So, school is in full swing at our house. Night time routines of homework, practices, and well of course our nightly reading logs are well on their way. Now, for my oldest, this is a breeze! I have to pry a book out of her hands every night in order for her to go to sleep. 
There is no television in her room, her choice, and she would choose to spend her days curled up in her bed…reading. She is her father’s child, an avid reader, me not so much. My boys take after me sadly. Meeting nightly reading goals assigned to them from their teachers, requires almost forcing the books in their hands, than standing over them as they read, or pretend to read as my 10 year old so often tries to do (Mama knows that trick buddy…I invented it).
I can’t help but wonder sometimes why I have children on such opposites sides of the spectrum when in comes to reading. Is it because my oldest is a girl, and girls are supposed to like reading, while boys will just be boys? Is it because my boys struggle with reading? Did I read Go Fish Go, or Good Night Moon not enough to one, and too much to another?
So, because of this lack of enthusiasm for reading from the boys, I am constantly trying to think of new ways to get them to appreciate literature more. Ways to get them more excited to read, or at least to make it less painful…especially on me. We have tried different book series and genres, I never turn down the request of a book purchase, including fun trips to the comic books store….look boys superheroes! But despite my efforts, other than the same Dr. Seuss book my 8 year old son wants to read every night, and the Diary of the Wimpy Kid series my 10 year reads over, and over, and over again, I still have had no luck getting them excited about reading.
But then one evening last week, while doing my daily catch up on Facebook, a friend of mine updated her status with a picture of the Little Free Library her young son had encouraged her to make (see some boys do like to read). After looking at her posted picture, and reading up on the comments, I found out the mission behind the Little Free Library. Basically the Little Free Library (which resembles a little house most often), is a free neighborhood library, where you “take a book, and leave a book”. It’s not only meant to encourage literacy, but community as well. This got me thinking. Not only would this be a great project to do with all my kids, but maybe, just maybe, the boys would enjoy taking some pride, or even a little bit of ownership in a neighborhood library. In hopes that this would in turn, peek some interest in literature and reading for my younger brew.
Later that evening, I talked to them all about the possibilities of doing this project, and with smiles and determination they agreed we would make our own this fall. Just in time for the chilly weather, in hopes that my boys, as well as others could find warmth in a good book this winter.
To learn more information about the Little Free Library, please visit http://littlefreelibrary.org
