Books in these genres enrich imagination and thus creativity. This is because they allow readers to think about other worlds/scenarios and “magical and mystical” characters and creatures that might not be in the current world so far. These books can be used as inspiration when creating stories or in creative writing.
  • Sci-Fi (Science Fiction):  These books also enrich creativity and imagination, similar to Fantasy, however, they’re usually more focused on futuristic, high-tech, and advanced systems or devices. Given that they are more focused on futuristic ideas, these books are also a great inspiration for those trying to invent/innovate, those writing about futuristic stories, or just anyone focused on possible futures, potential solutions to be used in the future, and futuristic problem solving.

  • Historical Fiction: These types of books often inform the reader about historical events and go in depth about it. This is because reading about how a character dealt with past events can give the reader a deeper understanding of how other (real) people may have felt and how impactful the event was. The characters in the books may share a similar experience or circumstance with the readers (even if it’s not exactly the same), allowing readers to remember it more because of the relatable bond they might have with certain characters.

  • Thriller/Horror and Mystery: Books with these genres require readers to think critically and analytically to “figure out who is guilty” since readers need to keep track of clues and use reasoning in order to predict the correct suspect or the culprit. Reading many of these books and trying to figure out the complex clues/hints can make readers more able to spot important hints and recognize patterns within investigations or simply issues regarding day to day life!

  • Non-Fiction and Biographies: Although this one is quite obvious, these books inform readers more about a subject and give facts about the subject. Providing knowledge that may be important in other topics.

  • Romance: These types of books foster empathy and expression in readers, as well as improving emotional intelligence. Reading these books can help expose readers to deep intimate bonds and (healthy) relationships,and thus, help readers understand them more. These books can also encourage other people to act respectful and well in their relationships

  • Poetry & Drama: Books in these categories improve comprehension, analyzing skills, and even emotional intelligence. To figure out and interpret the meaning, readers have to carefully analyze the poem or drama piece. After continuous practice of this, readers will be better at analyzing writing pieces in general and more efficient in comprehending other writing pieces’ meanings. Most drama and poem books also express human emotions or go in depth with emotions and feelings, therefore, exposure to these books will allow the reader to recognize such emotional patterns, understand them and potentially know what to do.

All genres are important and impactful in their own way. This was meant as a guide to teach you about how different genres can impact you and your thinking/learning processes with no bias or hate towards any of the genres shown. This was also written in hopes of promoting different genres and encouraging readers to read diverse ranges of genres.

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at some benefits of reading!

Sofia’s YA Book Nook: When Haru Was Here by Dustin Thao

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Sofia is a 13-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select weeks, Sofia shares her favorite books with other young people her age! She is one of the most well-read youth that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!

 

 

Dear readers,

If you are looking for a tragic book about what it means to lose the people you care about, let me introduce you to When Haru Was Here by Dustin Thao. I have been wanting to read this book ever since I read You’ve Reached Sam (link to review) which literally brought me to tears. Eric is still finding himself after the sudden loss of his best friend and love interest Daniel. In the previous summer in Japan, Eric meets adventurous and charismatic Haru who wants to show him through Tokyo, but even though they are having fun, Eric cuts it short to hang out with Daniel. After Daniel’s sudden death, Eric is in a cafe, processing the news when Haru goes and sits down next to him. This book reminds me of Studio Ghibli films with their magical realism components and atmospheric writing! Fans of “My Neighbor Totoro” might enjoy Haru’s similar, yet more complex presence.

Goodreads Summary

We Are Okay meets Wandavision in this novel about loss, and learning to let go. After the death of his best friend, Eric Ly creates imaginary scenarios in his head to deal with his grief. Until one of them becomes real when a boy he met last summer in Japan finds his way back into his life. When he least expects it, Haru Tanaka walks into the coffee shop and sits down next to him. The only thing is, nobody else can see him. In a magical turn of events, Eric suddenly has someone to connect with, making him feel less alone in the world. But as they spend more and more time together, he begins to question what is real. When he starts losing control of the very thing that is holding him together, Eric must finally confront his reality. Even if it means losing Haru forever.

