Food Fun Family

The Percy Jackson Coloring Book #PJColoringBook

Lolli — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 11:00:04 +0000

Disney-Hyperion sent me a copy of the brand new Percy Jackson Coloring Book to check out, and is partnering with me for a giveaway! All thoughts are my own. Amazon affiliate links are used within this post.

It’s no secret that we’re Percy Jackson fans at our house. I love that I can be just as “into” a series as my kids!

We’re also a family that loves to color. So it was no surprise that we were thrilled to find out about the new Percy Jackson Coloring Book (especially when we found out that a copy was coming to OUR HOUSE!

Coloring – at ANY age – is soothing and relaxing. It’s so easy to get lost in a coloring book! We found an extra element of enjoyment as we reminisced about scenes that we remembered from the Percy Jackson books while flipping through the pages.

The Percy Jackson Coloring Book is beautifully and simply illustrated on high-quality paper. It’s perfect for colored pencils! Luckily, we’re still in the middle of our summer vacation, so we’ve had plenty of time to color this week!

About The Percy Jackson Coloring Book

Demigods, brandish your pencils!

In Stores and Online NOW!

Over the past decade, millions of young readers, parents, and teachers have come to adore Rick Riordan’s classic series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which made ancient Greek mythology contemporary, relevant, and entertaining as it turned kids on to reading. Now fans can literally color Percy’s world with the amusing portraits, dramatic scenes, and intricate designs on every spread of this large format paperback. This book is a great way to introduce young children to the series, to allow older fans to reminisce, and to augment classroom units on Greek mythology.

About the Author

Rick Riordan, dubbed “storyteller of the gods” by Publishers Weekly, is the author of five #1 New York Times best-selling middle grade series with millions of copies sold throughout the world: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the Heroes of Olympus, and the Trials of Apollo, based on Greek and Roman mythology; the Kane Chronicles, based on Ancient Egyptian mythology; and Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, based on Norse mythology. Rick collaborated with illustrator John Rocco on two best-selling collections of Greek myths for the whole family: Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods and Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes. Rick lives in Boston, Massachusetts with his wife and two sons. Follow him on Twitter at @camphalfblood.

About the Illustrator

Keith Robinson graduated with a degree in graphic design and illustration in 1992 and worked as an animator on some of the earliest digital media productions for clients around the world. He joined the BBC and was part of the R&D team that developed the corporation’s first website. He later founded Codename, an award-winning media production company, before he became a freelance illustrator in 2001. His illustrations have been featured in children’s books, magazines, television programs, and on postage stamps. He especially enjoys drawing fantasy, mythical, and historical subjects. He lives on the south coast of England.

Connect with Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson, and Disney-Hyperion

Visit ReadRiordan.com
Like Percy Jackson on Facebook
Follow Disney-Hyperion on Twitter and Instagram
Follow Rick Riordan on Twitter and Instagram
Hashtag #PJColoringBook

Enter to WIN a Percy jackson Coloring Book Prize Pack!

One (1) winner receives:

Copy of The Percy Jackson Coloring Book
Percy Jackson-branded tin of colored pencils
$50 Visa gift card to put towards your artistic quests!

Giveaway open to US addresses only.
Prizing and samples provided by Disney-Hyperion.
This giveaway will end on August 29 at 11:59pm ET, after which a winner will be chosen at random and notified via email. Good luck!

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The Dark Prophecy {The Trials of Apollo Book 2}

Lolli — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 00:31:21 +0000

Thanks to Disney-Hyperion for sending me a copy, and for providing a prize pack for my readers. All thoughts are my own. Amazon affiliate links are used within this post.

We have been huge Rick Riordan fans since the first Percy Jackson book came out about 11 years ago. We look forward to each new book because we know we’ll find adventure and humor, and we know that we’ll always learn something interesting, too. I love that I can enjoy each Rick Riordan book as much as my kids do!

The second book in Riordan’s The Trials of Apollo series is coming to stores as of May 2, 2017 (it’s available for preorder now), and we’re so excited to get our copy and start reading the story!

About the Book

Zeus has punished his son Apollo — god of the sun, music, archery, poetry, and more — by casting him down to earth in the form of a gawky, acne-covered sixteen-year-old mortal named Lester. The only way Apollo can reclaim his rightful place on Mount Olympus is by restoring several Oracles that have gone dark. What is affecting the Oracles, and how can Apollo/Lester do anything about them without his powers?

After experiencing a series of dangerous—and frankly, humiliating—trials at Camp Half-Blood, Lester must now leave the relative safety of the demigod training ground and embark on a hair-raising journey across North America. Somewhere in the American Midwest, he and his companions must find the most dangerous Oracle from ancient times: a haunted cave that may hold answers for Apollo in his quest to become a god again—if it doesn’t kill him or drive him insane first. Standing in Apollo’s way is the second member of the evil Triumvirate, a Roman emperor whose love of bloodshed and spectacle makes even Nero look tame. To survive the encounter, Apollo will need the help of son of Hephaestus Leo Valdez, the now-mortal sorceress Calypso, the bronze dragon Festus, and other unexpected allies—some familiar, some new—from the world of demigods. Come along for what promises to be a harrowing, hilarious, and haiku-filled ride….

The Dark Prophecy (The Trials of Apollo, Book 2)
By Rick Riordan
Published by Disney-Hyperion
In stores and online May 2nd, 2017

Inspired by the God of Poetry

Apollo is the god of many things – God of Music, God of Poetry, and God of the Sun. And he LOVES Haikus (what? You didn’t know that about him?). My boys and I decided to have a little Apollo-inspired fun, and we penned these fun little Haikus. Can you tell which is mine, which is my 16-year-old son’s, and which is my 12-year-old son’s? Someone wrote two…

Roses are yellow
Violets are not very blue
I’m a cool fellow

The spring is sprung
Birds chirp outside my window
Send more tissue, please

The sun is outside
The sun makes me happier
The end of the day

The friendship of life
It wrenches away your strife
Young live is now wife

Challenge: Write me a haiku in the comments below! Have fun with it!

