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

There’s something special about a book about reading. It’s like reading a book in a book in a book … literary inception, if you know what I mean. Here are 13 picture books about reading to read aloud or add to your classroom library and inspire students to keep reading.

1. 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 doesn’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. It’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 children’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 doesn’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.