Books are a big part of our family life — the kind of “big” that shapes our days without us even noticing. We love piling together on the couch or sitting on the floor beside the bookshelf, reading one story after another. I get into character voices (of course!), and the kids eat it up every time.

Storybooks are my favorite to read — and they’re my daughter’s favorite to listen to as well. She’s ten now and still loves getting lost in a good tale. My eight-year-old son enjoys stories too, but he always gravitates toward educational books at the library — especially ones about plants and animals. He loves learning where creatures live, what they eat, how they survive. From penguins in Antarctica to elephants in Asia — his curiosity takes us all over the world.

Here are a few books currently checked out from our library:

• The Tall Man and the Small Mouse — Mara Bergman

• The Bear and the Piano — David Litchfield

• The Mummy-Makers of Egypt — Tamara Bower

• A Chicken Was There Also — Arlene A. Davenport

(We may or may not have just renewed a few 😉)

Right now, my kids aren’t in a big independent reading phase. They’ll flip through their favorites for a couple days after a library trip, but mostly, reading is something we do together. Each child has a small collection of books in their rooms for when inspiration strikes… but truly, storytime is a shared moment for us — and that’s something I treasure.

And because books are so well-loved here, they’re even finding their way under the Christmas tree this year. I recently thrifted the Anne of Green Gables series for my daughter 😍 and scored a fun set of Berenstain Bears books for my son. I can’t wait to see their faces.

Books connect us.

They give us adventures without leaving home.

They give us knowledge without pressure.

They give us memories — one page at a time.

If another mama is reading this today, here’s what I hope she remembers:

You don’t have to raise “early readers” or follow the perfect curriculum.

Just make room to share stories.

Together is enough.

There is something sacred about the act of reading to our children — a closeness, a stillness, a rhythm — words becoming love in the simplest way. 📖🌿