Win a Dark Prophecy Prize Pack

This is so exciting! To celebrate the release of The Dark Prophecy, three different prize packs will be offered in giveaways across the web inspired by Apollo’s godliness – God of Music, God of Poetry, and God of the Sun. Collect them all! I’ve got the God of Poetry prize, and one (1) winner from Food Fun Family will receive:

Copy of The Dark Prophecy
The Trials of Apollo pen and pocket journal

Giveaway open to US addresses only. Prizing and samples provided by Disney-Hyperion. This giveaway will close at 11:59pm ET May 11, 2017, after which a winner will be chosen at random and notified via email. Good luck!

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About the Author

Rick Riordan, dubbed “storyteller of the gods” by Publishers Weekly, is the author of five #1 New York Times best-selling middle grade series with millions of copies sold throughout the world: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Heroes of Olympus, and the Trials of Apollo, based on Greek and Roman mythology; the Kane Chronicles, based on Ancient Egyptian mythology; and Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, based on Norse mythology. Rick collaborated with illustrator John Rocco on two #1 New York Times best-selling collections of Greek myths for the whole family: Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods and Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes. Rick lives in Boston, Massachusetts with his wife and two sons. Follow him on Twitter at @camphalfblood.

Connect with Rick Riordan

Visit ReadRiordan.com
Follow Rick Riordan on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Follow Disney-Hyperion on Twitter and Instagram
Snapchat @disneybooks
#TrialsofApollo

A Collection of Thanksgiving Picture Books

Lolli — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 05:00:02 +0000

I am shocked the the fall is flying by so fast, and we’re already talking about Thanksgiving?! Yes, I know that Thanksgiving is a month away, but I also know that the month will fly by just as fast as the last month has. Before we know it, we’ll be sitting down at to a glorious Thanksgiving feast.

It’s time for another edition of the monthly Entertainment Hop, where I join with a group of my blogger friends to share books, games, music, and movies – and this month, it’s all about Thanksgiving! This week, I put together my traditional collection of holiday picture books. Even though my kids are a little old for story books like these, gathering holiday books was one of my favorite traditions while the kids were little, and this is my way of keeping that tradition alive. I hope to inspire other families with little kids to start a tradition of gathering and reading holiday-themed books together.

This collection includes some of our favorite authors and books that are both fun and informative. Enjoy! Note: Amazon affiliate links are used to link to each book below.

A Fun Collection of Thanksgiving Picture Books

The Berenstain Bears: Thanksgiving All Around by Mike Berenstain
Strega Nona’s Harvest by Tomie dePaola
The Story of the Pilgrims by Katharine Ross & Carolyn Croll
Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving by James Dean & Kimberly Dean
Little Critter: Just a Special Thanksgiving by Mercer Mayer
One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims by B.G. Hennessy (Author), Lynne Avril Cravath (Illustrator)
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson (Author), Judy Schachner (Illustrator)
Pinkalicious: Thanksgiving Helper by Victoria Kann
A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting (Author), Diane de Groat (Illustrator)
My First Thanksgiving by Tomie dePaola
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving by Charles M. Schulz

That last book (A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving) is one that I had growing up and it brings back so many wonderful memories! I hope that a few of the books that I read my kids when they were little will have the same effect on them!

For more Thanksgiving and fall related entertainment, visit a few of my favorite bloggers:

Thanksgiving Cozy Mysteries by In Our Spare Time
What to watch this Thanksgiving by Mom Does it All
Fun group games to play while digesting that turkey by Pretty Opinionated
Fall games for kids by Gaggle of Gamers
4 Good Thanksgiving family movies by OurFamilyWorld
iPhone Games for Thanksgiving by Momma D Jane

Summer Reading, Brain Drain & the 5-Word Book Review

Lolli — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 10:00:49 +0000

This Summer Reading post is sponsored by Scholastic, but all thoughts are my own. #SummerReading

I found this sign, filled with wonderful quotes about reading, when I was traveling through Denver this summer. Someday I would love to have a bookshelf decorated with quotes like this.

My kids head back to school in 3 weeks, and now more than ever I’m noticing that we’re in the middle of “brain drain” season. There are so many distractions during the summer – along with a lack of structure – and the kids are reading less. Just this weekend, I had to remind the kids to still set aside time each day to delve into a book. Once they get started reading, they love it. I’m jealous. I wish I had more time to read…no one needs to twist my arm to pick up a book and lose an hour or two in a good story. But, alas…there’s work.

I asked my kids what their favorite summer read was, along with a 5-word “book review” about why they loved it. Here are a few of the books that they mentioned:

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief – “He always makes me laugh.”
Gabby Duran and the Unsittables – “Gabby is fun and interesting!”
Merlin: The Lost Years – “Well-written, interesting, good books.”

What books have your kids enjoyed this summer? I challenge you to ask them to share their own 5-word book review (it’s more challenging than you’d think!).

5 Tips For Making Reading a Priority

I believe that EVERY season is reading season. There’s no bad time to encourage kids to read, but it’s even more important to read during the summer, when the kids don’t have the structure of school. Check out this video from Scholastic’s Maggie McGuire, who shares 5 easy tips for making reading a priority, like setting a weekly minutes goal, reserving special time to read together as a family, and celebrating reading accomplishments. Summer may be just about over – or your kids may be back to school already – but it’s not too late to get your kids reading.

It’s Not Too Late To Join The Summer of Reading!

If you’ve been following my #SummerReading posts the past few months, you’ll remember that Scholastic has joined together with ENERGIZER® to power the 2015 Summer Reading Challenge and encourage families to discover the power and joy of reading together. It’s not too late to take part! Now through September 4, visit Scholastic.com/Summer.