My Thoughts

When Haru Was Here shows the journey as Eric goes through many emotions regarding Haru, and how confusing his appearances are. A significant motif throughout this novel is the little bell Eric hears each time Haru is about to appear. To me, the bell served as a clear sign that Haru was a figment of Eric’s imagination, an idea that Eric struggled with. In his state of grief, Eric is manipulated by people around him and taken advantage of. His new coworkers take him to parties with excessive liquor even though he is underage. This exposes him to wealthy men who don’t have his best interest in mind, only looking for a disposable lover. Eric is forced to choose between Haru and his abusive partners. The entire novel shows what grief can do to a person, as Eric seems to be slipping in and out of reality constantly. When Haru Was Here portrays the emotional trauma that occurs when one loses a loved one, and the implications on people’s mental health.

When Haru Was Here is a YA novel that is appropriate for ages 13+. Some mature themes to be aware of are death of a loved one, grief, and excessive alcohol consumption.

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 6/8/26

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
For readers of all ages

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop we host which focuses on sharing what we’re reading. This Kid Lit version of IMWAYR focuses primarily on books marketed for kids and teens, but books for readers of all ages are shared. We love this community and how it offers opportunities to share and recommend books with each other.

The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. The Kid Lit IMWAYR was co-created by Kellee & Jen at Teach Mentor Texts.

We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up below, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Happy reading!

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Wednesday: Penguin Random House FIFA World Cup Round Up

Friday: Student Voices: Reading Benefits from Alexa S., Brenda O., Cecilia G., and Maddie M.

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

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Kellee

It’s my week off! However, you can always learn more about any of the books I’ve been reading by checking out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

Young Adult

I enjoyed the nonfiction American Spirits by Barb Rosenstock. I got this one in my ALAN Box. Kellee and I read it along with a couple of other ALAN friends. We had a great discussion about it, and my tween read it, too!

Adult

I suffered through Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. This is what we call type 2 fun.

Adult Romance


And I read some romances because these bring me joy. The first two books in Liz Tomforde’s The Windy City series were lovely. They read a bit long, but I fell in love with the characters. These are solid sports romances (Mile High and The Right Move). I also read Tessa Bailey’s books, The Au Pair Affair, Dream Girl Drama, and Pitcher Perfect. These were also excellent sports books. I recommend all five of these books if you like contemporary romance!

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The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss

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Wednesday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: When Haru Was Here by Dustin Thao

Friday: Student Voices: Reading Benefits from Julianna G. and Merida W.

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Mahmoud, Aunt Melodie, and the Fight Against Censorship: Including LGBTQ+ Characters in Books for Kids” by Kristine Rudolph, Author of The Twin Stars and the Soccer Superstar

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Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

 Signature andRickiSig

Student Voices: Reading Benefits from Alexa S., Maddie M., Brenda O., and Cecilia G.

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Reading Benefits

“Psychological Benefits of Reading” by Alexa S., 7th grade

Reading helps us with many things, and many of them have to do with psychology, so today I am here to tell you some of the amazing psychological benefits of reading.

What Is Psychology? And what does it have to do with reading?

Psychology is the study of the human mind and behavior. Now that you know that, you might be asking yourself, what does the human mind have to do with reading? Well, most people don’t read books out loud, they read it in their minds. Here is where psychology connects with reading, books positively affect our brains. Some help with mental health challenges and diseases, basically depending if the book is good or not. While many people might feel like reading is boring, it actually helps you distract yourself from daily worries and problems, almost as if taking a break from the world surrounding you. Suddenly all you care about is if the main character in the book is going to be killed or survive the killer.

What studies show

A study published in 2016 from Yale University shows that “people who read 3.5 hours per week or more, lived 23 more months than an average person who doesn’t read.” Which shows that reading can improve your life, and time on earth. The study was performed with around 3,635 people, they were all separated into three different groups, the ones who didn’t read at all, the ones who read for 3 and a half hours, and those who read more than 3 and a half hours, they all had to answer “How many hours did you spend last week reading books?”. “More than 12 years later, those who read at least 3 and a half hours per week were proved to be 17% less likely to die, and the ones who read the most were 23% less likely to die” People who read books were scientifically proven to have an average of 2-years longer life-span, than those  who didn’t read at all.

