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www.FredericksburgParent.NET 29 4. MAKE YOUR BOOK NOOK THE ENVY OF THE NEIGH- BORHOOD. Think: tent with twinkle lights. Plump pillows. Comfy chairs. Make your child's reading space as comfortable and inviting as you can. The most original reading space I've seen was at a school. It was a model of the fictional Narnia ship Dawn Treader. Kids climbed a ladder to a reading nook on top that was cushioned with carpet and pillows. But you don't have to get fancy—sometimes what adults think is simple is a kid's reading castle. When my children were young they draped a sleeping bag over the footboard of our queen-sized bed. Extending it from the back of the bed, they lapped it over a chair and then curled up with their books in the "reading fort." When reading time was over, we put everything away. Another fun thing my kids have done is build a "reading cave" with old moving boxes. 5. MAKE IT A DOUBLE FEATURE. Every year new films come out that are inspired by books. If your child wants to see a movie that was based on a book, have them read the book first and then rent the movie and watch it together. Compare the two, and have your child explain which he or she liked better, the movie or the book. 6. GET GRAPHIC. Umm ... I'm talking graphic novels here. They may not be the conventional kind of books parents grew up with, but they may draw your child into reading. And while you are mixing it up, let them read comic books. Oh, and throw in some audio books and let them read on a device sometimes. Imagine all the possibilities that might engage your child in reading. 7. LET THEM ORDER A MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION. I let my daughter have a magazine subscription, and she chose Ask magazine for sci- ence and art lovers. She reads every edition repeatedly, quoting facts and digging fur- ther into topics like poisonous plants and venomous animals. Magazine subscriptions that come specifically for the kids of the house make them feel grown up and tempt them to read. Some good ones to try: Ask, Ranger Rick, National Geographic Kids, Sports Illustrated Kids, Cobblestone, Ladybug and Highlights. 8. TICKLE A FUNNY BONE. From Jeff Kinney's "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," to Peggy Parish's "Amelia Bedelia," or Sara Pennypacker's "Clementine," a funny story is a good way to hook a book lover. And if you read a humorous book with your child, you might find yourself chuck- ling along, too. 9. LET THERE BE LIGHT. Come on, don't be so stuffy! Let them read with a flashlight under the covers. Also, there are a plethora of really cool reading lights in today's universe. Headlamps are a unique option, and there are even book lights that keep track of minutes read. 10. BE A ROCK STAR READER YOURSELF. Carve out time daily for your child to see you pouring over the paper, curling up with your favorite book, or discussing a tidbit from a magazine. Model a reading life, and your child will be more likely to embrace the same literature-loving values. Magazine subscriptions that come specifically for the kids of the house make them feel grown up and tempt them to read.