Check out some of the fun resources you can enjoy with Scholastic:

Unlock Original Short Stories from favorite Scholastic authors!
Find Parenting Resources including Summer Reading printables, activity sheets, booklists and more!
Play the Innovation Machine Game – a fun and creative writing game and contest!
Visit “Videos in the Stacks” to receive reading tips for parents from Scholastic’s Maggie McGuire!

About the Energizer Instant Win Game

Energizer® and Scholastic are partnering on the “Power the Possibilities” campaign, giving parents tools to help their children unlock their talents, fuel their ambitions and be ready for future success. To participate in the Energizer Instant Win Game for a chance to win one of thousands of prizes that will power discovery and learning, simply buy specially marked packages of Energizer® brand batteries and scratch.

Prizes include a family trip to New York City, a Scholastic Study Corner Makeover, a tablet with Scholastic apps, a library of Scholastic books and more! Everyone who plays can also download free digital stories for their family.

Connect with Scholastic and Energizer Online

Learn more about the Energizer® Instant Win Game

Follow @Scholastic on Twitter

Like the Energizer® Bunny on Facebook

#SummerReading

Where Will Reading Take You? #SummerReading

Lolli — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 16:05:46 +0000

This Summer Reading post and giveaway are sponsored by Scholastic, but all thoughts are my own.

This summer has taken us ALL over the place, from Maryland to Florida to Utah to Colorado….and lots of places in between. We’ve had a bunch of adventures, and we’ve taken our books along with us for even more adventures…of a different kind. Even when we’re resting our bodies after summer-time adventures like hikes and hands-on museums and water parks, we can keep our minds active by reading good books.

My oldest son doesn’t go anywhere without his book – he even brings it along to museums (“just in case,” he says). And, yes, we’ve brought our Energizer Bunny® in the car everywhere we’ve gone. Here are just a few places that I’ve caught my kids reading the past few weeks…

Where have you caught your kids reading this summer?

About The Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge & ENERGIZER® Partnership

Earlier this summer, I told you about the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge and all of the amazing resources that are available for parents and kids to enjoy reading this summer. As a quick recap, the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge is a free online reading program dedicated to stopping the “summer slide” by encouraging kids to read throughout the summer months when school is out. This year’s challenge theme is “Power Up & Read,” powered by ENERGIZER®.

ENERGIZER® has joined Scholastic this summer to *power* the Summer Reading Challenge and encourage families to find innovative ways to discover the power and joy of reading. Parents can sign up kids through September 4, 2015 (so even if the summer is half over, it’s not too late to enjoy the summer reading program!

Introducing #MondayMinutesGoal

To encourage and help young readers log as many minutes as possible through the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge AND to break the world record for summer reading, Scholastic is setting special weekly goals. Every Monday they’re announcing a #MondayMinutesGoal, the number of minutes for kids to read together in one week (by the following Monday).

It’s easy to participate! All you have to do is read (independently or together) and then…

Have your child log his/her minutes on the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge website or on a paper log/piece of paper (check out my post for printables)
Take a picture of him/her proudly displaying their minutes
Share it on social using #MondayMinutesGoal and #SummerReading!

Find Out More

Sign up for the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge
Find more Scholastic Resources to keep your kids reading all summer long.
Learn more about the Energizer® Instant Win Game
Follow @Scholastic on Twitter
Like the Energizer® Bunny on Facebook
#SummerReading

Innovation Book Packet GIVEAWAY

One winner from will receive the INNOVATION BOOK PACKET, a collection of Scholastic titles showcasing wonderful fiction and nonfiction books for kids to get lost in a great story about the world of science, STEM and inventions. US addresses only, please. Prizing provided by Scholastic.

The INNOVATION BOOK PACKET includes:

The Magic School Bus and the Electric Field Trip
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Extreme Science Careers
Extreme Experiments
Plus Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge materials including reading logs, pledges, bookmarks, and more!

This giveaway will close at 11:59pm ET on August 9, 2015. US addresses only. Good luck!

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How to Avoid the Summer Slide

Lolli — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 19:27:14 +0000

This Summer Reading post is sponsored by Scholastic, but all thoughts are my own. See my previous post with resources to get started on your own Summer Reading Program!

The school year is finally winding down for us – as of next Tuesday the kids will finally be done with the 2014-2015 school year! It’s been an amazing one. They’ve had fantastic teachers and they’ve each learned so much.

Now the question that every parent asks as they change up the schedule from intense, structured, and busy to laid back, low-key, and unstructured is….how do we have fun during the summer without the kids losing everything they learned during the school year?

Research shows teachers spend four to six weeks re-teaching materials to students because of the “summer slide”—the learning losses which can occur when school is not in session. (Alexander et. al, 2007)

While it might be impossible to retain everything, there are a few things that parents and kids can do to prepare for a strong back-to-school next fall. And still have an amazing, memorable summer!

Here are a few of the things that we have done to make sure that the kids don’t lose all the progress they’ve made in school while they relax their minds during the summer months.

How to Avoid the Summer Slide

Set a daily schedule for reading – there’s something special about reading…yes, even reading for pleasure. Although kids may not be actively studying their other subjects, the simple act of “exercising” their brains through regular reading keeps their minds active.
Head to the library regularly – we love hanging out at the library. Spending time at the library (and not just running in and out to pick up and drop off books) gets my kids in the learning/researching mindset.
Set goals and incentives – make reading and/or learning something new a family and a personal goal, and set incentives for reaching certain milestones along their path. Make reading rewarding (if that’s what it takes to get them started).
Explore your city/region – Exploring the sights and sounds at home is relatively cost and time-effective (no big vacation costs) but can be just as enjoyable. Try to learn something new at each outing. Track the places you’ve visited on a map or check list. And when you get home, continue learning by researching more about the location you’ve visited online.
Don’t put summer packets off til the last minute – If your kids are like mine, then they probably ended the school year off with a packet of activities to finish before the end of the summer. Sometimes those packets can be pretty time-consuming (like the long-term book reports that they have to turn in during the first week of school). Do everyone a favor and start early!
Make it a family affair – read together and discuss the books that you’ve read. Set family goals and be each other’s cheer leaders. This year, we’ve set a family goal to read 5000 combined pages before we head back to school in August.