Reading books reduces stress

Many different studies have shown that reading books reduces stress and narrative transportation, which just means getting really involved in the book, that you feel things like happiness, sadness, and others. Reading books usually helps people with the way they deal with their problems, reading encourages people to use their strengths, and re-enforces their sense of identity. “Reading about positive psychology actually helps with psychological resilience.” Says the article. “Resciliency” is just a big word for how people recover quickly from adversity. Positive psychological resiliency could help maintain good mental and social connections. Some literacy articles show that books sometimes stimulate the person’s inner positive thoughts and feelings, which could lead to a better mental health and an upswing in their lifestyles.

Conclusion

In conclusion, reading has many important psychological benefits that can help improve our minds. It can reduce stress, increase focus, and help us understand other people’s feelings and perspectives. Reading also strengthens our imagination and helps us get distracted from our daily worries and stress. Because of all these benefits, taking time to read, even if it’s just once in a while, can make a big difference in our daily lives, like living longer. So, picking up a good book every now and then is a great habit that can help us grow and feel better overall.

“The Importance of Reading to Children” by Maddie M., 8th grade

I’d like to consider myself an avid reader, and I have been that way since a young age. In fact, a key memory from my early childhood is going to the library and attending storytime. You might think that reading with or to young children is just another way to entertain them. However, there are many benefits, such as improving cognitive development and fostering a relationship between the reader and the child. 

Cognitive Development

To start, one benefit of reading to children is that it supports their cognitive development. Studies show that children who are exposed to reading and books before entering preschool are more likely to succeed in their later education and have a larger vocabulary. This could mean that if you don’t introduce reading to your child early on, they may have a harder time reading and learning in general once they enter school. Furthermore, the Child Mind Institute says, “By reading to your child starting at a young age, even before they’re able to communicate verbally, you help lay the neurological groundwork for effective language use and literacy. That’s partly because books expose children to vocabulary and grammar that they wouldn’t normally hear.” To elaborate, reading to your child, especially books about real-world situations or unique topics, can teach them more words. For example, a book about the zoo would have more unique words that children wouldn’t hear in day-to-day conversations. 

Strengthening Relationships

In addition, reading to children strengthens and fosters relationships between the reader and the child. Raleigh Pediatrics says that infants’ hearing their parents’ voices while reading to them promotes their emotional well-being and strengthens their attachment to their parents. So, reading to your child can improve their ability to handle tough situations in the future and build resilience to stress. Secondly, Dr. Phillips states, “The physical contact that you get from being held by your parent while you’re reading actually helps to engage neurons in the brain, which make kids more receptive to the language and the cognitive stimulation that they’re getting from that experience.” This shows how family bonding time can actually become a learning opportunity!

Resources

Need assistance with incorporating books into your routine or want to reach out to an expert?

1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a non-profit charity. Their goal is to improve children’s reading skills by encouraging them to read 1000 books before entering kindergarten. Many communities and libraries in the United States and Canada have established this program. 1000 Books Before Kindergarten even has its own app where you can track the books you read. Their website is 1000booksbeforekindergarten.org.

Additionally, Reach Out and Read is a non-profit organization. During a child’s well visits, they work with parents and teach them important things, such as the best way to hold a book when reading to their child. They offer advice and vital information about why it is important to read to children. During visits, they provide the family with a free book to take home. They offer these books in 38 different languages! Their website is https://reachoutandread.org.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, reading to children is important and has many benefits. These benefits include the ability to strengthen the relationship between parents and children and the added cognitive development. There are many organizations to assist with this task, like Reach Out and Read and 1000 Books before Kindergarten. Additionally, since I was read to a lot as a child, I can say that it has made me love reading and has definitely influenced my life and who I am now. So, whether you and your child are at library storytime or reading the Percy Jackson books, make sure to educate the future leaders of our world!

Sources

James, Sini. “Benefits of Starting Reading at a Young Age.” Www.nationwidechildrens.org, 4 Nov. 2022, www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/700childrens/2022/11/benefits-of-starting-reading.

