Blogging A to Z: Bookstore

Let’s talk about independent bookstores today! Independent or indie bookstores are magical places filled with books that will transport you anywhere you want to go! Pair that with knowledgeable staff and supporting the local economy and as Michael Scott from The Office would say, “It’s a win, win, win situation!”

If you’ve got a reluctant reader at home, try reaching them through a visit to the bookstore. You can do this in one of two ways – if they’re too cool for school, don’t make it a big deal. Stop by while you’re out running errands under the guise of wanting to pick up something for yourself and invite your child to also pick out something that interests them.

Or, make it a big deal and a special occasion! Plan it into the day, hype it up at breakfast, the whole nine yards. Tie it to something that they do like, maybe going out to lunch together to create a positive experience.

Talk with Staff

Visiting bookstores always brings me a lot of excitement and joy because I love books! But, I can imagine that it might be overwhelming to a child who isn’t into reading. Here’s where friendly, knowledgeable staff come in. Find a staff member and ask for some suggestions. If your child is willing to interact with a stranger, that helps! I know, that when I’m helping a reluctant reader in the library, I want to hear from them – what they like, dislike, etc. Parents often have these answers, but I like to build rapport with the kids because if I suggest something, they might be more willing to try it than if their parent/guardian suggests the exact same thing!

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Power of Choice

You will hear me repeat myself over and over again throughout the month about the power of choice. Letting kids choose what they read, where they feel comfortable reading, and how much they read. Kids love to feel empowered and that certainly applies to reading as well.

So, if you’re headed to the bookstore, realize that your child is (hopefully) going to come away with something they are actually willing to try. It might be a Pokemon handbook or a Minecraft graphic novel, or maybe even something they’ve read or had read to them in the past. It’s okay. Reaching reluctant readers means meeting them where they are and getting excited about the books they are interested in. Heck, you child might come away with a magazine instead of a book. That’s okay too.

Alternatives to Independent Bookstores

What happens if you don’t have an independent bookstore around you. That’s okay too. I love supporting small businesses when I can, but sometimes you don’t have that option. Target has a decent collection of children’s books, you might find a Barnes & Noble nearby as well. And if all else fails, you can browse online. Check out Bookshop.org which works with independent bookstores! It’s a great resource to support independent bookstores when you can’t actually get to one.

And finally, if you can’t afford to purchase brand new books, don’t worry. There are a lot of other great options, many of which you’ll hear about later this month. But use your local library, see if there are any Little Free Libraries in your neighborhood, check out Goodwill or Salvation Army for gently used books, or garage sales and yard sales.

If you’re interested in purchasing through Bookshop.org, please use my affiliate links. When you purchase from the links above, I will earn a commission as an affiliate.

For the month of April, I’ll be sharing tips for reaching reluctant readers as part of the Blogging A to Z Challenge. There are dozens of reasons why a child might be considered a “reluctant reader.” As summer nears, continued reading practice helps students to keep the reading skills they learned while reading for fun. But, that’s not easy when a child doesn’t want to sit down and read. I’ll be sharing 26 tips to meet reluctant readers where they are. And hopefully find a way to make reading bearable, if not even something they want to do!