A Novel Idea: Making book clubs fun for kids of all ages

January 4, 2024

Randi Mazzella,

Many adults join book clubs as way a way to socialize and broaden their minds. When you commit to reading the same book and get together to discuss, it’s an opportunity to spend time with friends, enjoy literature, and perhaps read a book or author you might not typically gravitate toward.

Children and teens can derive the same benefits from being part of a book club. While many kids love reading when they are first introduced to it, it can start to feel like a chore when it’s for school assignments. A book club allows young readers to share their thoughts and feelings on a book with peers and exposes themselves to new, challenging stories.

How to Form a Book Club

A book club should have a manageable number of members. Not so many that it’s difficult for each member to have a turn to share their thoughts, but not too small that it falls apart if one or two members cannot attend a meeting.

Readers don’t have to be the same age or grade, but they should be at similar reading levels. Each member must commit to reading the book by the set date and attending the meetings. Parents can also read the book with their children and participate in discussions.

Book clubs typically meet once a month or every six weeks based on members’ availability. The book selections should be made in advance by the parents (or older children) and agreed upon by the group.

Book Club Rules

Amber O’Neal Johnston, founder of the blog Heritage Mom, suggests these eight rules for kids book clubs:

Come prepared to discuss the book.
Arrive on time
Be a good listener and participate in the discussion
Raise your hand if you would like to talk
Be respectful of your friends
Ask questions
Try to keep an open mind
Feel free to disagree with your friends, but do it respectfully

While parents may need to lead discussions for younger kids, older kids should facilitate discussions by themselves (with gentle help from a parent when needed). It’s best to rotate facilitators at every meeting so that each child has a chance to lead the discussion. Keep the meetings to 1-2 hours, depending on age.

Start by going around the room to get everyone’s immediate reaction to the book. Next, dive deeper into the story and allow each member to share their viewpoints. After a 30-minute discussion, everyone can participate in a craft, snack, or activity based on the book.

Book Club Discussion Tips

Not sure how to get the discussion started? National Education Association (NEA) Read Across America offers these ideas:

If you felt strongly about something, make a note of it and share parts of the book or specific passages that prompted your feelings.
If you didn’t understand something or have questions, write them down to discuss with others who have read the book.
Brainstorm issues and questions together and decide which will be the most interesting to discuss. Everyone should voice their opinion with respect and respect the opinions of others in return.
Talk about how you felt as you read and reflected on the book. Share from your own experiences and don’t speak for others.

Book Club Book Selections

When choosing a book club selection, look for something that can be completed by the next meeting. For longer books, assign a few chapters to complete. Try to select different types of books (biographies, historical fiction, mysteries) each time to expose kids to different genres. Be sure that everyone agrees with the content and themes of the book, especially for older children.

For young children, librarian Angela Poli of Lindeneau Elementary School in Edison, New Jersey, recommends the following:

Toddlers