“Benefits of Reading to Your Children | Raleigh Pediatrics.” Raleigh Pediatrics, 8 Oct. 2025, raleighpediatrics.com/importance-of-reading-to-children/.‌

Sheldon-Dean, Hannah. “Why Is It Important to Read to Your Child?” Child Mind Institute, Child Mind Institute, 19 Jan. 2023, childmind.org/article/why-is-it-important-to-read-to-your-child/.

“How Can Books Help Distract Us From Real Life?” by Brenda O., 7th grade

Some people may think that books can only help you learn how to read, BUT that is definitely not the case. Reading books has way more benefits than just learning how to read, but do you know them? In this article, we are going to talk about some ways that books can help us live our lives better.

If you have any economic issues, family issues, or something stressing you, read a book, maybe even an audiobook. Reading a book can distract you and take you to another world, a world where you can concentrate on another person’s story and your own. Just for a moment, try to read a book, complete it, and see just how interesting it can be to get out of your own story and start another. It’s good to sometimes forget about reality, it can be a way of learning about another point of view, or just looking for entertainment.

Reading can also help you fall asleep. There are thousands of books that talk about relaxation or are relaxing. Another way can be silencing your thoughts with a good story. Sometimes, I have trouble sleeping because my thoughts keep me awake, so a solution I found was reading a book before sleeping. The book made me stop overthinking stuff and forget my problems, and made me think about the story and how it could end, or how I need to read the other series of it. 

“Reading promotes mindfulness, or the ability to live in the moment. It pulls our attention away from unwanted or worrying thoughts and helps to focus on the present.” It’s a quote from Henry Ford Health telling us how reading can also promote mindfulness, which means that you are more aware and present in the real world and are able to enjoy the good things in life and ignore the negative things.

Reading has helped me a lot with stress and tuning out negative thoughts, and I’m sure that it has helped a lot of other people, so it can help YOU! The real world can indeed be scary or stressful, so just take a moment to read a book and see how wonderful it is to take your mind off what is happening and relax.

“How Reading Books Can Help You on Your Daily Life“ by Cecilia G., 8th grade

Reading books is an interesting way to learn and help with your mental health, not only you will be learning so much you will also see improvement in many occasions in your daily life. There are many reasons why reading can help you develop in your daily life and help you in many situations, not only at school but everywhere else.

  • Reading reduces stress

Studies show that reading daily can help you get more relaxed and reduce stress. A study by the University of Sussex demonstrated that six minutes of silent reading can reduce stress levels by 68 per cent. (source)

  • Reading helps with sleep

Reading can help with many health problems that may be showing up in your sleep. The main reason is the decrease in stress, anxiety and muscular tension associated with reading. Helping you relax and unwind before sleep can make a difference in being able to push aside anxious thoughts and allow your consciousness to drift off. (source)

  • Builds vocabulary

Reading can not only help with learning new words, it also keeps children interested in all the new things they are learning about. Reading aloud with children allows for exposure to sophisticated language and content that might be above their independent reading level, but not above their interest level.  (source)

  • Helps building memory

It can help your brain with your memory since your brain actively encodes and stores information, creating new connections between neurons. Visualizing scenes, characters, and details from a story engages the brain’s sensory regions, enhancing memory retention through vivid mental imagery. (source)

  • Strengthens writing skills

When reading you can learn new vocabulary which for children, reading offers them a window into how authors write. It offers a study in different genres, styles, tones, and use of different vocabulary words. (source)

  • Improves critical thinking skills

When children spend a lot of time reading, they strengthen their ability to think about something from another point of view and to problem solve for someone outside of themselves. Finding solutions to a character’s problem helps children to think through other issues around them with similar discernment. (source)

  • Strengthens your brain

One 2020 study found that increased gray matter in the left superior temporal cortex part of the brain was associated with better reading performance in children. Gray matter plays a role in cognitive function. (source)

In conclusion, reading does a big part in your life. By helping with improving your mental health, thinking skills, vocabulary, and many other reasons listed above. Reading can not only be entertaining and fun as a hobby, it can also make your life a lot better by giving you many sorts of help.

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at the benefits of reading!