Disclosure: Some of the links in this post may contain affiliate links, so if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a commission.
My boys LOVE to read, and fostering a love of books has been a priority for my husband and I since they were born. In fact, the first thing I bought when I found out when I was pregnant with my oldest son was a collection of books that I loved as a child (see post here).
If your child hasn’t caught the reading bug yet, that’s OK! A love for reading wasn’t always the norm around our house, either. You can read my tips for reluctant readers here.
Here are some ways we’ve encouraged reading:
- My husband and I read to them every night at bedtime.
- We enroll them in as many summer reading programs as we can. Pizza + prizes = motivating
- I always say yes to books at Goodwill (they’re only $1!)
- If they’re interested in a topic, we help them explore it – often including a library trip so they can dive deeper (see this post for more info on that).
- We’ll read the book first and then watch the movie together. Favorites include Charlotte’s Web, The Lord of the Ring trilogy and Harry Potter 1-3.
Books My 10-Year-Old Is Loving Now: Funny & Illustrated Reads
My younger son, age 10, is really into humor, silly stories and funny illustrations. These are the titles he can’t put down right now:
Terry and Andy, best friends and budding authors, build an imaginative 13-story treehouse. Each new book adds 13 stories to the existing treehouse and follows their hilarious adventures. (Books in series – 13)
Bad Kitty is a grumpy housecat who is easily annoyed and creates havoc in her owner’s home. Perfect for kids who love humor and quirky characters. (Books in series – ~13)
A graphic novel series about Claude, a spoiled house cat with a secret ninja persona, protecting the town from bad guys. (Books in series – 6)
Two petrified squirrels, Merle and Pearl, navigate the modern world with their friend Michael. Humor, adventure and Biblical lessons make this series a hit for young readers. Fun fact: The author of this series is also co-creator of Veggie Tales. (Books in series – 12)
Greg Heffley, a middle-schooler, records his life in his journal, complete with funny drawings and relatable situations. (Books in series – 20)
These books are told by Geronimo Stilton, a mouse editor juggling chaos at The Rodent’s Gazette. With 100+ books and themed series, there’s no shortage of reading materials for kids who love adventure and humor. (Book in series – 80+ in main series)
Books My 12-Year-Old Is Loving Now: Survival Stories, War Fiction and Fantasy
My older son, age 12, is diving into war fiction, survival adventures, and fantasy stories. These are his current favorites:
Alan Gratz Books
Explore history from a kid’s perspective with books about World War II, 9/11, and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Some of his favorites include: Heroes, Allies and Refugee.
A fantasy series about a group of dogs who join together in a pack after a devastating earthquake leaves them without their humans. (Books in series – 6)
Follow 13-year-old Brian as he learns wilderness survival after a plane crash leaves him stranded in the Canadian wilderness. (Books in series – 5)
Four bears search for a safe place to live without human interaction and harassment. (Books in series – 6)
Four children are shipwrecked on a South Pacific island, forced to survive with no adults or instructions to guide them. (Books in series – 6)
Set in the 1700s Maine, 13-year-old Matt must survive alone on a homestead while his father returns to Massachusetts to bring back the rest of the family. Matt finds help from a Native American boy and is invited to join the tribe when Matt fears his family won’t return.
Inspired by C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, this fantasy series follows four siblings who discover they are heirs to a lost kingdom and must escape danger together. (Books in series – 4)
How We Track the Books They Read
While researching my post on best book tracking apps, I discovered Beanstack, a fantastic app for tracking children’s reading. I wish I could go back and track every book my boys have read since birth, but I’ve started this year – and it’s been amazing to see their reading journey evolve.
Final Thoughts
I love watching their interests shift and discovering new quality books for kids together. They recommend books to each other and even to me. Part of the joy of reading is sharing stories with those you love.
Whether it’s funny illustrated books, fantasy adventures, or survival stories, the key is finding books your kids actually love to read. Encourage them, track their reads, and celebrate each story they finish. The love of reading is a gift that keeps growing, one book at a time.
I’d love to hear from you—what books are your kids loving right now? Drop their favorites in the comments below so we can all discover our next family read!
Join the daily conversation on my Facebook page or Instagram!
Leave a Reply to The Children’s Authors Kids Never Outgrow (And Why Their Books Still Work) – Readers Gotta Read Cancel reply