Last year I did something that I’ve never done before, unless you count all those college years of textbooks {and even then – highly unlikely}. I cracked the spine on numerous non-fiction books.

Maybe you’re an avid reader, but for me – that was a big deal. While I love to read, typically fiction is what carries me away, and non-fiction … well, that just lulls me to sleep. {Feel free to snicker – I won’t stop you}.

But in 2013, I set a goal to read at least one book a month that would input a little more into my tired brain than just a mental escape. My full list is here, and I managed to finish the list by the skin of my teeth {i.e. an 8 hour car ride round trip}. One of them, Good and Angry, is one that I am going to read again, and slowly with my hubby, because it had some great suggestions and helps for parenting.

Overall, there wasn’t one book that was necessarily a favorite, because each one targeted something that I specifically needed to hear at the point and time that I was reading it. Grace in parenting. Paring down on the excess in life {physical and otherwise}. Relishing each moment and realizing the importance of our words and actions. All twelve were fabulous books and ones that will remain on my bookshelf to read again.

My Twelve Books to Read in 2014

Based on recommendations from friends and some of you, as well as picking a few books from authors I read last year, here’s the list of 12 non-fiction books that are in my 2014 reading basket.

1. Victim of Grace by Robin Jones Gunn {finished 12/10}
2. Start by Jon Acuff {finished 11/10}
3. Loving Our Kids on Purpose by Danny Silk {finished 5/10}
4. The Core {Classical Education} by Leigh Bortins {finished 12/26}
5. 10 Gifts of Wisdom by Sally Clarkson {finished 1/10}
6. Big Truths for Young Hearts by Bruce Ware
7. Six Ways to Keep the Good in Your Boy by Dannah Gresh {finished 11/15}
8. Building the Christian Family You Never Had by Mary E. DeMuth {finished 10/21}
9. Praying for Boys by Brooke McGlothlin (finished 3/23)
10. Honey for a Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt {finished 10/10}
11. Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker {finished 6/15}
12. 24/6 by Matthew Sleeth {finished 3/28}
13. Bonus book – One Thousand Gifts by Anne Voskamp {finished 2/8}

Added:

• Say Goodbye to Survival Mode by Crystal Paine {finished 2/19}
• Rhinestone Jesus by Kristen Welch {finished 5/29} – LOVED it!!!
• Smart Money, Smart Kids by Dave Ramsey {finished 8/2}
• Finding Spiritual Whitespace by Bonnie Gray {finished 8/15}
• Parenting with Love and Logic by Cline and Fay {finished 11/15}
• Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman {finished 10/5}
• The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp {finished 12/22}

This year I also want to keep track of all the books that I’m reading, including read-alouds and the fiction ones that I manage to cram in at bedtime each night, so I started a Pinterest Reading Board to look back on at the end of the year. Looking back and having a visual can make such a difference.

What books are you planning to read this year, either as a family or on your own? Have you read an absolutely wonderful book this year that you would recommend to others? Leave a comment and let us know!

Reading out loud to the kids can sometimes be a mixed bag for me. The time that we spend cuddled up together reading is so very wonderful. But there are times when drowsiness settles in and a certain mom has been known to fall asleep while reading out loud.

Go ahead, you can laugh. The kids do!

There are so many books that make fabulous read-alouds. This year we’re hoping to try a little something different. While we have a pile of books that we are going to read together as a family, there are two separate piles for additional reading: one for the girls and one for the boys.

Our typical family read-together time is either during our lunch break or in the evening after dinner. In addition to those reading times, we are going to rotate reading for the girls one night at bedtime and then the boys the next night.

Will this be all on our list? Well, a lot of that depends on if we are able to finish all of these. On the off chance that one of the books is a ‘flop’ when reading, we have a few spares in the background that we can pull out, but for now – this is what we have that is non-school related reading.

Ready for a peek at our piles?

Books to Read with our Girls {ages 10 and 12}

• Little House on the Prairie
• Strawberry Girl
• Misty of Chincoteague
• Julie
• The Hiding Place
• Pollyanna
• The Trumpet of the Swan
• Little Women

Books to Read with our Boys {ages 6 and 8}

• My Father’s Dragon
• The Dragons of Blueland
• Elmer and the Dragon
• Louis Braille: The Boy Who Invented Books for the Blind
• The Courage of Sarah Noble
• The Matchlock Gun
• Revenge of the Red Knight
• Squanto Friend of the Pilgrims
• The Whipping Boy
• Charlotte’s Web
• The Mouse and the Motorcycle
• Henry and Ribsy (not pictured)
• Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Books to Read Together

• The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
• The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma
• The Magician’s Nephew
• Raiders from the Sea
• Mystery of the Silver Coins {not pictured}
• The Invisible Friend
• Heart of Courage
• The Raider’s Promise
• Mary Poppins

Read Aloud Tips

Here are a few tips for reading with kids {especially little ones}.

1. Let kids do something with their hands. We frequently have crayons and paper handy for drawing or Legos for the kids to build with. Having something to do with their hands helps the attention span – trust me!
2. Be silly and spice your reading up. Kick that monotone voice to the curb and sprinkle in some fun voices and accents. Read in a hushed voice during parts that are building in intensity. Have fun and enjoy the book along with your kids!
3. Mix fun in with the serious. While I can’t wait to delve into some of the classics with the kids {and we’ll hit on a few different books during our school time this year}, fun reading is good too! Last year we ALL got wrapped up in the Gregor series and also the first book of the Benedict Society. Not classic literature, but it was still so much fun to read together!
4. Set a timer. Occassionally we have a kiddo that really doesn’t want to sit down for a story. Setting a timer for 10 or 15 minutes makes it seem do-able and most of the time everyone gets so involved in the book that they want to keep reading!
5. Set aside a specific time of day to read together. Kids know when to expect the time that you’ll be reading and it will become a part of your daily routine. Whether it be a meal time, bed time, or another time during the day, block off that time to be together!
6. Talk about the book together! When you come to the end of a chapter (or a suspenseful part of the book), ask your children what they think will happen next. Explain parts of the story that they may not understand (i.e. words or phrases).

What is your best tip for making reading out loud something fun? Leave a comment and chime in with your tips today!