Does it seem like your child doesn’t enjoy reading? What if they just haven’t found a book or genre they enjoy yet? The joy of reading may be just a few pages away!
When choosing a book for your child, don’t worry about the word count or whether it has illustrations. It’s more important for the book to align with your child’s abilities and interests. If a book is too hard or discusses a topic that doesn’t interest your child, there’s a good chance it will collect dust on the shelf.
By reading a variety of books, your child will expand their knowledge base and have a higher chance of becoming a book lover!
Some children develop an early preference for one book format over another. Feel free to explore and borrow a wide variety of materials from the library. This way, your child will always have something on hand that they’ll enjoy and that gets them motivated to read.
Here are a few examples of different written works:
Letting your child choose from a variety of formats will give them a taste for reading . . . in their own way!
You can also introduce your child to different ways of reading.
It’s also a good idea to introduce your child to a variety of genres, so you can get a better idea of what appeals to them and feeds their curiosity. Remember that children’s tastes and interests are constantly evolving. A child who loves funny stories could very well grow into a tween who can’t get enough of adventure or fantasy novels! Exposing your child to a variety of literary styles helps them develop their identity as a reader, while fostering their motivation to read. Be open to their current preferences, but also encourage them to explore new genres over time.
Here are a few popular story genres.
| Genre | Definition |
| Adventure | The characters face all kinds of adventures, surprises, and dangers. |
| Detective fiction | The story revolves around a puzzle or mystery to be solved, often linked to a crime or theft. |
| Fantasy | The story mixes elements of the real world with the strange and supernatural and sometimes seeks to surprise or frighten the reader. |
| Science fiction | The action takes place in an imaginary world, often set in the future, with new technologies or surprising discoveries. |
| Psychological fiction | The story focuses on a character’s thoughts, feelings, and inner growth. |
| Historical fiction | The story immerses us another era, blending real facts with invented elements. |
| Romance | The characters’ feelings of love and emotion are at the heart of the story. |
| Coming-of-age | The main character undergoes trials or achieves milestones that help them grow and mature. |
To fall in love with books, you first need to love the subject matter. If your child doesn’t like reading, try to identify topics that interest them. Help them get a taste of different book genres and figure out which ones pique their curiosity.