How does your family avoid the summer slide?

Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge

The Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge (now in its 9^th year) is a free online reading program dedicated to stopping the “summer slide” by encouraging kids to read throughout the summer months. This year’s challenge theme is “Power Up & Read,” powered by ENERGIZER®.

How does the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge work?

Starting May 4, 2015 – September 4, 2015, kids can log their reading minutes (online and via mobile) as they read to break last year’s world record of 304,749,861 minutes.
Parents can sign-up their kids at www.scholastic.com/summer. It’s FREE!
Kids can also enter monthly sweepstakes to win prizes and earn digital rewards when they complete weekly reading challenges.
NEW! Kids can unlock 12 original short stories from favorite children’s authors and access never-before-seen videos from the authors! Each of the authors has written a unique short story using the same opening sentence, which is, “I glanced over my shoulder to make sure that no one had followed me into the shadowy library, then took a deep breath and opened the glowing book…”
Authors include Blue Balliett, Patrik Henry Bass, Varian Johnson, Gordon Korman, Michael Northtrop, Maggie Stiefvater and Jackson Pierce, Roland Smith, R.L. Stine, Tui T. Sutherland, Lauren Tarshis, Wendy Wan-Long Shang and Jude Watson.

NEW for parents

The parents site features new, daily tips for parents called “The Daily Digest.”
Parents can enter weekly sweepstakes to win a “Power Up & Read Kit” and watch videos about summer reading activities to keep you “innovative” all summer long. The prize pack includes: Scholastic tote bag, water bottle, a copy of Reading Unbound by Jeffrey Wilhelm and Michael Smith, $10 gift certificate to Scholastic Store Online, Energizer® brand batteries, Scholastic books, and more.
Parents can download free resources, including printables and booklists for kids of all ages.

Connect with Scholastic!

Sign up for the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge
Find more Scholastic Resources to keep your kids reading all summer long!
Learn more about the Energizer® Instant Win Game
Follow @Scholastic on Twitter
Like the Energizer® Bunny on Facebook
#SummerReading

Summer Reading Book Series for Teens and Tweens

Lolli — Wed, 27 May 2015 05:00:42 +0000

I would spend the entire summer sitting next to the pool with a good YA novel if I could (in the shade, of course). Considering that I’m a working mom of five, my pool-side reading dream probably won’t happen…but you can bet I’ll be sneaking in as many hours as I can with a book and a cold water bottle.

I love the fact that my kids and I can now share some of the best books – we read them together out loud, or we read them separately and talk about our favorite parts. Since we’re just about to jump into summer, I thought I’d put together a list of amazing book series for teens and tweens. It almost pained me to leave a few incredible series out of this list, but I tried to keep the age-range to 11 and up (although I realize a few, like Harry Potter, are often popular with a much younger crowd).

Some of these series were books that I read either when I was a teenager myself, or long before I was a mom of teens (I read Harry Potter for the first time while I was pregnant with my 3rd, who is now 14 years old!). And a few of the series below are books that my kids have discovered and loved and recommended to me.

Note: Book descriptions are from the books, the author’s website, Amazon, or similar. Amazon affiliate links to books.

What are some of your favorite series for teens and tweens? What should I add to my list? For even MORE great book for kids of all ages, check out my free printable summer reading book lists!

Awesome Book Series for Teens and Tweens

The Divergent Series: Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Divergent: One choice can transform you. Veronica Roth’s #1 New York Times bestselling debut is a gripping dystopian tale of electrifying choices, powerful consequences, unexpected romance, and a deeply flawed “perfect society.”

Insurgent: One choice can destroy you. Veronica Roth’s second #1 New York Times bestseller continues the dystopian thrill ride. As war surges in the factions all around her, Tris attempts to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Allegiant: The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth’s #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers.

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Twenty-four are forced to enter. Only the winner survives.

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Each year, the districts are forced by the Capitol to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games, a brutal and terrifying fight to the death – televised for all of Panem to see.

Survival is second nature for sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who struggles to feed her mother and younger sister by secretly hunting and gathering beyond the fences of District 12. When Katniss steps in to take the place of her sister in the Hunger Games, she knows it may be her death sentence. If she is to survive, she must weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

The Maze Runner Series by James Dashner

If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.
Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.
Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.
Everything is going to change.
Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.
Remember. Survive. Run.

The Heartlight Saga by T.A. Barron

Starring a heroic young woman named Kate Gordon, and featuring T. A. Barron’s trademark mastery of language and setting, The Heartlight Saga collects three of Barron’s beloved novels into a single volume. The stories follow Kate as she travels to a distant galaxy to save the life of her astronomer grandfather in Heartlight, goes back in time to a lost Native American tribe in The Ancient One, and ultimately down to the very bottom of the sea in The Merlin Effect. Weaving together mystery, mysticism, and magic, and exploring themes of mortality, interconnectedness, and the fragility of the environment, The Heartlight Saga is a testament to the power that each of us has within us to make a difference in our world.

Fablehaven Series by Brandon Mull

For centuries, mystical creatures of all description were gathered to a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic in a cynical world. Enchanting? Absolutely! Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite . . .

Kendra and her brother Seth have no idea that their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws give relative order among greedy trolls, mischevious satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken, an arcane evil is unleashed, forcing Kendra and Seth to face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save her family, Fablehaven, and perhaps the world, Kendra must find the courage to do what she fears most.

The Wrinkle in Time Quintet by Madeleine L’Engle

The Time Quintet consists of A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters, and An Acceptable Time.

A Wrinkle in Time is one of the most significant novels of our time. This fabulous, ground-breaking science-fiction and fantasy story is the first of five in the Time Quintet series about the Murry family.

