Our family has been about reading from Day 1. When the kids started arriving, we naturally included them. After tossing around all kinds of names for our first baby (we didn't peak to find out with #1 or 2) the first name that really captured us both for a girl was from Lord of the Rings (you won't hear it in the movies 'Elanor'- you've got to read the books). When #2 came, we decided to stick with a book name again
& Adelle was born of Jane Eyre. By then a pattern was set & we've got a Ransom from C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy, Rose from Eight Cousins by Lousia May Alcott, Marco from The Lost Prince by Francis Hodgson Burnett, and finally Atticus from To Kill a Mockingbird (not that other one...) by Harper Lee. And we've read all of them to the kids as they've grown up. (Atticus probably won't hear his for a while, but rest assured, we'll read it to him eventually)
As the kids started growing, we read to them from about anything that we got our hands on. And they got their
hands on them as well. Grandparents also assisted in building each of their personal libraries. I don't recall exactly how many years ago it was, but one year for Christmas - when we had half as many kids in our family, I built the 3 older kids bookshelves with a quote from "their book" engraved on the side. Still need to make them one day for their younger siblings... maybe when 1 or 2 of the older ones have moved out. :)
For more than 10 years, we've taken turns picking our nightly read aloud. We've had some interesting and surprising reads through the years. So far, all of our girls take after their mother & can read ridiculously fast. When anyone finds a book they love, we're delighted to share it with each other. Our house gradually gets smaller and smaller as we add bookshelf upon bookshelf. Okay, maybe its an addiction.. but it's fun!
What have you done to share your love of reading with your kids? Any fun traditions? If you'd like to join us tonight @ 7 pm Eastern time, Brad Swift, Jenelle Schmidt & I are hosting a live reading from King's Warrior by Jenelle. Click here for more info!