The Woodlands LearningRx suggests starting a home library

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - Books may not be at the top of your child’s list of requested items from Santa Claus – but that doesn’t mean paperbacks and picture books are not the ideal gift.

Kim Bellini, director of The Woodlands LearningRx, suggests that parents consider doing the bulk of their holiday shopping at a local bookstore this year.

“Smart parents know that encouraging a love for reading is a gift that keeps on giving,” she said. “Why not surprise your child with the beginnings of a fun book collection for the holidays?”

Bellini has a few tips to help parents set up a home library:


Find a space for books. Set up a bookshelf or two in the corner of a room. Get a cool lamp and a funky, colorful reading chair. If you already have a family library, consider setting aside a section for your child. It’s a great way for children to express respect and affection for the books they own – and it shows them that you value the time they spend reading.

Buy a variety of books. Having a range of titles is exciting. Ask your child which subjects are most interesting – and shop accordingly. You might stock up on books about outer space, dinosaurs, science, interesting characters in history or just pile up the fiction. Some children have a favorite author to collect and others enjoy a certain genre. If on a budget, check out the local library’s bookstore and thrift shops in the area.

Pick out a magazine subscription or shop for comics. Any reading is good reading, Bellini said. If your child is unlikely to read a lengthier novel, perhaps a comic book would be a good place to start. There also are a number of top-notch graphic novels around to pique young imaginations, and don’t forget that magazine subscriptions are fun holiday gifts.

Make it your own. Try creating a family card catalog – with a file box full of index cards. Sort titles according to genre, such as biographies, joke books, science fiction, poetry, etc. Ask your child to fill out the cards and rate each book. Or make a family bookplate with your child’s name on it that they can paste inside the cover of their favorite titles.

Start a trade system. After your children read a new title, encourage them to pass it along to friends or trade it for another novel. Maybe a few friends can get together to start a book club as a New Year’s resolution.

Bellini also suggests starting a family tradition of buying a holiday-themed book each year and reading it aloud together.

For pre-school children, Bellini suggests Clement Clarke Moore’s poem, “’Twas the night before Christmas” also called “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” Other must-reads are Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and Chris Van Allsburg’s “The Polar Express.”

For ages 7-9, Bellini recommends Truman Capote’s endearing “A Christmas Memory,” which captures the author’s boyhood memories in rural Alabama. Other choices include Andrew Clements’ “The Last Holiday Concert,” Dylan Thomas’ “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” and Charles Dickens’ classic ghost tale “A Christmas Carol.”

For pre-teens, Bellini suggests “Mistletoe Madness,” Miriam Hees’ collection of holiday stories, “The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus” by Amelia C. Houghton and “The Legend of Holly Claus” by Brittney Ryan. v “Let reading become part of the season’s tradition,” Bellini said. “Instead of shopping for just toys and games, add books to your list.”

The unique training offered at The Woodlands LearningRx transforms the ability to learn at a core, cognitive level. The center also offers ReadRx to help improve reading comprehension skills. To learn more, call 832-482-3082 or visit learningrx.com/the-woodlands or woodlandsenespanol.com/learning-rx.html.