Six Ways to Inspire Girls to Become Lifelong Readers

1. Read. To her, of course, but also to yourself. Let her see you reading - on the couch, in bed, by the pool. Talk about the books you’re reading, browse at the library, always have a book that you’re interested in. This creates, in her, a sense that books are an essential part of regular life.

2. Make sure she has her own library card. It’s free, it’s easy, and it creates a sense of empowerment! I remember carefully signing my first library card. With no credit cards and maybe seven quarters in my piggy bank, I loved having my own card that could actually get me stuff. Also, there’s the added bonus of teaching responsibility - encourage your daughter to keep track of her library books and mark their due dates on the calendar.

3. Read the books she’s reading. Talk about the characters and whether they made good decisions, and imagine what you or she would do in various scenarios. Not only does this strengthen the parent-child dialogue, it also makes the story feel even more alive.

4. Go to author signings. Check out your favorite authors’ websites to see if they are doing a reading anywhere near you, or glance at the lineup in your local bookstore. Encourage your daughter to read one of the author’s books. Drive to the event together and prepare a special question to ask the author.

5. Read books by authors in your region, and then plan a road trip to visit various places mentioned in the story. Throughout the excursion, you can hunt for things the author kept the same and details that were changed entirely.

6. Start a mother-daughter book club. Gather some moms and friends and invite them over. Depending on the girls’ ages, pick a Newbery or Printz winner to get everyone started. Make a recipe that ties into the book (something the character was eating), and prepare talking points. Next time, let the girls select a book and menu for the gathering.    

Carolyn Mackler is the award-winning author of several novels for teenagers, including. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things and Tangled.