Being a “Book First” Family
One of the best decisions we made as young parents was to be a “book first” family, which simply means we read the book before we watch the movie.
We discovered early on that this had a number of benefits, and I believe this standard has heavily shaped our now young adult children in some pretty profound ways.
Imagination
When kids read first, their own mind's eye pictures the scene and the characters, and the sky is the limit in regard to their own imagination....
Those of us who love to read know there's nothing quite like cozying up with a good seasonal book this time of year. Even if it means cranking the A/C down to 60 degrees because we live in the South.
I know many people, myself included, enjoy having a seasonally curated TBR list, and I think there's real value in doing this for our young readers too.
The seasonal changes are special. They remind us that while life can feel unpredictable, some things stay beautifully consistent. (Did your granny...
How a Hygge Lifestyle Can Encourage Reading
Hygge (hue-gah), the Danish lifestyle concept that emphasizes finding contentment and coziness in simple, everyday moments, has become a major trend on social media, and I am here for the hygge! As a recovering Type A personality, hygge is my preferred speed.
But here's the thing about turning hygge into a curated aesthetic... it completely misses the point.
Real hygge isn't a TikTok aesthetic or Pinterest picture. It isn't about buying the right kind...
Throughout history, authors have frequently used pen names. The practice has deep roots in publishing history and is especially common in children's literature.
Louisa May Alcott, author of "Little Women," wrote gothic thrillers under the pseudonym A.M. Barnard. More recently, J.K. Rowling has written under the pen name Robert Galbraith for her adult crime novels, wanting to separate this style of work from her beloved Harry Potter series.
Daniel Handler writes adult literary fiction under...
Some fun antidotes and quotes from some of the best children's authors:
1. Beverly Cleary’s Chicken Trouble
In her memoir A Girl from Yamhill, Beverly Cleary tells how, as a child, she brought her neighbor’s live chicken to school for show-and-tell. The classroom chaos that followed feels like it could have been a scene straight out of her Ramona books.
2. Roald Dahl’s Chocolate
As a boy, Roald Dahl and his classmates were sometimes asked to taste-test new chocolates from Cadbury. That sweet...
Draven the Kirin: A Magical Creature from Ancient Legends
In Eclipse’s Secret, we learn Draven is a kirin. But what exactly is a kirin, and why is that such a big deal? Let’s step into the world of myths and legends to find out.
What is a Kirin?
A kirin (pronounced “kee-rin”) is a magical creature from East Asian mythology. In Chinese stories it is called qílín, and in Japan it is called kirin. People have been telling stories about the kirin for thousands of years.
The kirin is often described...
We love to hate them, but we probably shouldn't take any back to school advice from these baddies!
1. Miss Trunchbull (Matilda)
“Save time in the morning and wear your gym clothes all day and call it ‘being prepared.’”
2. The White Witch (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)
“Turn the thermostat way down and have a snowball fight in the classroom.”
3. The Big Bad Wolf (The Three Little Pigs)
“Skip the lunchbox. Just sniff around the cafeteria until you find something better.”
4. Captain Hook (...
As children around the world head back to school in the coming weeks, I thought it would be fun to see what advice some of our favorite book characters might offer...
1. Matilda by Roald Dahl
Matilda Wormwood: “Read everything you can get your hands on.”
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
Hermione Granger: “When in doubt, go to the library.”
3. Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary
Ramona Quimby: “Don’t be afraid to be yourself—even if it makes people roll their eyes.”
4. The...
When we think about magical creatures, two of the most famous ones that come to mind are the unicorn and the pegasus. They both look like horses, they both show up in fairy tales and adventures, and they both feel like they gallop straight out of dreams. But even though they are sometimes mentioned together, they are different.
The Unicorn
A unicorn is usually described as a white horse with a single, spiral horn on its forehead. That horn is the unicorn’s most important feature. In legends,...
Move over bookworms. In 2025 we are raising book dragons!
A book dragon is a magical creature disguised as a child. Instead of gold or jewels, their treasure is books. Hoards show up in backpacks, under pillows, littered across the minivan, and stacked in every corner of the house. Once you’ve met one, you’ll recognize the signs right away.