A Wind in the Door–When Charles Wallace falls ill, Meg, Calvin, and their teacher, Mr. Jenkins, must travel inside C.W. to make him well, and save the universe from the evil Echthros.

A Swiftly Tilting Planet–The Murry and O’Keefe families enlist the help of the unicorn, Gaudior, to save the world from imminent nuclear war.

Many Waters–Meg Murry, now in college, time travels with her twin brothers, Sandy and Dennys, to a desert oasis that is embroiled in war.

An Acceptable Time–While spending time with her grandparents, Alex and Kate Murry, Polly O’Keefe wanders into a time 3,000 years before her own.

The Belgariad Series by David Eddings

It all begins with the theft of the Orb that for so long protected the West from an evil god. As long as the Orb was at Riva, the prophecy went, its people would be safe from this corrupting power. Garion, a simple farm boy, is familiar with the legend of the Orb, but skeptical in matters of magic. Until, through a twist of fate, he learns not only that the story of the Orb is true, but that he must set out on a quest of unparalleled magic and danger to help recover it. For Garion is a child of destiny, and fate itself is leading him far from his home, sweeping him irrevocably toward a distant tower—and a cataclysmic confrontation with a master of the darkest magic.

The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander

The Chronicles of Prydain is a series of five children’s fantasy novels by Lloyd Alexander. Henry Holt published one annually from 1964 to 1968; the second earned a 1966 Newbery Honor and the last won the 1969 Newbery Medal.

The five novels follow one protagonist Taran from youth to maturity, most overtly in the fourth book, Taran Wanderer. Taran has the title Assistant Pig-Keeper at Caer Dallben but initially dreams of being a grand hero. His most important companions in adventure are Princess Eilonwy, a girl his age; Fflewddur Fflam, a wandering bard and minor king; Gurgi, a wild hominid between animal and man; and Doli, a dwarf.

The Complete Harry Potter Collection by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The series chronicles the adventures of a young wizard, Harry Potter, the titular character, and his friends Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The main story arc concerns Harry’s quest to overcome the Dark wizard Lord Voldemort, who aims to become immortal, conquer the wizarding world, subjugate non-magical people, and destroy all those who stand in his way, especially Harry Potter.

Bluford Series by Various Authors

The Bluford Series is a collection of high-interest novels that have captivated teens nationwide. Set in fictional Bluford High, a tough but nurturing inner city high school, the novels speak to the interests, struggles, and concerns of today’s young adults. Praised by faculty, parents, and students alike, the Bluford Series has transformed entire classrooms into reading zones. A frequent choice for school- and city-wide reading initiatives, the series has been widely reviewed in the Journal for Adolescent and Adult Literacy (JAAL) and repeatedly endorsed by the American Library Association (ALA) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA).

Six titles in this collection were selected as Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers by the American Library Association (ALA) / Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). Several other titles were designated by the ALA as Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults.

Embassy Row: All Fall Down (More books in Embassy Row Series coming soon) by Ally Carter

Grace Blakely is absolutely certain of three things:

1. She is not crazy.
2. Her mother was murdered.
3. Someday she is going to find the killer and make him pay.

As certain as Grace is about these facts, nobody else believes her — so there’s no one she can completely trust. Not her grandfather, a powerful ambassador. Not her new friends, who all live on Embassy Row. Not Alexei, the Russian boy next door, who is keeping his eye on Grace for reasons she neither likes nor understands.

Everybody wants Grace to put on a pretty dress and a pretty smile, blocking out all her unpretty thoughts. But they can’t control Grace — no more than Grace can control what she knows or what she needs to do. Her past has come back to hunt her . . . and if she doesn’t stop it, Grace isn’t the only one who will get hurt. Because on Embassy Row, the countries of the world stand like dominoes, and one wrong move can make them all fall down.

Legend Trilogy by Marie Lu

The flooded coast of former Los Angeles. Two warring nations of North America–the Republic and the Colonies.
Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen–year–old June is a prodigy. Obedient, passionate, and committed to her country, she is being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles.
Born into the slums of the Republic’s Lake Sector, fifteen–year–old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.
From different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother is murdered. And Day becomes the prime suspect. Now, caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival while June tries desperately to avenge her brother’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together and the sinister lengths their country will go to in order to keep its secrets.

Ready to grab a book and start reading??

Be sure to check out my Summer Reading Program 2015 post with tips and free printables (booklists for all ages, reading charts, etc).

For more fun summer entertainment ideas, visit a few of my favorite bloggers:

Patriotic Origami Books & DIY by In Our Spare Time
3 Must-Watch Summer Teen Movie Marathons by My Kids Guide
Ultimate Summer Reading List for Middle Graders by Pretty Opinionated
10 Books to put on your Summer Reading List by Mom Does it All
Great Books to Read by the Pool by Style on Main
Road Trip Inspired Movies on Netflix by Mom on the Side
A Boy and His Dog: Feel-Good Movies for Canine-Loving Kids by Dogvills
Kitschy Movies to Watch this Summer by Greta’s Day
Summer Beach Reads by Upstate Ramblings
10 Summer Movies for Teens to Watch in 2015 by Day by Day in Our World
Free Summer Reading Programs 2015 by The Guavalicious Life

Power Up & Read: Summer Reading Challenge 2015 #SummerReading

Lolli — Wed, 13 May 2015 17:54:47 +0000

This Summer Reading post is sponsored by Scholastic, but all thoughts are my own.

This past week has been HOT. It feels like summer is here already, even though we still have 4 1/2 weeks of school left before summer vacation officially begins. I’ve been a mom of kids in school long enough, though, to know that this next month is going to FLY by, and pretty soon we’ll be in the middle of swim meets and sunscreen, no alarms in the morning, and flip flops and shorts.

This summer is going to be another adventurous one for us. We had such a great time on our cross-country road trip last year that we’ve decided to do it all over again this July. Our route will be different, taking us to places like Kentucky and New Orleans and the Grand Canyon, and we won’t be hauling the contents of our oldest daughter’s college dorm in the back, either.

