I believe in intentional parenting. It’s a big part of the Check Yourself category in my 5 C’s parenting framework. Part of being an intentional parent is setting parenting priorities - identifying growth areas that you will focus on as your child develops. In addition to creating a loving and supportive home environment fostering exploration into whatever activities our children showed interest in, my husband and I decided to intentionally promote reading and swimming.
Reading is a necessary life skill, an enjoyable pastime, an excellent way to build your vocabulary, and for us, it was a huge part of our education. My husband has an M.D., and I have a Ph.D. Both of those degrees involved a ton of reading, and we both wish that we were just a little bit faster readers. Research shows that early readers become stronger readers and enjoy reading more, so we decided to make early reading a priority in our family. Below are some of the books and book series that our family has treasured reading together at home or listening to together in the car. I hope they bring your family much joy!
Pro Tip: Listening to audiobooks has been a saving grace for our family. Four kids in the car can feel very overwhelming, even just on short drives around town. We learned early on that listening to audiobooks kept everyone entertained (and quiet) which made for much happier car rides. Most of the book series listed below can also be found on Audible. They have so many book titles recorded by excellent narrators. We just love them. You can sign up for a 30-day free trial of Audible here. Sometimes we listen to podcasts too, like Wow in the World, fantasy book series are our family’s favorite.
If your kids enjoy reading digital books, the Kindle is a great option for reading at home and while traveling. I like knowing that when they’re holding that device, they’re definitely reading, as opposed to when they ask to read on their iPads and there’s potential for them to secretly transition to game time. Check out Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited service, which offers 4 million ebooks. You can try Kindle Unlimited for free here.
Birth - 5 Years
Your Baby Can Learn! Deluxe Kit
You can start using this learning series as early as 3 months, and this is the only type of digital media my children were exposed to in their first 18 months. I debated whether to include this kit on my Treasures page because the company has endured some legal issues over the years, as I understand it, primarily related to the specific claim “Your Baby Can Read!” and hence, has changed the name to “Your Baby Can Learn!” However, I felt that my Treasures page wouldn’t be complete without including this learning series. As mentioned above, we intentionally focussed on early reading with our kids. I followed the program instructions to a tee and had a lot of fun introducing my children to reading in this way, plus supplementing with an array of picture books. Of note, it is easiest to follow the protocol with your first child and more challenging with future children because older children provide distractions from the program. When my oldest child was three-years-old, he said, “Mom, friends are more important than money.” For a moment, I thought I had the next Aristotle on my hands until when I asked him to tell me more about that, and he replied that the sentence was written on a Lululemon bag I had with me. Clearly, the kid had learned how to read! There aren’t a lot of three-year-olds who can read fluidly, so coupled with a lot of Mom and Dad reading time, I have to believe this program contributed to him developing early, rapid reading skills. He can devour huge chapter books in a matter of hours - a skill that will be tremendously advantageous throughout his life.
Goodnight Moon
This beloved bedtime story has a wonderful cadence that will lull your little ones right to sleep.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Another classic that we always enjoyed reading together. Eric Carle has many great books, from The Very Busy Spider to Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Moo, Baa, La La La!
Sandra Boynton wrote tons of adorable children’s books with silly themes and cute patterns that make them really fun to read with your little munchkins.
Spot Goes to the Beach
Eric Hill offers a variety of spin-offs from his original Where’s Spot that we all love reading together.
Alphabet
Mathew Van Fleet has an adorable series of books called Alphabet, Heads, and Tails that we loved for hands-on reading. There are opportunities to touch, press, pull, lift, and even sniff as little ones learn colors, shapes, opposites, numbers, and letters.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
This is a really fun alphabet book that we’ve read time and time again.
Diggers Go
This sweet Vehicles Go! series by Steve Light maximizes children’s love of vehicles and sounds to take your kids on a wild ride.
Cars and Trucks and Things That Go
We actually have my husband’s copy of this book from when he was a young boy, and all of my boys have loved reading it over the years. Each page depicts a different scene with labeled images to promote early word identification. Richard Scarry has a number of really fun books with detailed, cartoon-style drawings the family will love.
Speak Up
This is a great book to teach your kids early to stand up for themselves and to look out for other people.
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale
Mo Willems is a fabulous and prolific author, and this was one of our favorite books for young kids.
How Full is Your Bucket?
I love this book for helping kids learn how their actions affect other people and how life experiences affect their feelings. It’s part of the positive psychology movement.
How Full is Your Bucket?
I love this book for helping kids learn how their actions affect other people and how life experiences affect their feelings. It’s part of the positive psychology movement.
Acceptance is My Superpower by Alicia Ortego
I love this book because it teaches children a profound lesson: they possess an incredible superpower—acceptance.
The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs
Young ones can actually be big helpers in the kitchen, and baking makes for a really fun activity you can do together.
5 Years - 11 Years
Elephant & Piggie
Mo Willems wrote a series of Elephant & Biggie books that we’ve found to be perfect for kids who are just on the verge of independent reading.
Pinkalicious
Victoria Kann wrote this entertaining book and a number of whimsical Pinkalicious sequels that your kids will love.
Camilla Cartographer
Julie Dillemuth has a number of books that integrate teaching spatial thinking into their entertaining plots. She also has a great book called Loving Comfort on toddler weaning.
If I Built a Car
We read Chris Van Dusen’s books over and over again. Circus Ship and If I Built a Car are our very favorites, but we love them all. See his complete list of books here.
Mercy Watson to the Rescue
Kate DiCamillo’s Mercy Watson series about a beloved pig is charming. It’s illustrated by the amazing Chris Van Dusen. Be prepared for your kids to start requesting buttered toast!
