Beyond Reading Minutes: Helping Young Readers Actually Love Books

Back-to-school season means backpacks, new teachers, sharpened pencils—and, for a lot of families, the return of reading logs, reading minutes, AR goals, and nightly reading expectations.

Last week, we talked about Accelerated Reader goals and some of the wonderful Mark Twain Award books that can help Missouri students find great books while working toward those goals.

But this week, we wanted to talk about something that's a little harder to measure:

How do we help our kids actually love reading?

Because there's a difference between raising a child who can read and raising a child who reaches for a book because they genuinely want to know what happens next.

And we think that starts long before chapter books.

Keep Reading Aloud—Even When They Can Read

One of the easiest things we can do for young readers is also one of the things we're often tempted to stop doing once they begin reading independently:

Read to them.

When your child learns to read, it doesn't mean family read-alouds have to end.

A beginning reader may be capable of reading an early chapter book independently but still be ready to listen to a much more complicated story. Reading aloud gives them access to bigger vocabulary, more complex plots and books that might otherwise feel intimidating.

More importantly, it keeps reading connected to something enjoyable.

And yes—we firmly believe you're never really too old to be read to.

Don't Rush Out of Picture Books

There's a strange moment that happens when kids start reading independently where we sometimes feel like they should "graduate" from picture books.

We'd like to officially give everyone permission to ignore that idea.

Picture books are for readers. Period.

They introduce vocabulary. They tell surprisingly complicated stories. They teach history, science, empathy and humor. They let children study illustrations and discover pieces of the story that aren't written in the text.

And some of them are simply really, really fun. A third grader who can read a chapter book can still laugh until they cry over a great picture book. So can a fifth grader. So can a parent. We know because it happens in our shop all the time.

Let Them Read the "Wrong" Book

This one can be difficult for adults. Your child picks the graphic novel.

Again.

Or the joke book. Or the book about Minecraft. Or the animal encyclopedia. Or the same series they've been reading for six months. Or a book that's technically below their reading level. And our instinct can be to steer them toward something more challenging.

Sometimes that's absolutely appropriate. Kids need to stretch their reading skills.

But they also need opportunities to read simply because they enjoy it.

Graphic novels count. Audiobooks count. Comics count. Nonfiction counts. Reading the same beloved series over and over counts.

A book doesn't have to be difficult to be worthwhile. Sometimes the book that seems "too easy" is exactly the book that gives a developing reader the confidence to think:

Hey. I'm actually pretty good at this.

And confidence can be incredibly powerful for a young reader.

Yes, You Can Read That Book Again

If you've ever had a small child, you've probably heard:

"Again!"

You finish the book. They immediately hand it back.

Again.

By approximately the 47th reading, you may be questioning every decision that led you to purchasing this particular book.

But repetition is actually wonderful for developing readers.

When children hear the same story repeatedly, they begin anticipating what comes next. They memorize favorite phrases. They recognize words. They notice details in the illustrations they missed before.

Eventually, they may even start "reading" portions of the book along with you.

That's not something we need to discourage.

That's a reader being built right in front of us.

Find Books That Are FUN to Read Together

Not every book makes a great read-aloud.

Some books are wonderful to read quietly. Others practically demand an audience.

We love books with:

Repetition kids can join in on. Rhythm that makes the words fun to say. Characters that practically require ridiculous voices. Illustrations everyone wants to stop and study. Humor that works for both the kids and the grown-ups reading to them.

Those are often the books children remember years later. They may not remember every book they read for a school assignment. But they remember the one Dad did the funny voice for. They remember the book Mom could never get through without laughing. They remember the story everyone quoted in the car. That's part of creating a family culture around reading.

Make Books Part of Everyday Life

Reading doesn't always need an official time slot. Keep books in the car. Bring one to an appointment. Listen to an audiobook on a road trip. Visit the library. Give books as birthday presents. Put a basket of books somewhere unexpected.

Let your child see you reading something simply because you enjoy it.

Talk about what you're reading at dinner.

Ask your kids what they're reading—and actually let them tell you the entire unnecessarily detailed plot. Reading becomes much easier to love when books are simply part of everyday family life rather than something that only appears when a reading log comes home.

A Few Curious Turtle Read-Aloud Favorites

We could probably make this list approximately 100 books long, but we'll exercise a little restraint.

Here are a few books we find ourselves recommending again and again:

The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak

If you've never read this aloud to a group of kids, prepare yourself.

There may not be pictures, but there are plenty of ridiculous words—and the person reading the book is required to say ALL of them.

It's silly, interactive and exactly the kind of book that reminds kids that reading can be hilarious.

What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada

This is one of those picture books that we think grows right alongside its reader.

It's a beautiful story about what happens when you have an idea—especially one that feels a little strange, a little different or maybe even a little too big.

It's a wonderful read-aloud because the story doesn't necessarily end when you close the book. It gives you an opportunity to ask kids about their ideas, what they're dreaming up, and what they might create if they weren't worried about what anyone else thought.

How Many Animals Can Fit in This Book?

This is exactly the kind of interactive picture book we love for Storytime.Instead of kids simply sitting and listening, they get to participate. How many animals really can fit in one book?

Young readers can count, guess, point things out and watch the pages get increasingly crowded as the story goes along.

The Goal Isn't Just Reading More

Reading goals have their place.

Reading minutes can help establish routines. AR goals can encourage kids to keep progressing. Award lists can introduce readers to wonderful books they might never have picked up otherwise.

But ultimately, we hope the goal is bigger than the number on the reading log. We want kids who wander through shelves looking for their next story. Kids who beg for one more chapter. Kids who reread the same favorite until the cover is falling off. Kids who discover that books can make them laugh, teach them something, take them somewhere completely different or simply give them a quiet place to land.

So yes—meet the reading minutes. Work toward the AR goal.

Challenge them with something new.

But every once in a while, let them pick the silly book, too.

You might just be helping create a lifelong reader.

🐢 Looking for your family's next read-aloud?

Stop by The Curious Turtle and tell us what your reader loves. Whether they're obsessed with animals, adventure, fantasy, funny books, interactive stories or something completely different, we're always happy to help you hunt for the book that might become the next:

"Read it again!"

And if you ask us what our favorite is while you're here, just remember...

our answer is subject to change by the next shipment.