Since I don’t have quite as much pressure this time around (getting my oldest daughter ready to head off to college across the country was a pretty big deal!) I’m excited to be able to focus a little more on the fun and adventures we can have on our Epic Family Road Trip, Part Deux.

One of the main additions to this year’s road trip is going to be a ton of books (both physical and digital) because we have an exciting little family challenge. I’ve challenged the family to read a collective 5000 pages before the summer is over. If you just count the 6 of us that will be on the road trip, that’s about 833 pages per person.

We can totally do that!

Our family goal is inspired by the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge – a free online reading program for children. Anyone can join the challenge (and I hope you will!) and work towards setting a new reading world record for Summer 2015!

Last fall I wrote a post about how to get kids excited about reading, because – to my surprise – not every child is born with a love of reading like I was (or was I just trained that way? I’ll never know!). One of the tips I mentioned was keeping a reading log, and this summer, we’re excited to use free printable reading logs and other resources (like reading lists and more) from Scholastic.

One tip that I failed to mention when I wrote the post back in September was to always keep a book handy, especially when leaving the house. My boys will not get in the car without having a book in hand, and that makes me so happy! You never know when you’ll have a few extra minutes to “kill” – and having a book to read is the perfect way to not let a few extra minutes go to waste.

Road trips are an even MORE perfect time for bringing books along, since there’s only so much to be done when driving for hours and hours on end (provided you’re not the one doing the driving…). This year, I’m going to pack a few audio books as well and enjoy a few books as a family – driver included.

Scholastic and Energizer Challenge Kids to “Power Up & Read” This Summer!

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge theme is “Power Up & Read,” which not only encourages kids to read all summer long, but it also gives kids the chance to unlock 12 original short stories by bestselling children’s authors as they reach reading milestones.

This year, Scholastic has partnered with ENERGIZER® to “power up” the Summer Reading Challenge, and they’re encouraging families to find new and unique ways to discover the power and joy of reading. Parents can sign up kids NOW through September 4, 2015.

How to Inspire Kids to “Power Up & Read”

Scholastic is kicking off the Summer Reading Challenge with parenting expert, Maggie McGuire (VP of Scholastic Parents Channel – Scholastic.com), who has provided tips and book choices for all ages. Here are a few of the types of tips from Maggie:

Find books that makes kids laugh
Introduce kids to STEM and science through reading
Ways to get crafty with your kid’s favorite summer reads
Tips for reading-on-the-go during summer vacation
Rainy day reading activities

Since we’ll be on-the-go this summer, I was happy to find several travel/road trip reading tips from Scholastic. These will come in really handy as our family reads across the country!

“On-the-Go” Summer Reading Resources from Scholastic Parents:

Enter the Energizer® Instant Win Game

As you and your kids get ready to “Power up & read this summer, be sure to enter the Energizer® Instant Win Game, which is going on now! As of May 4, 2015, parents can buy any specially marked pack of Energizer® brand batteries to scratch for a chance to win one of thousands of prizes that will power discovery and learning.

So how is your family going to “power up and read” this summer? What are your plans, and what books are on your lists?

Connect with Scholastic and Energizer®:

Sign up for the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge
Find more Scholastic Resources to keep your kids reading all summer long!
Learn more about the Energizer® Instant Win Game
Follow @Scholastic on Twitter
Like the Energizer® Bunny on Facebook

15 Good, Clean Romance Novels for Valentine’s Day

Lolli — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 07:00:37 +0000

I love reading, and I love a good romance, but I don’t love that most of the romantic novels I pick up tend to be a little too graphic for my taste. I prefer a good, clean romance that I can openly discuss afterwards with friend or my mom…or even one of my teenage daughters. PG romances are hard to find, so I asked a bunch of friends for recommendations of books that they’ve read and loved.

Here are the 15 good, clean romance novels that I collected. I’ve read a few, but the rest are now on my to-read list. Since I’ve been reading a ton while I workout at the gym, I’m hoping that I can cross several of these off my list in 2015.

Have you read any of these books? Better yet, do you have any family-friendly romantic stories that you could recommend? Add them in the comment section below. I’d love to add a few more to my list! Note: Amazon affiliate links used in this post.

Feel-good Romantic Novels

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Set in England in the early 19th century, Pride and Prejudice tells the story of Mr and Mrs Bennet’s five unmarried daughters after the rich and eligible Mr Bingley and his status-conscious friend, Mr Darcy, have moved into their neighborhood. While Bingley takes an immediate liking to the eldest Bennet daughter, Jane, Darcy has difficulty adapting to local society and repeatedly clashes with the second-eldest Bennet daughter, Elizabeth.

Remembering Isaac: The Wise and Joyful Potter of Niederbipp by Ben Benhunin

Jake, a soon to be college graduate stumbles upon an ad in an art magazine. The town of Niederbipp, Pennsylvania, is looking for a new potter to replace Isaac, the seventh potter in a long string of potters reaching back to 1717. For the past 8 years, Jake has dreamed of being a village potter. He applies for the job, despite his plans for the summer and to his surprise, is awarded the Pottery, an apartment and a vast collection of old pots. As Jake begins his work in the old studio, he becomes aware of a unique collection of mugs hanging from an overhead beam. These mugs hold the keys to unlocking Jake’s understanding of the man he has come to replace. With the help of his new friend Amy, Jake begins to piece together the secrets of life Isaac lived by and shared with all who knew him. Fall in love with Niederbipp and its people as they remember Isaac. Explore the complexity of human nature and the yearning we all have for love, hope, truth, purpose and especially joy. Discovering Isaac is a series of tales within interconnected tales that all grow from the nurturing wisdom and love of a simple man who truly understood the universal and eternal secrets that lead to a happy life.

