RAR #104: Put Those Books Face OUT!
I’m coming to you today with a simple tip that could make a HUGE difference in how often your kids pick up books for fun.
In fact, it may seem *too* simple at first, so you’re going to have to try it for yourself!
What is it? Put the books OUT. Face-out, I mean.
Think about when you go to the library- are your eyes drawn to the picture book spines on the shelves, or to the face-out books on display?
Do the same in your home and I bet you’ll be floored at how those covers will invite your kids to pick them up.
A good book cover is simply an irresistible invitation to a child.
In fact, my challenge to you in this podcast episode is to:
- go to a bookshelf in your home
- pull a few off the shelf
- display them face-out to see what happens.
Don’t say anything to your kids about it, just watch what happens. Right now! It’s so simple– it takes 60 seconds.
You can place them on a coffee table, a window sill, even along the wall. You don’t need to buy any fancy shelves or new baskets or come up with a system. Scroll down if you want ideas– I’m sharing pictures of how some of our community members do this!
Magic, I tell you. :)
When you’ve done it, snap a photo and share on Facebook or Instagram to tell us. We want to hear about whether you child was invited into reading the books and how quickly it happened. Use the #readaloudrevival hashtag so we can find you!
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- the simplest way to get your kids to pick up more books on their own (and no, you don’t have to spend a cent or go back to the library again)
- how to keep the delight going week after week
- and how to make the most of the books you already own
Click the play button below:
Listener Guide
Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast:
- 2:28 Think like your child
- 3:49 How to make books more accessible
- 5:20 The beauty of baskets
- 6:46 Rain gutters, spice racks and more
- 7:31 Face out, right now!
- 10:00 Let us know how it works
- 10:37 Let the kids speak
Links from this episode:
- Share your photos with us! Tag @readaloudrevival on Instagram and Facebook, or use the hashtag #readaloudrevival
- Get RAR Premium
Here are some photos our members have been sharing on the Premium Member forum:
That last set of rain gutter shelves comes from the Sunshine on the Inside blog. And you can find lots of rain gutter bookshelf ideas deep in the rabbit hole otherwise known as Pinterest. ;)
Quotes to remember:
“Covers are meant to capture our attention. Publishers actually create covers with the intention of making them almost impossible to resist. So, if you want to capture your children’s attention toward books … my challenge to you right now is to go to a bookshelf, pull a few off the shelf, and find a place that you can display them face out. See what happens.”
“I have a hunch if you make it a habit of regularly rotating books that are displayed in a windowsill you might be surprised at how excited your kids are to see what’s on display.“
“Would you rather have a tidy, perfectly tidy space, or would you rather have your kids become engaged with reading? Because as far as I’m concerned… books are just a part of the home décor.”
HUGE success!
We are a library and book addicted family here and this has really brought a new level of joy into our mornings! I used to bring home stacks of books and put then in a big basket and let my girls sift throw them as they wished. I take some out most days or use some for bedtime stories and that was that. What I has also noticed is that there is an ebb and flow to my girls’ choice of reading. some weeks and months, they much prefer library books and others, they prefer our personal book collections. The problem being however, is that we now have so many picture books, we can fill easily 3 books cases. So basically, books are not being cycled through like they once were.
That was until I listened to this podcast last week! Instead of plopping the new load of library books into the book baskets, I have left them off to the side hidden away. Each night I place out 4 new books. I’ve also taken two night out the past five or six and used our own books- ones they’be not read throw in many months. I put them face out on top of a small shelf that is at their eye level to see when they first enter the living room each morning. Tonight, my eldest, 6, was so excited that she whispered to me during our rosary about wondering what books will be waiting in the morning! Eeeek!!! They have something to look forwrd to each morning and it doesn’t cost a thing! I can see what books interest them, and what doesn’t, as well as get the reinvigorated about books that they once so very much enjoyed. Other than a few squabbles about whom gets what first, it’s been a total success! Thank you for the suggestion and this is now a tradition I hope to carry on for many years to come! How exciting this will be for Advent and Christmas themed books too! Perhaps an Advent Calendar style morning reveal could be planned…. how exciting!
Sarah, THANK YOU!! When the homeschool year started (it’s only our second year) I decided that this time around I was going to move ALL of the toys to the newly finished basement, which now serves as a playroom. I did this mainly to avoid distractions during the homeschool day and keep them focused on whatever we were doing, with only books and puzzles and such things readily available to them throughout the homeschool day. I also got to a snapping point with picking the same jumble of toys up off of the living room floor every night, on top of all of the other household duties that had to be done. Ugh!
We have always read aloud to our children and they very much enjoy books. Both my 7 year old and my almost 5 year old both started reading shortly before their 4th birthday. We have a lot of built in bookshelves throughout the house so books are always within reach and available. But THIS! This way of displaying books has been AMAZING! We have a large and low picture window in our living room, with a pretty deep sill. It’s absolutely perfect for displaying newly checked out library books, as well as books we’ve had forever but have forgotten about, since their covers are rarely seen. It’s the first thing they see when they come down the stairs in the morning and now, instead of running to and fighting over the same toys, they run to the books and snuggle up in a blanket on a couch first thing in the morning. It’s wonderful! I still have a huge mess to pick up off of the living room floor at the end of the day, but it’s BOOKS! And I am happy to pick books up any day. It fills my heart with gladness to see a mess of books scattered everywhere. I smile while I’m doing it because it’s almost as if I have this wonderful little secret that they know nothing about. Like sneaking vegetables into their food or something. So, thank you for this! Our family is benefiting enormously from it!
This is so wonderful! Thanks for sharing, Sara. ❤️
I have great memories of the rain gutter shelves in my family’s home entry way (which was too narrow for much else) as I was growing up. I recently purchased a couple “picture ledges” from IKEA thinking that they would do the trick for me, but now I think the spice rack shelves would be even more practical (books not getting so easily knocked off, especially with younger children). And I love love LOVE the bathroom shelf in the photos! There are just so many great ideas, and in my opinion you can never have to many ways to display books, so I will definitely be watching out for some of these shelving options to add to our home. (I’m sure my husband will be thrilled;)
Great idea! I actually incorporated this some time ago in our house. I have a book rack library style that holds some books, but I also use baskets and even boxes (any type) and if I want them to look nice (depending on where they are located) I use wrapping paper around them. What is interesting is that my kids to the same with their favorite books. They get them and they set them facing out by their dresser in their room. It is cute to see them doing that every night :). Thank you for sharing ideas like this!