From Ghost Ships to Dragons: Growing a Family of Readers

What book are you reading right now?

Some of my earliest memories are of getting lost in a book. I read on the school bus until the motion made me queasy but I never quite wanted to stop. Books have always been my favorite escape into bigger worlds. That love of stories has shaped much of who I am today.

Now, as a parent of two—my curious six-year-old son and my energetic two-year-old daughter—reading has taken on new meaning. It’s no longer just a solitary escape; it’s a shared experience, a daily rhythm that brings us back together. Whether it’s a quiet bedtime story or an impromptu library trip on a rainy afternoon, I want them to see reading not as a chore, but as something joyful and full of possibility.

During one of our library visits, we found Great Lakes Ghost Stories perched on top of a shelf. It felt like it had been placed there, waiting for us to grab it. Living near Lake Michigan, my son has a fascination with shipwrecks and ghost stories, so the book was an instant hit. We’ve been working our way through it a little each night. We imagine the waves, the fog, and the echoes of the past as we read. It’s a story that captures us both, which makes that time feel even more special.


Of course, there’s still plenty of toddler-friendly reading mixed in. My daughter adores Dragons Love Tacos—especially the part where the dragons accidentally burn down the house. She throws her arms in the air and pretends to breathe fire every time, her giggles filling the room. Those moments remind me that the love of reading isn’t just about the stories themselves but about how they bring laughter, wonder, and connection into our home.

Reading has also become my own kind of reset. After long days, there’s comfort in sitting beside my children with a book in hand, letting the day fade as we turn the pages. Books remind me that curiosity is ageless and that stories have the power to grow with us. Watching my children surrounded by them feels like passing down a quiet kind of magic—one that never loses its spark.

What book are you reading right now? Tell me about it in the comments!

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