Are you looking for ideas for a reading & book tracker for your kids, classroom or family? This one is perfect, fun and flexible. It is a great conversations starter in your home as people ask about the books you are reading. It helps keep track and put in perspective how many books you are reading personally and as a family.
This reading and book tracker can track books or minutes depending on what you want. There are both options available in the printable. There are two color options as well. Feel free to put it together differently to fit your needs. The way I show below has worked really well for us over the last couple of weeks.
My boys and I have made a goal to read a lot of books this year and not just any books! We have made a goal to read good, uplifting and high literary books (here’s why we don’t read just any book). I have made the goal to read 50, and my oldest made a goal to read 40. I am beyond excited to watch as this reading and book tracker starts to get longer each week as we add titles of books to our chain.
If your child is just starting out to read that is great too!! You can put on a ring every day that you read together! Here are some non stressful ways to help teach your child to read.
Here is what you need to make your own Reading and Book Tracker:
- Print out your Reading and Book Mobile Tracker here (You can print the mobile part out on card stock, and the strips you can print out on regular printer paper)
- Scissors
- String
- Double sided tape or a glue stick
Step #1 – Cut out the 4 Read Your Heart Out strips
Glue together these strips to make a square. If you printed these on card stock that is great. If you didn’t that is ok. Just glue them onto a card stock paper and it will make it really strong and durable.
Step #2 – Hole punch the corners where the circles are shown.
This is where the string attaches to the mobile to hang it up with.
Step #3 – Cut out each Book that says Book Chain on it.
I also glued this onto card stock as well to help make it durable. Write your child’s name on their book chain. This will be the top of their chain of books they read.
Step #4 – If you are wanting this feature on your mobile. Cut out the block for the top of your mobile
BEFORE you glue this together, feed the string through that you will be attaching to the ceiling with. Otherwise you have to feed it through small holes which make it a little difficult.
Step #5 – With string assemble all of the pieces
There are a couple different ways you can assemble this reading and book tracker. You can have the block (above) on top or a larger book that you can put on the top instead. If you don’t want a mobile hanging from the ceiling, you can also make it to hang from the wall. Simply cut out the large book or just the Read Your Heart Out strip and attach everything else below and hang it from a hook on the wall. Each child would have their own hook.
Step #6 – Add strips to each chain as you complete books or minutes.
My boys LOVE, LOVE, LOVE adding on a new strip to their chain! It is motivating to keep reading as well. We have loved it and I hope you do too.
Remember mamas!! You lead by example! If you want your kids to love to read great books, you need to read them too! On the Read Aloud Revival website Sarah Mackenzie quotes this, “In his 1965 anthology, A Father Reads to His Children, Orville Prescott said, “Few children learn to love books by themselves, Someone has to lure them into the wonderful written word; someone has to lead the way.”