The Wreck of the Zephyr
Chris Van Allsburg wrote a number of famous books you’d recognize, like Jumangi and The Polar Express. Our family’s favorites are Zathura and The Wreck of the Zephyr. Also, Z was for Zapped as a fun alphabet book. Click here to see all his best titles.
The 50 States
A great way to introduce your kids to their country and get them excited about traveling.
Who Is Simone Biles?
The Who Is? / Who Was? series is a great way to get your kids excited to learn about historical figures and modern icons. Check out other great titles from Who Was Albert Einstein? to Who Was Amelia Earhart? or Who Was Rosa Parks? And, of course, the amazing Simone Biles.
The Care & Keeping of You
This is a great book for introducing girls to the concept of getting to know and caring for your body and what to expect from puberty-related changes. You can just pop it on the coffee table where you keep library books or on the bookshelf, and chances are they’ll see it and start exploring it right away. Let your daughter know you’re happy to discuss any of the information and answer any questions that arise.
Guy Stuff: The Body Book for Boys
This book is great for introducing boys to the concept of getting to know and caring for your body and what to expect from puberty-related changes. Leave it out in the living room or wherever they do their homework, and chances are they’ll see it and start exploring it right away. Let your son know you’re happy to discuss any of the information and answer any questions that arise.
Magic Tree House Series
This truly is a magical series for younger readers who enjoy the fantasy realm. Your little ones will love going on adventures with Jack and Annie. This set has the first few books, and there are dozens more to follow. They are a quick read and good chapter books with lots of images for early independent readers or to read together.
Geronimo Stilton Series
Geronimo Stilton is a charming mouse detective who goes on fun adventures. One thing we loved about this extensive series is the fun changes in font type, size, and color throughout the book. The books in this series are fun to read together with early readers because parents can read the main text and point to each of the fun words for kids to read.
Thea Stilton Series
A sister series to Geronimo Stilton series, which is just as much fun and adventure. The Thea Stilton books have the same change in text font, style, and color throughout that gets kids involved in reading single words before they’re ready to read entire sentences out loud.
Warrior Series
This abundant series is great for early readers in this age group because they’re substantial stories, but they’re not too mature.
The Chronicles of Narnia
Our family loves listening to audiobooks - on the way to school, on long drives, etc. Most books are available in a recorded version these days, but of all the recordings we have listened to over the years, this one stands out in my mind as being absolutely amazing. The Focus on the Family Radio Theatre version has different voice actors playing these iconic roles from all seven of The Chronicles of Narnia. It’s available on Amazon on audio cds or cassettes and also as a digital audio download here. Or, of course, you can enjoy this amazing series in book form too.
Septimus Heap Series
This is a wonderful series about wizards that we listened to as a family in the car, and everyone loved.
Harry Potter Series
I am a big Harry Potter fan and have loved reading the books myself, reading them with my kids, re-reading them with my kids, and of course, watching all the movies. Be sure to get the entire set because once you start, you won’t be able to put them down. Books 5 through 7 get a bit more mature, so I would recommend waiting until your kids are a little higher up in this age range to get started, perhaps around 10.
Goddess Girls
These books are a cute introduction to Greek mythology that my daughter enjoyed.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Our whole family has gotten so much enjoyment from this series. We’ve read them, listened to them together in the car, and listened to them repeatedly in the playroom. Really, I’d recommend any book by Rick Riordan. We’ve loved all of them.
The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs
Getting your kids comfortable in the kitchen early will pay dividends later when they’re prepping their own breakfasts, lunches, and helping out with dinners.
11 Years - 18 Years
A Series of Unfortunate Events
This is another great series that we listened to in the car together. It’s a little
dark at times but really interesting and engaging.
Hunger Games Series
I was so excited when my kids got into this age group and ready to devour book series that I loved, like The Hunger Games. It’s a fantastic series of young adult dystopian novels by Suzanne Collins.
Divergent Series
This is another great young adult dystopian novel series. Teens will love following Tris and Four’s turbulent love story.
Mortal Instruments
This is one of my favorite series that my kids also loved. It keeps going with several related series that takes place earlier in time or are spin-offs of some of the minor characters in this book. I love anything written by Cassandra Clare.
The Summer I Turned Pretty
This is a great series we just got introduced to and really enjoyed.
Twilight Series
Get your teens into this captivating series and find out whether they’re Team Edward or Team Jacob.
All Books by Jane Austen
Jane Austen is my all-time favorite author. I read all of her novels over and over again. Pride and Prejudice is a great one to get your child started on to get a taste of the olden days.
The Complete Cookbook for Teen Chefs
Encourage your kids to become independent cookers by having a good cookbook on hand.
11 Years - 18 Years
A Series of Unfortunate Events
This is another great series that we listened to in the car together. It’s a little
dark at times but really interesting and engaging.
Hunger Games Series
I was so excited when my kids got into this age group and ready to devour book series that I loved, like The Hunger Games. It’s a fantastic series of young adult dystopian novels by Suzanne Collins.
Divergent Series
This is another great young adult dystopian novel series. Teens will love following Tris and Four’s turbulent love story.
Mortal Instruments
This is one of my favorite series that my kids also loved. It keeps going with several related series that takes place earlier in time or are spin-offs of some of the minor characters in this book. I love anything written by Cassandra Clare.
The Summer I Turned Pretty
This is a great series we just got introduced to and really enjoyed.
Twilight Series
Get your teens into this captivating series and find out whether they’re Team Edward or Team Jacob.
All Books by Jane Austen
Jane Austen is my all-time favorite author. I read all of her novels over and over again. Pride and Prejudice is a great one to get your child started on to get a taste of the olden days.
The Complete Cookbook for Teen Chefs
Encourage your kids to become independent cookers by having a good cookbook on hand.
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