Together we celebrate the books that shape our community. For National Reading Month, we asked our staff one simple question: Which favorite books do you recommend, and why?
The answers came from Family Educators, program staff, managers, and administrators. Picture books. Chapter books. Mysteries. Instruction. The list covers a lot of ground, and each pick shows us something about the person who chose it.
These are their recommendations, in their own words. We hope you discover a book worth sharing!
Why Reading Together Matters
Before we share the list, here is something important: reading with children is one of the most powerful things a caregiver can do.
Learning begins long before kindergarten. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends reading aloud starting at birth because even babies benefit. Hearing language builds brain connections, grows vocabulary, and strengthens the bonds that support healthy development.
The benefits continue as children grow. A 2024 study found that reading aloud to children ages 6 to 8, even after they can read on their own, supports empathy and creative thinking. According to the neuroscientist who led the research, those 15 minutes each night build the skills children need to understand others and imagine new possibilities.
The University of Cambridge also found that children who read for pleasure between ages 2 and 9 show greater thinking skills, better mental health, and differences in brain structure linked to learning and attention.
Way to Grow Staff Picks
Ronel,
Program Director
The 5 Love Languages
by Gary Chapman
The 5 Love Languages of Children
by Gary Chapman
Alison,
Family Educator
Charlotte’s Web
by E.B. White
The Diary of a Young Girl
by Anne Frank
Sheena,
Community Engagement Manager
The Bluest Eye
by Toni Morrison
Sideways Stories from Wayside School
by Louis Sachar, illustrated by Adam McCauley
Phoua,
Family Educator
Thank You, Omu!
by Oge Mora
A Map into the World
by Kao Kalia Yang
Paris,
Family Educator
Frankenstein
by Mary Shelley
Diary of a Wimpy Kid series
by Jeff Kinney
Mafer,
Family Educator
Yo nunca digo adiós / I Never Said Goodbye
by María Fernanda Heredia
Hands Are Not for Hitting by Martine Agassi, illustrated
by Marieka Heinlen
Miss Patricia,
Director of Programs
The Power of Showing Up
by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
I Believe I Can
by Grace Byers, illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo
Daniel,
Operations Analyst
Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en, translated
by Anthony C. Yu
Bony-Legs
by Joanna Cole
Olivia,
Lead Preschool Teacher
Abiyoyo by Pete Seeger, illustrated
by Michael Hays
It’s Not Easy Being a Bunny
by Marilyn Sadler, illustrated by Roger Bollen
Keep the Conversation Going
Books are at the heart of what Way to Grow does. Our Family Educators bring literacy tools, encouragement, and a love of reading directly into homes across the Twin Cities with every home visit, from pregnancy through third grade.
We would love to hear from you! Is there a book you still think about from childhood? What story do you love to share with your own children? Do you have a favorite book you’ve read in the past year?
Follow us on social media and share your favorites. We celebrate reading all month long – and all year long!
Want to learn more about how Way to Grow supports early literacy? Learn about our programs or visit waytogrow.org. If you are a family interested in enrolling, get started here.
