How to Create a Reading List for Kids

Introduction

To keep kids interested in reading, make a list of all the books they'll love to read.

Things You'll Need

• Children's Books
• Journal
• Magazine Subscriptions
• Newspaper Subscriptions
• Library Cards
• Bulletin Boards
• Spiral Notebooks
• Computers

Steps

1 Step One

Celebrate the process by making the reading list itself an exciting, interactive activity.

2 Step Two

Get a bulletin board, chalkboard, journal, notebook or computer and together collect book titles for the list.

3 Step Three

Assign the kids to gather the first 10 titles, if they can manage. Younger children might pull picture books from the junior room; put them on the list and go from there.

4 Step Four

Collect names from television shows, storytellers, favorite authors, Web sites, magazine and newspaper book reviews, friends and school reading lists.

5 Step Five

Start a kids' book club, either virtual or in your neighborhood. Put up signs in school, libraries or activity groups.

6 Step Six

Have book parties and swap book titles, dress up as favorite characters, and eat meals mentioned in books - such as green eggs and ham.

7 Step Seven

Clip notices of entertaining new books. Help the kids put their names on waiting lists for popular library books, and the books' titles on the reading list.

8 Step Eight

Make it a weekly activity to post new titles and check off titles that have been read. Keep your own list of books read, too.

9 Step Nine

Go to the library, book sales and garage sales for bargains.

10 Step Ten

Read aloud to each other.

11 Step Eleven

Have kids read aloud to younger kids.

12 Step Twelve

Read.

Tips & Warnings

• Listen to them. "Mommy, I love books about talking spiders" is a cue to investigate the world of talking spider books.
• Keep an eye on what they're doing in school, Girl Scouts, baseball or playgroup, too. Books on current activities are super reading bait.
• If a child is having a dilemma (bullies, broken legs, chicken pox), books on what's happening go a long way, too.
• Pay attention to what provokes laughter, curiosity or a healthy dose of fear. All are keys to what kids like.
• If your kids liked "The Cat in the Hat," they'll like the sequel, and probably many other Dr. Seuss books.
• Watch out for boredom cues. For example, "Not another book on those dumb triplet ballerina dancers. Bleech."