Make America Read Again is Not Just for Kids

Have you heard about Usha Vance’s 2025 Reading Challenge, Make America Read Again? It’s aimed at children from Kindergarten through Eighth grade. Read twelve books, send in your list, and you could win a visit to the White House. Sounds great, right? But what about you, parents and grandparents—do you read in front of the kiddos?

When our son was in first grade and struggling with reading, the teacher called me in for a conference. She asked a series of questions to figure out why our son was having difficulty. “Do you read to him?” I responded, “Since before birth.” He’s the youngest, and I read to all the kids day and night. He, in particular, would wake up at 5:00 am to have some reading time with me, his mom, and his favorite book, "Ten in the Bed."

“Do you read in front of him?” was part of the questioning. I stifled a giggle. Seriously, I had three kids in three years and a husband who travels five days a week. I am an avid reader, but only when the kids go to bed. She must have noticed my expression, so she explained the importance of modeling good reading habits. Kids mimic adults; if they see you enjoying reading, they will also pick up the book habit.

As a young mother, I dismissed her comment as naïve. But as a future grandparent, I realized she was right. Although my son was eventually diagnosed with dyslexia, and my modeling reading wouldn’t have solved that, I hadn’t been showing him the joys of reading, which everyone should do.

How do you raise a reader?

One Page, Two Page, Books Start at Baby Stage

The best time to start getting books is when a child is born. Board books are best because they don’t rip easily, but any books are essential. Some new parents are having book showers instead of baby showers to build their library. I’ve always enjoyed any Dr. Seuss book, but choose some you like to add to your collection. Grandparents, you should also have a bookshelf filled with old favorites from your past. When the grandkids visit, make sure they can access them.

Collect the Classics. Cultivate the Mind

But wait, do you have books in your house that you read? Look around—where do you keep your books? In a box in the attic or tucked away to keep your space tidy? Or even, as I’ve seen, blank books meant only for decoration. To model good reading habits, having a collection is essential. I might be called a book hoarder, but I am also starting a collection of classics—books everyone should read in their lifetime. This inspires future readers to stretch their literacy goals. They might even grab one off the shelf for you to read to them, even if it is one page at a time.

Read Out Loud. Bond for Life

Reading aloud helps expand vocabulary and allows children to understand sentence structure and grammar. It stimulates neural connections that support attention, memory, and comprehension. It also builds phonemic awareness, print recognition, and story sequencing—essential pre-reading skills. But there is more… Reading together fosters emotional closeness and trust between a child and a parent or grandparent. Exposure to characters’ feelings and perspectives develops compassion and understanding. It teaches children to listen, wait their turn, and follow along in a structured activity. I've even read that the more you, as an adult, read, the more empathetic you become, too. But reading out loud is just the tip of the iceberg.

Turn the Page, SPARK a Dialogue

Once you have the books and have developed a habit of reading aloud, the next step is to start interactive reading. We use the SPARK method. It is a simple acronym to remember as you go through a book.

S - Seek and Find: Look for objects on the pages and name them (i.e., dog, chair).

P - Point: Words, Numbers, Shapes, and Pictures as you read.

A - Ask: Questions as you read. (i.e., What do you think will happen next?).

R - Review: The facts about the pictures and the subject. (i.e., Did you know dogs are mammals?).

K - Know the parts of the book: Cover, Title, Author, Start, End.

Remember to start this step early enough so the child can actively participate, rather than only passively listening.

Read for You. Inspire Them Too

One of the least standard but most impactful practices is to read in front of kids and grandkids regularly. If a grandfather only reads the newspaper while a grandmother reads cookbooks, children may develop a stereotype in their minds. Grandma cooks while Grandpa relaxes and reads. Similarly, if Dad only reads magazines or never picks up a book, and Mom reads thick books, a young boy might think that boys don’t read books, and only girls do. However, if a young boy sees his dad reading a favorite, such as The Lord of the Rings, he might be inspired to try reading it himself when he gets older.

Conclusion

“With age comes wisdom, but sometimes age comes alone.” Oscar Wilde

Reflecting on my past reading habits, I now realize that I missed an opportunity to set a powerful example for my children by reading in front of them when they were young. Given that our literacy rates in America are at an all-time low, let’s rise to Usha Vance’s challenge this summer — not just for a season, but as a lifelong commitment to Make America Read Again. Parents and grandparents alike, I urge you to read twelve books for yourself. For inspiring recommendations, visit my curated reading list. Rise to the Challenge—Because Little Eyes Are Watching.