8 local ways to get kids to love reading

Louisville is for readers, but does your kid know that? Here are 8 ways to get kids to read — the Louisville way.

Keep the books coming

Let us throw some scenarios at you, and we’ll find a way to get a book in that kid’s hands:

• If you don’t know where to start… leave it to the experts. You can request a book bundle of titles carefully chosen by a librarian.
• If your youngster prefers their tablet… check out this digital library of eBooks, audiobooks, and eComics. Best part? It’s free with your library card.
• If your family has a competitive streak… the Louisville Free Public Library has plenty of reading challenges available. Think: the summer reading challenge.
• If your personal library needs a restock… Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library sends free books to children from birth to age five each month.

Become a regular library user

We spoke to Kate Schiavi, a Youth Services Manager at the Louisville Free Public Library. She has a couple tips for adults trying to foster a love for reading in children:

• Keep updated on library events. Keep the library’s event page handy. Everything at the library is free, from preschool parties to crafting programs. They even have a newsletter to keep you updated.
• Read at home. Checking out books and reading them at home is super impactful.
• Book choice is important. Who wants to read something they find boring? Not kids. Schiavi recommends you “let kids loose in the library” so they can choose from a diverse selection of books.

Final thoughts from Schiavi: “Reading is the single most important thing you can do for your child’s life. If you want them to be successful in school, read to them. If you want them to have empathy for others, read to them. If you want them to understand all different people from different walks of life, read to them.”

Get local

Schiavi also recommends tying kids’ real-life experiences to what they read on the page. For example, if they’re reading about sloths, take them to the Zoo. You can use local authors to your advantage. Check out these titles with local ties to Louisville.

Pro tip: During the summer, sign up for the Cultural Pass, which gives you free entry to activities across Derby City.

Looking for more things to do at the library? Check out these five services you might not know about.