Sign #1: The Hoard Begins
It usually starts with a small pile under the bed, then a stack of library books that somehow always end up overdue, and maybe a...
Children pay attention to and model what they see in their homes. When a parent cuddles up with a book for pleasure, or when Dad reads before bed every night, it sends a powerful message.
Researcher Sandra Cubillos (2023) found that when parents genuinely enjoy reading for themselves, whether that means curling up with a novel, flipping through a magazine, or keeping a stack of books by the bed, their kids are more likely to read for fun too. It makes sense. When children see reading as...
“Mom, I’m bored!” The dreaded three words of motherhood.
We live in a world that hates boredom. Actually, that was the world I grew up in. Now we live in a world that is intolerant of boredom. As adults, we’ve been conditioned this way too. Think about the last time you stood in line, sat in traffic, or waited at a doctor’s office. How long did it take before you pulled out your phone? Probably seconds, not minutes. Our kids see that too, and they learn from it.
Boredom feels wrong…like...
Why I Love Writing Junior Novels
If you’re not quite sure what a junior novel is, you’re not alone. In today’s publishing world, it’s a bit of an in-between category. Under the umbrella of children's literature, these books fall somewhere between early chapter books (Magic Treehouse or Junie B. Jones) and full-length middle grade, text-only novels (Harry Potter or Wings of Fire). As you read my examples, you might be thinking how big of a jump that is between the two. This is where the junior...
Somewhere around Mrs. Winestock’s third-grade English class, I became firmly convinced that starting a sentence with and or but would mean the end of life as I knew it. I imagined a giant red F scribbled across my paper, my promotion to fourth grade in jeopardy, and my future as a writer ruined.
Fast-forward to college years and journalism school, where I was at last liberated from my fear of the coordinating conjunction’s role in my inevitable downfall as a writer. I learned the truth and I...
Illustrations play an important role in helping young children learn to read. They support early comprehension, provide context, and help make stories more engaging. And kids love pictures! But somewhere between early readers (think-Step Into Reading levels by Scholastic) and middle grade(books with no in-chapter images), something subtle but significant changes. Children’s cognitive development is growing during this stage, and the structure of the books they read should grow alongside it....
As a parent, former teacher, and author, I’ve seen the early chapter book space change gradually. Over the past ten years, books intended for 6- 9 year olds have started to include storylines and tone more commonly found in books for older readers. Characters with sharp humor, themes of exclusion, and emotionally intense moments have become more common in stories for children who are just beginning to explore friendship and learning about themselves.
As trends have shifted, something important...
I shared in an earlier post about my family’s military experience and my role as a grief and trauma counselor. I cannot stress enough the potential power reading together has in helping children process difficult emotions (adults too).
Books teach empathy, courage, resilience and hope. When children see characters navigating fear, sadness, or loss, they begin to understand their own feelings in a safe and gentle way. Stories give language to things kids may not know how to say. They offer...
Choosing the Right Books for Your Child
Finding books that match your child’s reading ability and maturity can feel complicated. With a range of categories and reading levels available, it’s not always obvious where to begin or when it’s time to transition to more challenging material. One of the most frequent questions parents ask is: How do I know when my child is ready for something harder?
Reading readiness can be measured in a variety of ways. To better understand how books are...
How Good Reading Habits Help Kids Become Confident Writers And What You Can Do to Support Both
In this post, we’ll look at how reading and writing develop together and why strengthening both can help children grow as thinkers and communicators.
Reading and writing are often taught as if they’re separate. One focuses on understanding. The other helps with expressing. But the two are closely connected. Reading provides children with the language and structure they need to write. Writing, in turn,...
If you’re like most parents you want your child to feel confident and curious, prepared to handle what school and life may bring. One of the most lasting ways to support that growth is reading.
It’s easy to treat reading as another academic skill. But it supports so much more. Reading strengthens language, supports clear thinking, encourages empathy, and builds emotional awareness.
The earlier it becomes part of a child’s routine, the more natural it feels. However, it’s never too late to...