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Reading Guides for Parents

Practical, research-based advice on reading with children from birth to 12, from the team behind My Book Hub.

Reading together is one of the most valuable things families do, and it does not need to be complicated. These guides cover the questions parents ask us most: how to read aloud at each age, how to pick the right book, what to do with a reluctant reader, and how screens and paper compare. Each guide lists its sources.

How to Read Aloud to Your Child at Every Age, From Baby to 12What reading aloud looks like for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, early readers and pre-teens, and why it is still worth doing once children can read alone.Choosing the Right Book for Your Child's Age: Picture Books to Chapter BooksA plain guide to the main kinds of children's books, which ages they suit, and the five-finger test for checking reading level.Asking Questions While Reading: A Simple Method That Builds VocabularyHow dialogic reading works, with the PEER steps and five kinds of questions you can try on any picture book.Reading on Screens vs Paper: What the Research Says for ChildrenWhat studies say about digital versus printed books for children, and how to make screen reading work as well as it can.Bedtime Stories: Why They Matter and How to Build the RoutineWhy a consistent bedtime routine with a story helps sleep, and practical ways to keep it calm, short and enjoyable.Helping a Reluctant Reader: 10 Ideas That Actually WorkTen low-pressure ways to help a child who avoids reading, and when reluctance might signal something worth checking.

Put it into practice

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