Recommended Reading for Parents

I am often asked about various books on the market that would be helpful for parents. After reading many books on the market, I definitely have some favorites. There are so many great books that sometimes it can be overwhelming.  If you are looking for a new read or some parenting inspiration, here are some book recommendations for you to check out:

 

Books About Reading with Your Kids:

 

The Read-Aloud Family  by Sarah Mackenzie

This book is amazing. The author, Sarah Machenzie, is the founder of the very popular Read Aloud Revival podcast. As an advocate for reading aloud, she shares how reading aloud with your children can strengthen family connections and help children to be more empathetic towards others.  I love how Sarah MacKenzie shares strategies at each stage and personal anecdotes on how her family has been impacted by reading aloud together. As many of you know, I am a huge advocate for reading aloud (even when your children can read independently). I agree with so many of her points about the impact of reading aloud to your children. This book is an inspirational read that will have you thinking about how you can incorporate more read alouds with your family.

 

The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease

This book was first published in 1982 and has been updated and edited numerous times. The most current edition is the newly released 8^th edition. I will be honest that my favorite edition is the 7^th (this is the last edition edited by Jim Trelease and it has a few less personal stories and gets more to the point). This book is a treasure trove of insights into raising kids who read. While the first half of the book offers practical advice, the second half of the book offers book recommendations from multiple genres. For each book, he provides a brief synopsis, number of pages, and the targeted age range. This resource is super helpful. 

 

Reading Magic by Mem Fox

Mem Fox is a beloved children’s book author so I was delighted to find her book on reading for adults. I love her straightforward explanations and her reminders about the importance of reading aloud. Fun comic-like illustrations are placed throughout her explanations and anecdotes. Fox offers overviews of how kids acquire reading skills as they mature and have language and reading experiences.  

How to Raise a Reader by Pamela Paul and Maria Russo

This new release is organized by ages and stages. In each section, Paul and Russo offer major ideas you need to know about a reader at that particular stage. They also offer what to look for in books for that particular age. I found this inclusion incredibly helpful. There are many factors that go into whether or not a book is a good fit for a child and I think Paul and Russo offer some great considerations. In addition to these tips and reflections, they also offer their top picks for each age/stage. Given their roles as editors for The New York Times Book Review, their picks are super interesting and provide a great starting point for finding good fit books for your child.

 

Other Highly Recommend Books for Parents:

Mindset by Carol Dweck

This book has been highlighted in many media outlets and many other books (including Jessica Lahey’s The Gift of Failure). Dweck lays out her groundbreaking research on how individuals have two types of mindsets when they look at a situation or approach an activity. The type of mindset you have can determine whether or not you learn and continue to develop your skills/talents. This is a fascinating read. I recommend you read this book to learn how you can encourage your child to have a growth mindset.  

 

Choice Words by Peter Johnston

I have used this book for quite a while in my education career. While this book is written for educators, I think it can be really beneficial for parents to think about how the language they use with their children can make a huge impact. It is amazing how changing a word or two in our requests can make a vast difference. I noticed a positive difference in our home when I began implementing some of his recommendations.   

 

The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey

I had the privilege of hearing Lahey speak this year and she does a fantastic job of explaining the research on encouraging independence and self-regulation. Her book The Gift of Failure describes ways we can get our kids to preserve when they face new things or obstacles. Lahey capitalizes on years of research and her personal experience as a middle school teacher and a parent. In this book, she lays out several plans and action steps like a straightforward list of steps your child can do to get in the habit of getting their homework done.

If you would like some other ideas about setting up a homework system for kids who might need to start with a little more structure, be sure to read OUR SYSTEM FOR GETTING HOMEWORK DONE

 

If it’s been a few years since your last English class and you want to brush up on your literary terms (this might be helpful if you have a middle schooler or high schooler), I encourage you to check out: How to Read Literature Like a Professor for Kids by Thomas Foster. There is an adult version but I recognize many parents are pressed for time and need quick reads. The chapters in this book are extremely short and to the point. This book is great if you need ways to explain sonnets or symbolism to your child. The relatable examples are provided in a conversational tone. Foster also provides reasons why it is important to know these things which I think is key for kids (and adults).

I hope you find these recommendations helpful. I would love to hear your favorites. I have a few on my to-be-read list and I’m always on the lookout for more. Let me know your thoughts and recommendations. 

Happy Reading!