How to encourage a growing reader?
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame was the first book I remember reading with my mother. One chapter before bedtime, so excited for the next that sometimes we would read two. My love of books grew from a childhood surrounded by literature.
As a young child in Northumberland, I remember the village library vividly, high ceilings and walls filled with recommendations. Visiting the library became a regular part of our routine. One winter, Mum even took us down the hill on a sledge; the snow wasn’t going to stop us from getting our reading challenge sticker. Reading was a joy, but also a privilege. Christmases and birthdays brought books we could keep, alongside the occasional charity shop or car boot sale find. This upbringing instilled in me a belief that books should always be present, not just for me, but for those around me too.
When I had my son, I looked at the old classics on my shelves and couldn’t wait to share them with him. I imagined him understanding the words, reading them back to me, and asking, “Just one more chapter.” But I also felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of books available and the pressure to choose the “right” ones while he was still so little.
During nighttime feeds, I refreshed my bookseller brain by researching studies, reading articles, and getting advice on how to expose babies to books and encourage a love of reading from day one. Now, as my son reaches 18 months and insists on choosing a book to read before allowing us to eat breakfast, I thought I would share a few simple ways I’ve encouraged his journey so far as a growing reader. This is my own personal experience over the last 18 months.
1) Newborn: Soft books, tummy time illustrations, and reading
For the first few months of his life, my son was a small bundle of joy, one that didn’t move much and didn’t outwardly engage with the world. At that stage, it can be easy to assume that books aren’t particularly important yet, but the opposite is true.
Many studies show that early reading supports both expressive and receptive language development within the first year of life. Children who are read to regularly hear an estimated 290,000 more words by age five than those who are not.
As a bookseller, I had already researched a variety of black-and-white books designed to support eye development, particularly for tummy time, for our children’s section. So, when I became pregnant, I brought several home. These books aren’t just about early exposure to reading; they support physical development too. From birth, a baby’s eyesight develops gradually. High-contrast images, such as black-and-white patterns, help reduce visual overload and support essential visual skills. So, while my son may not have looked busy, his brain was doing important internal work as he studied his tummy-time books. Some early favourites included the Baby Touch series from Ladybird, especially Faces, which became a firm favourite thanks to the mirror on the final page, often met with raised eyebrows and amused expressions. We also loved Jane Foster’s Baby’s First series, which gradually introduces more colour and detail, growing alongside your child’s development.
2) 6 months +: Accessible book nooks around the house
As my son became more mobile, I realised how important it was to make books accessible throughout our home. This also meant choosing books I didn’t mind being chewed or occasionally torn, so board books became essential.
We have:
A small bookcase in his bedroom for bedtime reading
A box in the living room for daytime stories
Colour-changing books in the bath
A few books in the kitchen on his activity table once he started walking
By placing books in the spaces we use most, he always has the option to pick one up, sit down, and explore it on his own terms.
3) Reading myself
Sometimes, when he’s happily playing and the laundry is either finished… or intentionally left for later, I take time to read my own book. If I want him to value reading, it feels only right that he sees me doing it too.
At first, this came with a healthy dose of mum guilt. Taking time for myself felt selfish, until I reminded myself of the importance of independent play. So, while he played, I read a chapter or two. Occasionally he would sit with me and listen, but more often we simply shared the space, him playing, me reading.
The real joy came months later, when he began bringing his own books over to me. Anything featuring a duck was always first, he is utterly mad for ducks. Now, our days are spent cuddling together with a book or two, sharing quiet moments that feel both grounding and magical.
If you’d like to expand your child’s world without the overwhelm of researching and choosing books, our reading subscriptions are designed to support families at every stage. Whether you’re a new parent or nurturing a growing reader, there’s a subscription to support your child’s reading journey, right from day one.