Book clubs help to create a reading-friendly environment and motivate people to continually develop and strengthen their reading skills. By creating a book club with your children, you are teaching your family that reading can be fun and enriching. While creating a club may sound intimidating or complicated, it is actually quite easy.

Creating a Book Club and Developing Discussions

Creating a book club does not have to be complicated. Establish one or two times each week when you and your children will sit down together and read. After reading, make sure to moderate, and participate in, a discussion with your children.

Ask questions about the book such as:

• What did you like best about the book? Why?
• What was your least favorite part of the story? Why?
• How does this story relate to our life?
• Why would someone write this story?
• What would you change about the story?

The point of these discussions is to encourage the development of reading comprehension and to monitor your child's understanding of the story. As you progress with your book club the discussion is likely to increase in length and depth. Encourage your child to ask you questions as well.

Club Names, Mottos, and Activities

When you create your family's book club make sure to allow your children to help in the planning. A great way they can help to establish the club is to allow them to pick the name. By establishing a club name and even a club motto, you are bringing the club to life. Additionally, getting your children involved with the early stages of the book club will make them more dedicated to the cause, increasing the likelihood of long-term success.

It is also fun for your book club to have book appropriate snacks and activities. Another idea is to invite other families over once a month for a book party. Create a theme and have each family bring a short book that relates to the theme. Have each family read their book to the crowd. Serve refreshments that relate to the theme and create fun activities that will tie the books together. This is a great social event that will make children excited about reading. Have your kids create the invitations and help choose the theme.

Establishing Reading Goals

Reading goals could be to read a specific number of books, a variety of different genres, or to read an entire series of books. When your club meets its goal then it is time for an awards ceremony or special celebration. Encourage each member to come up with an award to present to another member (as a parent, you, of course, will create a special and specific award for each child to ensure that no one is left out).

Maintaining Your Book Club

Establishing a club name, motto, meeting time, discussion, goals, awards and parties are just some of the many ways you can make a book club work in your family. As your kids grow and mature, the club can evolve into a more sophisticated book discussion group to fit your children's needs and interests. What is most important with book clubs is to make sure everyone is having fun and benefiting from the opportunity to read.