{"success":true,"data":{"id":"51549e69-7812-4405-bfa5-d7a4a58de56b","title":"Our Kid Has a Precious Relationship to Reading. My Husband’s Approach Threatens to Squash It.","summary":"AccountAccountSign out Menu Menu Light Light Dark Auto Light Light Dark Auto Our Kid Has a Precious Relationship to Reading. My Husband’s Approach Threatens to Squash It. I’m not sure how to feel about this. Advice by Arionne Nettles Photo illustration by Slate.","content":"*   Account[Account](https://slate.com/account)[Sign out](https://slate.com/sign-out)  \n\nMenu Menu\n\n Light \n\n Light  Dark  Auto \n\n Light \n\n Light  Dark  Auto \n\n# Our Kid Has a Precious Relationship to Reading. My Husband’s Approach Threatens to Squash It.\n\n## I’m not sure how to feel about this.\n\n Advice by [Arionne Nettles](https://slate.com/author/arionne-nettles)\n\nPhoto illustration by Slate. Photo by Pressmaster/iStock/Getty Images Plus.\n\nOnly Slate Plus members can gift Slate stories. [Become a member](https://slate.com/plus?redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fslate.com%2Fadvice%2F2026%2F07%2Fparent-advice-reading-children-books.html%3Fvia%3Drss) to share 10 free articles a month.\n\n_Care and Feeding is Slate’s parenting advice column._**Have a question for Care and Feeding?**[**Submit it here**](https://forms.gle/4BXEw8Wtcd7aAyXh9)**.**\n\n**Dear Care and Feeding,**\n\nOur 8-year-old son is a voracious reader and is interested in everything from Dav Pilkey’s graphic novels to the Horrible Histories series (UK), etc.\n\nBut I’ve been wondering: How should I feel about directing my child’s reading? My husband is a bit more conscious about what our son is reading at a given time and tries to steer him toward better quality fiction (the _Percy Jackson_ series and similar). I’m of the mind that as long as he’s reading, we should let him choose and let him be. Thoughts? To be clear, he has access to a very wide range of books in his room as we pick up books he asks for and ones we also like from thrift stores. So the question is about choice, not access.\n\n—Raising a Reader\n\n**Dear Raising a Reader,**\n\nIt’s important to remember that a book’s quality is subjective. There is value in all kinds of books, graphic novels included. Your son doesn’t have to strictly read a certain kind of book that some people deem as superior to expand his worldview. Any kind of fiction can help kids learn about new people, perspectives, and ways of living. As long as your son isn’t reading anything that could be dangerous or harmful without some adult discussions to accompany it (for example, a book that a kid could interpret as encouraging self-harm or suicide), then he’s fine to explore. In fact, it’s often in that exploration where a lot of the magic of reading happens.\n\nThere’s nothing wrong with also suggesting books you think he might enjoy. But you don’t want to take the joy out of reading for him. One of the best things about being a big reader is having the choice to pick from so many different options that are all at your fingertips. Walking into the library or a bookstore and just being pulled in by a cover is what it’s all about. So, make suggestions, sure. But don’t take away his freedom of choice.\n\n—Arionne\n\n### More Advice From Slate\n\nWe recently bought a great house in my husband’s hometown. It is a two-story built into a hill with the basement level modified to be an entertainment space: movie theater seating, wet bar, and the previous owners left their pool table for us. My husband has a pack of cousins, nieces, and nephews, so we packed the downstairs with snacks and sodas. The one rule is the kids don’t come upstairs from the inside. The stairs run right into our personal areas where our bedroom, office, and music room is. We have lots of expensive stuff and don’t want it touched. [The kids can come outside and up the deck where usually we are entertaining the adults…](https://slate.com/human-interest/2023/09/one-rule-care-and-feeding-advice.html)\n\n# Never miss new Slate Advice columns\n\nGet the latest from Prudie and our columnists in your inbox each weekday, plus special bonus letters on Saturdays.\n\n Thanks for signing up! You can [manage your newsletter subscriptions](https://slate.com/newsletters) at any time. \n\n You're already subscribed to the Advice newsletter. You can [manage your newsletter subscriptions](https://slate.com/newsletters) at any time. \n\n We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again, or [manage all your newsletter subscriptions here](https://slate.com/newsletters) . \n\nEmail address:\n\n \n\n- [x]  Send me updates about Slate special offers.  \n\n By signing up, you agree to our [Privacy Policy](https://slate.com/privacy) and [Terms](https://slate.com/terms). \n\nSponsored Content\n\n[](https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search)[Related Searches Search for Best Phone Plans Seniors on Yahoo. View top results now. Yahoo | [Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=slatecom&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=thumbs-feed-3x1-adjusted:Below%20Article%20Thumbnails%20|%20Card%201:)[Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=slatecom&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=thumbs-feed-3x1-adjusted:Below%20Article%20Thumbnails%20|%20Card%201:) Learn more](https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search \"Related Searches\")\n\nUndo\n\n[](https://www.dolorescannon-qhht.com/taboola)[She Discovered a Technique Developed by a Legendary Hypnosis Practitioner Within a few years, it would turn her into a best-selling author, land her a recurring spot on a streaming network with millions of viewers, and make her one of only 67 people on earth certified at the highest level of this practice. QHHT Official | [Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=slatecom&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=thumbs-feed-3x1-adjusted:Below%20Article%20Thumbnails%20|%20Card%201:)[Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=slatecom&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=thumbs-feed-3x1-adjusted:Below%20Article%20Thumbnails%20|%20Card%201:) Learn More](https://www.dolorescannon-qhht.com/taboola \"She Discovered a Technique Developed by a Legendary Hypnosis Practitioner\")","source_name":"Slate","source_url":"https://slate.com/advice/2026/07/parent-advice-reading-children-books.html?via=rss","url":"https://slate.com/advice/2026/07/parent-advice-reading-children-books.html?via=rss","author":"Arionne Nettles","author_name":"Arionne Nettles","published_at":"2026-07-27T10:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2026-07-27T10:00:00.000Z","image_url":"https://compote.slate.com/images/e889e322-8fd1-4213-8f9f-b149d2ad3ce9.jpeg?crop=1560%2C1040%2Cx0%2Cy0","category":"world","topic":"world","tags":[],"political_bias":null,"bias_score":null,"confidence_score":null,"credibility_score":null,"factual_quality":null,"reading_time":4,"word_count":733,"view_count":0,"breaking":false,"breaking_news":false,"ai_analysis":null,"fact_check_status":"unverified","archive_status":"hot","language":null}}