Austenland by Shannon Hale

Jane is a young New York woman who can never seem to find the right man-perhaps because of her secret obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Predjudice. When a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-obsessed women, however, Jane’s fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become more real than she ever could have imagined. Is this total immersion in a fake Austenland enough to make Jane kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?

The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern”s Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure by William Goldman

Anyone who lived through the 1980s may find it impossible—inconceivable, even—to equate The Princess Bride with anything other than the sweet, celluloid romance of Westley and Buttercup, but the film is only a fraction of the ingenious storytelling you’ll find in these pages. Rich in character and satire, the novel is set in 1941 and framed cleverly as an “abridged” retelling of a centuries-old tale set in the fabled country of Florin that’s home to “Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain. Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passions.”

Cotillion by Georgette Heyer

Young Kitty Charing stands to inherit a vast fortune from her irascible great-uncle Matthew–provided she marries one of her cousins. Kitty is not wholly adverse to the plan, if the right nephew proposes. Unfortunately, Kitty has set her heart on Jack Westruther, a confirmed rake, who seems to have no inclination to marry her anytime soon. In an effort to make Jack jealous, and to see a little more of the world than her isolated life on her great-uncle’s estate has afforded her, Kitty devises a plan. She convinces yet another of her cousins, the honorable Freddy Standen, to pretend to be engaged to her. Her plan would bring her to London on a visit to Freddy’s family and (hopefully) render the elusive Mr. Westruther madly jealous. Thus begins Cotillion, arguably the funniest, most charming of Georgette Heyer’s many delightful Regency romances.

Masquerade: a romantic comedy by Janette Rallison

When Clarissa takes a much needed job under slightly false pretenses, she doesn’t think it will be such a big deal. She may have told her movie-star boss that she was married but that shouldn’t matter. After all, she doesn’t want anything to do with men for a long, long time. It’s hard for a woman to keep up the masquerade when her boss is as handsome as Slade Jacobson and the job takes her to Hawaii with him. In between handling his whirlwind four-year-old daughter and dealing with a whole cast of Hollywood personalities, Clarissa has to keep a tight hold on her heart.

Intertwine by Nichole Van

In 2012, Emme Wilde can’t find the right guy. She wants to feel that swept-off-your-feet dizziness of true love. But so far, her dating life has come up short. Star Trek geek? Nice but too serious. Hippy artist? Cute but too vulnerable. Instead, Emme obsesses over the portrait of an unknown man in an old locket. Granted, a seriously dreamy guy with delicious, wind-swept hair she just itches to run her fingers through. But still. Dead men may be great listeners, but they are not exactly boyfriend material. Emme travels to England, determined to uncover his history and conquer the strong connection she feels.

In 1812, James Knight has given up finding the right woman. All he wants is someone to share his love of adventure. Instead, his life has become a Shakespearean drama. His brother languishes in a tragic star-crossed romance. His beloved sister clings to life, slowly dying of consumption. But then he finds a beautiful mystery woman, dripping wet and half-dead, beneath a tree on his estate. Now if he can uncover her history, perhaps adventure–and romance–will find him at last.

The Love Letter by Erica Matthews

Sabrina is thrilled to return to the island where she spent so many summers as a child. Here she can forget the episode that nearly got her kicked out of college. Tybee Island is the last place she expects to meet the one person who has intimate knowledge of the worst moment of her life. Meredith comes to the island for peace and quiet – two things he needs to complete his next bestseller. Unfortunately, his plan is rudely interrupted by the appearance of Sabrina. He can’t seem to elude this puzzling woman who is always in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Here’s Looking At You by Mhairi McFarlane

Anna Alessi – history expert, possessor of a lot of hair and an occasionally filthy mouth – seeks nice man for intelligent conversation and Harlequin romance moments. Despite the oddballs that keep turning up on her dates, Anna couldn’t be happier. As a 30-something with a job she loves, life has turned out better than she dared dream. However, things weren’t always this way, and her years spent as the butt of schoolyard jokes are ones she’d rather forget. So when James Fraser – the architect of Anna’s final humiliation at school – walks back into her life, her world is turned upside down. But James seems a changed man. Polite. Mature. Funny, even. People can change, right? So why does Anna feel like she’s a fool to trust him?

The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Adrift after her sister Bailey’s sudden death, Lennie finds herself torn between quiet, seductive Toby—Bailey’s boyfriend who shares her grief—and Joe, the new boy in town who bursts with life and musical genius. Each offers Lennie something she desperately needs… though she knows if the two of them collide her whole world will explode. Join Lennie on this heartbreaking and hilarious journey of profound sorrow and mad love, as she makes colossal mistakes and colossal discoveries, as she traipses through band rooms and forest bedrooms and ultimately right into your heart.

The Trouble with Playing Cupid by Tamara Philip

One New Year’s Eve, shy singer, December Brown drunkenly texts her talk show host pal, Trace Randall, about her long time crush on the aloof actor, Tom Elmswood. Thinking the two celebrities would make a cute couple, he unwisely decides to play matchmaker… in front of a live studio audience. Things start to go downhill when Tom admits he’s never even heard of December before. Now what seemed like a sure fire hit quickly becomes a flop. Will these two lonely hearts ever make a love connection or has this cupid’s arrow missed its mark?

He Wants You Back by A.L. Jacobson

Clarity is often born by way of chaos and confusion. For some a lifetime’s worth and others, one specific event. What if the chance was given to rewrite a certain questioned choice in life? Maybe the particular moment where life went wrong? As a confused accident victim, Cassandra Jonas is trying desperately to get back to the life she knew. With constant changes to her own reality, doubt is left in the wake of even the simplest of choice. Her doctors think seclusion with limited visitors is the most productive way of healing from her injuries, both physical and mental. However, even when things start to fall back into place, she is met with skepticism and deferred answers to what actually happened. Love seems to be the only constant in her ever changing life. Losing him once was painful enough, but to blow a second chance because of uncertainty was deemed senseless. She needed Gabe. He could tie together all the loose ends and they could continue down their once broken path of a happily ever after. The two of them together was undeniably the one solid fact of her now wavering world.

