5 Ways to Celebrate Reading This National Literacy Month

With all the distractions of modern life, it can be hard for anyone to settle down with a good book, especially kids. But as we all know, there are tremendous mental, emotional, and health rewards that come from reading. To celebrate National Literacy Month, here are five tips for getting kids hooked on books.

1. Join or start a multi-generational book club.

You may already belong to a book club with your peers, but how about one that includes both adults and older children? Here are some books we have enjoyed sharing with our tweens and teens.

For tweens:

• A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park—Weaves together the stories of two eleven-year-olds living in Sudan, one in 2008, the other in 1985.
• As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds—When two brothers decide to prove how brave they are, everything backfires...literally.
• Hidden Figures: Young Reader's Edition by Margot Lee Shetterly—The powerful true story of four Black, female mathematicians at NASA.
• Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper—An inspiring story told by a girl with cerebral palsy. She's brilliant, but struggles to express herself.

For teens:

• The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden—A dark, immersive fantasy reimagining an ancient Russian folk tale. First in a trilogy.
• The Memory of Things by Gae Polisner—Set in NYC on Sept. 11, 2001, Kyle is rushing home from high school in the wake of the destruction when he encounters a mysterious girl who is unable to speak.
• Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo—In the wake of their father's sudden death, half-sisters Yahaira in NYC and Camino in the D.R. learn of each other's existence.
• The Leaving by Tara Altebrando—Eleven years ago, six kindergartners disappeared without a trace. Now five of them return with no memory of where they've been.

2. Engage young readers in a book-to-screen reading challenge

This is a great way to get kids excited about reading! Pick up the books to read in advance of watching the show and make a project out of comparing and contrasting the two experiences. Here are some recommendations for a range of ages:

• The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry—A clever parody about a hilariously dysfunctional family now available in animated form on Netflix.
• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle—The classic fantasy can also be enjoyed as a graphic novel and a feature film streaming on Disney+.
• All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven—This romance about two teens who find each other in the nick of time is the basis of a Netflix film.
• Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo—The bestselling YA trilogy has been adapted into an entertaining fantasy series on Netflix.
• The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis—This novel about a pill-popping orphan who becomes a chess prodigy is a great read for teens and adults. And the award-winning Netflix miniseries measures up!

3. Keep family storytime going.

No matter how old we get, there's nothing quite like having stories read aloud to us. Here are some of our favorite read-aloud books for all ages:

• My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett—This classic middle-grade fantasy is the first in a series about a boy who travels to a faraway island to save a flying baby dragon.
• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry—A Newbery Medal-winner about a young girl's experience as part of the extraordinary efforts of the Danish Resistance to protect Jewish citizens during the Holocaust.
• The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis—Deza Malone and her family are forced to take to the road as many families were during the Great Depression. Imbued with resilience and hope.
• The Boys in the Boat: Young Readers Adaptation by Daniel James Brown—The true story of the American crew team's epic journey to win gold at the 1936 Olympics.

4. Hone in on Your Kid's Interests

Kids are their own people and will be more receptive to stories that zero in on their favorite things. For example, a tween or teen who loves swimming may enjoy one of Lynne Cox's wonderful memoirs, like Swimming to Antarctica, chronicling her open-water swimming adventures or Grayson, about her encounter with a lost baby whale when she was a teen.

On that note, if your child is into animals, there are no end of great options like Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien or A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry. A simple internet search will help you find great lists of books that cater to your child's specific passions.

5. Tie books to life-changing experiences.

Similarly, we can tailor books to big changes or dramatic experiences in a young person's life, like a new school, the loss of a loved one, or a mental health challenge. If a child's family is traveling or moving, you could look for books set in the new locale. Reading can be a great way to process feelings about new or challenging experiences.

Of course, one of the best things you can do to encourage your young people to get lost in a good book is to model that behavior yourself. So don't forget to pick up a few new titles for yourself as well!

Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon