Do you keep books in your home? The public schools do a nice job of outlining how to get our kids to read more and on that bulleted list each year: keep books in your home and let your kids see you reading for pleasure. Otherwise, isn’t it that do as I say and not as I do sorta thing?
In 2007, the AP reported that one in four Americans read ZERO books a year. And the National Endowments for the Arts reports that less than a 1/3 of 13 year olds read every day and by the time they are seniors, they typically only read when it’s assigned. More fun facts: parents influence kids reading habits and of those who do read, they are MORE LIKELY TO KEEP A LOT OF BOOKS IN THE HOUSE. As in those things that go on the bookshelves?
I’ll admit my house is overflowing with books. I have books in every room except for the bathrooms. I thought it would be fun to showcase and talk about bookshelves to inspire each other to keep more books around our home. Not only does it make you look smart, it’s a great conversation starter for company and if you have kids around, they’ll see that indeed books are important. If you don’t currently have a bookshelf, your weekend task is to go buy one or make space to display books. Let us know if you do! We want to hear about it.
The bookcase above is one that goes in our library – there’s a built-in bookshelf I’ll show you another time – but this one is my favorite because it’s actually a media center that goes on its side for a flat screen TV. Tar-jay $99 on sale. While some interior designers may tell you books belong on shelves with no covers – GIMME A BREAK – covers are gorgeous and works of art – even if that is commercial art. So whether you have hardbacks or paperbacks, I say shelf them and enjoy them! I love to group the books by color and add in some of my favorite knick knacks. Send me a picture of one of your book spaces and I’ll feature it on our next bookshelf showcase! Where do you keep books in your home?
“those things that go on the bookshelves” You’re kidding? So what are those things that trip me up when I get out of bed; and those things I have to hack to one side with a sweep of my hands to clear a path between the sofa and the TV? Sometimes when I get home and look in the front door, I think the reason wome people don’t own any books is that every book in the country has found its way into our house while we weren’t looking
Dan,
You are forcing me to admit that I, too, have to step over books on my way out of bed every morning. Glad you seem to have the same problem. -ML
I also have books in every room of the house. I have already done built-ins in the living room, the bedroom, the basement. I just can’t part with the books, despite tons on the Kindle! I think the hubby bought it for me just so *HE* didn’t have to step over books, LOL.
Even though there are books all over the house, even though I bought him books and read to him, my youngest son was not a reader as a child. I thought he was a fairy changeling, but he finally started reading about age nineteen. My older two read like crazy.
Glinda, Good to hear your children read. My tween son doesn’t like to read tho he does flip through Sports Illustrated each week. My tween daughter just started showing an interest in reading. Glad you can’t part with your books. I think it would be so sad if everything went digital and we couldn’t “see” and be surrounded by books.