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I was super excited to be get my signed copy of The Intentional Bookshelf by Samantha Munoz. Samantha definitely one of my favorite bloggers. I just love following along with her as she reviews kids books on her blog Addison Reads. She picks unique books that you may not find by cruising the single book aisle at Target. Which is, of course, where a lot of my kids books come from since I am totally Target obsessed! The Intentional Bookshelf is the perfect guide to using literature as as a parenting companion. It teaches you how to find the right books that are ideal for your kids, ways to organize them, and how to leverage these books to help educate your child.
One of the things I really love about The Intentional Bookshelf is how it considers every aspect of a child’s reading experience. It really got me thinking about providing a great space for my kids to explore their books. Samantha says “An imaginative reading space begets more imagination, creation, and exploration.” That’s what I really want… A place for them to grow and explore in their love of books. They have the playroom to play and watch tv. They have their bedrooms to sleep in and play some more. We read a lot in our house, but there really isn’t a designated place for them to read and enjoy their books. I decided to use The Intentional Bookshelf as my guide to creating a semi-permanent reading space that can easily be tucked away when not in use.
An imaginative reading space begets even more imagination, creation, and exploration. Click To Tweet
What You Will Need to Get Started
In her book Samantha Suggests the following items for a permanent space:
- Shelves that are not too tall for your child to reach
- Fairy lights for reading in the dark or dim light
- Comfy chairs, bean bags, and blankets
- Tents or hanging drapery to hide away in
- A full box of all their reading gear (glasses if necessary, a stuffed animal to cuddle with, etc.)
And for a more “nomadic” space:
- Fluffy Blankets
- Stuffed Animals
- A Stack of Books
- Snacks
For our space we chose somewhere in between. We decided to set up our reading space behind the closet door, right next to the bookshelf. There is plenty of space for a sweet little nook when the closet door is closed, but we don’t want to have to constantly move it every time we open the door. We it’s not in use most of the supplies stay behind the closet door, so we can quickly set it up for some quiet reading time.
Here’s What We Put in Our Nook:
- A Blanket
- Comfy Pillows
- Stuffed Animals
- Books
We used this sweet little garland handmade by my friend Terri from The Warmest Home to define the space a bit.
I set it up before bed time a couple nights ago, and I couldn’t believe my eyes. I just set it up and put a few books down on the floor and they intuitively sat down and started reading. They were so excited about their new space, and they must have spent 30 minutes of complete silence looking at books together. Yay! Sweet silence!
When it was time for bed we read a book together, and then we quickly cleaned up. I moved the blanket to her crib, and they put their books away. The rest of the stuff stayed in our perfect little nook for next time.
I’m so excited about this space that I think I am going to set one up in Hayden’s room next! If you want the tips I used to build the library curated just for Brylee on the shelves right next to reading nook make sure to check out The Intentional Bookshelf.
Samantha Munoz is a mother, wife, engineer, bibliophile and avid coffee drinker. She is also a side-hustle blogger at AddisonReads.com where she writes children’s book reviews to guide parents as they search for the perfect books for their little ones. Once a seriously overwhelmed and stressed out parent, Sam now turns to literature for the answers to all of her parenting dilemmas. She lives in sunny San Diego, California but loves when it rains because it gives her an excuse to stay inside and read with her daughter!
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We are just loving our little reading nook! I’d love to hear about your reading space! Do you have a permanent space set up for your littles to read? Have you read The Intentional Bookshelf?
Samantha Munoz says
Amy! Your reading space is so beautiful, I love how you incorporated little elements like the handmade garland to make the space truly magical and creative feeling. I think a nomadic reading space is very practical for most people, and it’s so wonderful to hear how instinctively your children interacted with the space. You’re doing a great job bringing literature into their lives and I know they will thank you for it later. From one mom to another, keep it up!
I am also very appreciative of your very sweet compliments, thank you.