2Shopper

We all know this is the month of Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, but very few people are aware that this year, November 12-16 is National Young Readers Week. 

The name is pretty self-explanatory, but National Young Readers Week (or NYRW) is an annual event that celebrates and encourages reading for enjoyment. It was co-founded by Pizza Hut and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, and has been around since 1989.

To celebrate, schools invite guests from the community to read aloud to students in classrooms. If you have kids, here are some great ways to encourage reading for fun at home.

1) Be a role model - Lead by example and read on your free time to demonstrate the importance of reading for enjoyment.

2) Read together - Read aloud and along with your little ones and create dialogue and activities that correspond with the story.

3) Provide variety - Be sure to have different reading materials available for your children to explore, including children’s magazines, maps, storybooks, and more.

4) Make it fun - Associate fun elements with reading, like a House-shaped Bookrest Lamp, a unique Reading Light, a Bookmark Bedside Lamp, or things that feature their favorite characters. One of my favorite authors growing up was Roald Dahl, who wrote classics like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, and far too many others to list–hence the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory mug. These kinds of things will be sure to excite and encourage readers of all ages!

Bookrest Lamp

Black + Blum Reading Light

Bookmark Bedside Lamp

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Mug

Have any other suggestions on how to encourage young children to read? What are some of your favorite children’s books?