Spring Break is quickly approaching, and wouldn’t it be great to make a library date with your child? At the beginning of Spring Break, take your child to the library, and let them choose some books for the week.

Now, remember: let your child choose. She wants to read comic books? Absolutely. He wants to read a book from his younger reading days? Why not? Make sure they know they can choose anything that gets them excited. The important thing is that your child wants to keep reading. Encourage them to choose whatever they enjoy and, before you know it, your child will have a stack of books so high they’ll probably exceed their checkout limit ... and that’s a great thing.

If he checks out books that are higher than his level, why not read with them? It will only take 15 minutes of your day to keep your child on their reading schedule. When your child talks incessantly about a book they’ve read, that is the best thing you can hope for. Encourage that. Get excited with them! Ask them questions about the characters, the story, and what makes it special for them. Knowing you can get excited with them keeps them excited. It keeps them reading.

Sheri Holmes is the director of library and media services for the Ellinwood School and Community Libraries. She can be reached by email at sholmes@usd355.org.