As a child, the smell of freshly baked cookies, cooling on the countertop, is something we never forget. It’s locked in our favorite memories. And even today, that same warming smell can instantly transport us back to our childhood.
It’s like a fairytale, of our very own, with dens built under the kitchen table from an old bed sheet. And hot cocoa given only on the most special occasions.
Today’s world, however, is very different. Our children are growing up in an interactive environment, with technology leading the way in both learning and play.
The days of digging for worms and making mud pies are a thing of the past. But one thing we can take from our childhoods and encourage is the ability to get lost in a good book.
And that’s priceless.
Why Should We Encourage Children to Get Hooked on Books?
If you’re a parent, a grandparent, or even a friend to someone with young kids, you’ll be familiar with the cries of ‘The WI-FI went out! What am I meant to do now?’
As that little light on the router goes out, so does their entire world (or so you would be led to believe). And the Prince, or Princess, of Darkness, reigns over your house once again with bad moods, huffing, and a general hatred for life.
For all the good that technology has to offer, it only takes a missing charger or lost connection to feel completely cut off from the world. Online games, videos, and social media disappear. And we wonder how we ever survived.
Only we did. When we were children, connections were made in person, and not online. If we wanted to see friends, we jumped on our bikes and went to knock on their door. Or we made plans as we left school to meet up at 4:30 down the park.
And on those rainy days, when we thought better of asking to go out, there was always a book to find comfort in. A story with great adventures. A fantasy land that dragged us in and captured our imaginations.
If there is one piece of our childhood that should be passed on, it’s the magic of books. Whether it’s reading fairytales before bed, or getting lost in some science fiction novel, there is nothing quite like turning those pages and following the story, word for word.
Let’s normalize putting down the tablets and phones, turning off the Playstation, and switching off the TV, just for a little while. And in place, encourage books, of every kind.
Start your book journey today, with these 51 reading quotes for kids.
51 Reading Quotes for Kids to Hook Them on Books
- “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss
- “The journey of a lifetime starts with the turning of a page.” – Rachel Anders.
- “Reading should not be presented to children as a chore or duty. It should be offered to them as a precious gift.” – Kate DiCamillo
- “A book is a garden, an orchard, a storehouse, a party, a company by the way, a counselor, a multitude of counselors.” – Charles Baudelaire
- “There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.” – Walt Disney
- “One of the greatest gifts adults can give – to their offspring and to their society – is to read to children.” – Carl Sagan
- “Keep reading. It’s one of the most marvellous adventures that anyone can have.” – Lloyd Alexander
- “There is no such thing as a child who hates to read. There are only children who have not found the right book.” – Frank Serafini
- “Books make great gifts because they have whole worlds inside of them.” – Neil Gaiman
- “If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” – Albert Einstein
- “Books are a uniquely portable magic.” – Stephen King
- “It is not enough to simply teach children to read; we have to give them something worth reading.” – Katherine Patterson
- “Books hold a magical appeal for children that goes far beyond the stories they contain.” – Dr. Marion Blank
- “Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries, hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent.” – Stephen King
- “Reading is a discount ticket to everywhere.” – Mary Schmich
- “You are never alone when you are lost in the magic of a book.” – Marie Lu
- “Books train your imagination to think big.” – Taylor Swift
- “There is no friend as loyal as a book.” – Ernest Hemingway
- “Readers are lucky – they will never be bored or lonely.” – Natalie Babbitt
- “A book is a gift you can open again and again.” – GarrisonKeiller
- “The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest (people) of the past centuries.” – Descartes
- “Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.” – Maya Angelou
- “Don’t give up reading, the more you practice, the easier it will get.” – Unknown
- “If you are going to get anywhere in life you have to read a lot of books.” – Roald Dahl
- “From your parents you learn love and laughter and how to put one foot before the other. But when books are opened you discover you have wings.” – Helen Hayes
From your parents you learn love and laughter and how to put one foot before the other. But when books are opened you discover you have wings.” – Helen Hayes
- “He that loves reading has everything within his reach.” – William Godwin
- “No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure so lasting.” – Lady Montagu
- “Reading is an exercise in empathy. An exercise in walking in someone else’s shoes for a while.” – Malorie Blackman
- “Be awesome! Be a book nut!” – Dr. Seuss
- “There’s always room for a story that can transport people to another place.” – J.K. Rowling
- “Kids lose themselves in books, they find themselves there too.” – Lewis Keegan
- “A book is like a garden, carried in the pocket.” – Chinese Proverb
- “The easiest way to open your mind to new ideas and concepts is to open a book and read.” – Unknown
- “Books shouldn’t be daunting, they should be funny, exciting and wonderful; and learning to be a reader gives a terrific advantage.” – Roald Dahl
- “Reading brings us unknown friends.” – Honore de Balzac
- “Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.” – Jim Rohn
- “When I say to a parent, “read to a child”, I don’t want it to sound like medicine. I want it to sound like chocolate.” – Mem Fox
- “Reading is a way for me to expand my mind, open my eyes, and fill up my heart.” – Oprah Winfrey
- “There is nothing better than a good book and a cosy blanket to get lost in.” – R. Summer
- “If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book.” – J.K. Rowling
- “Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.” – Mason Cooley
- “I really had a lot of dreams when I was a kid, and I think a great deal of that grew out of the fact that I had a chance to read a lot.” – Bill Gates
- “Never put off till tomorrow the book you can read today.” – Holbrook Jackson
- “The whole world opened up to me when I learned to read” – Mary McLeod Bethune
- “Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house.” – Henry Ward Beecher
- “The things I want to know are in books.” – Abraham Lincoln
- “There’s something good in every book, but sometimes you just have to look for it.” – Unknown
- “Reading for me, is spending time with a friend.” – Gary Paulsen
- “Between the pages of a book is a lovely place to be.” – Unknown
- “Reading is dreaming with open eyes.” – Unknown
- “Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.” – Groucho Marx
Final Thoughts on Encouraging Children to Read
We teach our children to brush their teeth, wash their faces, and even tie their shoes with a bit of practice. And knowing how to find a quiet space to cuddle up with a good book should also make that list.
It doesn’t have to be challenging, or even educational. And whilst it might take some time to find, the right book will capture their imagination, as well as their willingness to read (for at least some of their free time!)
The technology available to our kids is amazing. But it’s important to step away from it now and then. Check out these therapeutic coloring pages for kids as another way to switch off from the wonderful world we live in.
And if you want more inspirational quotes, be sure to check out these blog posts:
- 51 Gratitude Quotes for Kids to Show Them Thankfulness
- 53 Kindness Quotes for Kids About Helping Others
- 81 Positive Affirmations for Kids to Build Their Confidence
Finally, if you want to use these quotes to make a lasting change to your life, then check out and recite these 57 affirmations for success.
Rebel Jones has been writing from a young age. She first used poetry to organise words – the rhythm and flow brought peace to her chaos. But as she developed (both as a person and as a writer), she embraced her offbeat thought process and found her own style and tone. Writing is definitely her happy place and one that she’s happy to share with the world.
