13 Picture Books About Reading to Inspire Young Readers and Writers

“When you read a book as a child, it becomes a part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life does.” – You’ve Got Mail

Thereā€™s something special about a book about reading. Itā€™s like reading a book in a book in a book ā€¦ literary inception, if you know what I mean. Here are 13 picture books about readingĀ to read aloud or add to your classroom library and inspire students to keep reading.

1.Ā How to Read a Story by Kate Messner

books about reading: how to read a story

This picture book about reading playfully and movingly illustrates the idea that the reader who discovers the love of reading finds, at the end, the beginning.

2. A Child of Books by Oliver Jeffers

books about reading: a child of books

A little girl sails her raft across a sea of words, arriving at the house of a small boy and calling him away on an adventure.

3. This Is My Book by Mark Pett

books about reading: this is my book

What happens when a writer learns that he doesnā€™t quite have as much control over his book as he thinks?

4. Book Uncle and Me by Uma Krishnaswami

books about reading: book uncle and me

Every day, 9-year-old Yasmin borrows a book from Book Uncle, a retired teacher who has set up a free lending library next to her apartment building.

5. The Lonely Book by Kate Bernheimer

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books about reading: lonely book

When a wonderful new book arrives at the library, at first it is loved by all, checked out constantly, and rarely spends a night on the library shelf. But over time it grows old and worn, and the children lose interest in its story.

6. Itā€™s a Book by Lane Smith

books about reading: It's a book

In this book about reading, one animal asks another all about what a book is by asking if it can do things a computer can do.

7. The Whisper by Pamela Zagarenski

books about reading: the whisper

A little girl discovers that we each bring something different to the same story.

8. How This Book Was Made by Mac Barnett and Adam Rex

books about reading: how this book was made

This book tells the story of how a book is written and illustrated. But be careful of tigers and pirates!

9. Isabella: Star of the Story by Jennifer Fosberry

books about reading: isabella

An everyday visit to the library becomes an unexpected adventure through the pages of classic childrenā€™s book favorites!

10. How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills

books about reading: how rocket learned to read

Rocket meets a little yellow bird who decides to teach him to read.

11. The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers

books about reading: book eating boy

Like many children, Henry loves books. But Henry doesnā€™t like to read books, he likes to eat them!

12. I Am a Story by Dan Yaccarino

books about reading: i am a story

From cave drawings to the invention of the printing press to our digital age, discover how a story has been told in many different ways over time.

13. I Hate to Read by Rita Marshall

books about reading: i hate to read

Victor Dickens hates to read, and nothing can change his mind. Or can it? How about a parrot with a peg leg? Or a rabbit with black barn boots? This book about reading is great for reluctant readers.

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