Piecing together the past seems to be the easiest of tasks. Seeking validity for her recollections proves to be the much greater challenge. Strangers and acquaintances alike disorient her memories. Forcing the grip on her desired perceptions to tighten, in hopes of maintaining some sort of sanity. Through pain and pleasure, Cass climbs her way back to the present. Learning that the mind has the capability to construct individual versions of reality. Versions that however deeply believed, once proven false, struggle to survive.

Faithful by Kim Cash Tate

Cydney Sanders thought she knew God’s plan for her life. She’d marry, have kids, and then snap her body back into shape by doing Tae Bo. But she’s celebrating her fortieth birthday as the maid of honor at her little sister’s wedding…and still single. Now her life is suddenly complicated by the best man. He’s the opposite of what she wants in a husband…and yet, he keeps defying her expectations. Starting with a lavendar rose–symbolizing enchantment–each rose he sends her reflects his growing love for her.

American Girl on Saturn by Nikki Godwin

The summer after graduation is supposed to be that first real taste of freedom – but not for eighteen-year-old Chloe Branson. Just as that breeze of freedom is making its way into her galaxy, her secret-service-agent dad drops a meteor-sized bomb of bad news on her and her sisters. An attempt has been made on the lives of Canadian boyband, Spaceships Around Saturn, during their USA tour, and the guys have to go into hiding ASAP. The only problem? In the midst of the crisis and media frenzy, their dad volunteered to hide the guys…in their house.

Hatteras Girl by Alice J. Wisler

There are two things twenty-nine-year-old Jackie Donovan asks God for: an honest, wonderful man to marry, and to own a bed-and-breakfast in the Outer Banks region. In the meantime, Jackie works for Lighthouse Views magazine, writing articles about other local business owners, and intrepidly goes on the blind dates set up by her well-meaning but oh-so-clueless relatives.

There’s one specific property Jackie dreams of purchasing: the Bailey Place, a fabulous old home where Jackie spent many happy childhood afternoons, a place that has now fallen into disrepair because of its outrageous price tag. When Jackie meets handsome Davis Erickson, who holds the key to the Bailey Place, Jackie is sure God has answered both her prayers. But as Jackie learns some disturbing details about Davis’s past, she begins to question her own motivation. Will she risk her long-held dreams to find out the truth?

If you’re looking for other ideas to make your Valentine’s Day a little bit more special, I’m sharing a few ideas from my favorite bloggers.

7 Best Amish Romances for Valentine’s Day from In Our Spare Time
10 Romantic Movies for Guys from Upstate Ramblings
Snuggle Up for Valentine’s Day Movie Night from Day by Day in Our World
15 Books About the Love of a Dog from Two Little Cavaliers
Love in Unexpected Places Movies from How Was Your Day?
Funny Valentine’s Day Books for Kids from My Kids Guide
15 Good Clean Romance Novels for Valentine’s Day from Better in Bulk (You’re here!)
Family Valentine Movies from Views from the Ville
Family Friendly Valentine’s Day Movies from Philzendia
Quirky Love Stories from The Guavalicious Life
Coming Soon… from Mom on the Side
Romantic Board Games for Couples from Gaggle of Gamers
Unexpectedly Romantic Movies for Date Night from Pretty Opinionated
Romantic Movie Quotes from Style on Main

How to Get Kids Excited About Reading

Lolli — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 14:18:51 +0000

My mom has always been a reader. She has had an enormous library of books for as long as I can remember, and she never fails to have a recommendation for a new book for me to read. While I was staying with her this summer, we were talking about how much she loves having access to so many ebooks now. My brother in law asked her recently how many of the books on her eReader were unread, and her response was….”only the book I’m just starting.” Once she starts a book, she finishes it, and if she buys it or borrows it, she reads it.

I can’t say the same for my library. Like a child whose eyes are bigger than her appetite, I tend to want lots of books but can’t find the time to finish them all. However, my lack of time is not a reflection of how much I love reading. I would constantly be reading a book if I could.

I don’t remember a time when I didn’t love to read. I figured (before I had kids who could read independently) that all kids loved to read. Scratch that. I figured that all people loved to read, and there were simply people who found time to do it and people who did not.

I was shocked when I discovered that a love of reading is not something children are born with. I was shocked when I had to force my kids to read for the 15 minutes required for their homework. Frankly, I was shocked at the idea that I would have to “teach” my kids to love reading.

As I became a more seasoned parent, I began noticing a few trends with my kids and books, and I discovered a few tricks and tips to help kids discover a love for reading.

How to Get Kids Excited About Reading

Let them see you reading. Model to your kids that reading is pleasurable, relaxing, entertaining….show them it’s something you want to do.
Make reading entertainment and never label it as a chore or a punishment.
Keep plenty of books on hand. Whether you stock your shelves with borrowed books from the library, buy new books at the bookstore downtown, or pick up second-hand books at the Used Bookstore, keep fun, age-appropriate books available to everyone in the family.
Ask for recommendations. Not only can you ask your friends’ opinions on their favorite books, but you can ask at the library for recommendations (I always recommend that kids tell the librarian what some of their favorite books are. She can then make recommendations for similar style and reading levels.
Try different formats. Some people swear by eReaders because of the convenience and size. Others are traditionalists and want to touch and handle a paper book while reading.
Make a regular library “date.” Make going to the library a regular thing…and get them their own library card (my kids love that!).
Start a family book club. Everyone reads the same book and then gathers around to discuss what happened. Kids love sharing details they remember from the books they’ve read.

Give books as gifts to your kids, and encourage them to give books to their friends.
Keep a reading log, including the books you’ve read and the time you’ve spent reading. When a child fills up their reading chart, it’s ok to plan a fun reward/incentive. Don’t be afraid to go back to old favorites.
And last but not least….read aloud together. That’s how my mom started with me, and that’s how I started with my own kids.