The other day I took Lucy to the library, and I found myself standing in one of those quiet-but-loud parenting moments—the kind that makes your heart swell and ache all at the same time.
Not so long ago, our library trips meant a cart (and sometimes even an armful) overflowing with picture books. We’d march in with our big yellow tote bag and stuff it to the gills—20, sometimes 25 brightly illustrated stories, each one filled with whimsical characters and colorful pages. That bag was heavy, but my heart was light because those moments felt endless.
But now? Now Lucy walks right past the picture book section and heads straight for the shelves lined with young reader novels. She confidently picks out Geronimo Stilton, The Boxcar Children, and other treasures that stretch her imagination and shape her character. I’ve been intentional about the novels she reads; ones with morally rich, character-building themes—stories that plant seeds of kindness, courage, and integrity. What I love most is that Lucy isn’t stuck on just one series or genre. She craves variety. She loves exploring new voices, new worlds, new lessons.
Of course, I grabbed a few novels for our read-aloud time, too, because those are still some of my most sacred moments with her—sitting together, shoulder to shoulder, lost in the same story. And here’s the part I want to encourage other parents with: don’t stop reading with your kids, even when they’re strong readers. There’s something powerful about hearing stories together, talking about the characters’ choices, and letting books spark deeper conversations. It builds connection, comprehension, and shared memories that screens will never give you.
Screens may entertain, but books shape hearts. And not just any books, but the right ones. As parents, we get the privilege of guiding what goes into their little minds—choosing stories that inspire, challenge, and build character instead of ones that just fill time.
It’s eye-opening, humbling, and a little bittersweet to see Lucy changing right before my eyes—not just in how tall she’s growing, but in how her mind and heart are expanding. Every book is another rung on the ladder of her growing-up journey.
And as proud as I am, it makes me treasure those hugs, cuddles, and snuggles all the more. Because one day, the books will get bigger and the cuddles fewer, but I’ll always remember these in-between years when we had both.
Recommended Reads for Young Hearts and Minds
Here are some wonderful options for children ready to step into chapter books while still being nourished with stories that build character:
The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Geronimo Stilton series by Elisabetta Dami
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
The One and Only Ivan (and companion books) by Katherine Applegate
The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond
Raising Light 