Newbery Award-winning author and former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Meg Medina remembers how her mother bought a set of encyclopedias from a traveling salesperson in the 1960s, one installment at a time.
In Cuba, before the revolution, Medina's mother had been a college-educated teacher. But as an immigrant living in Queens, New York, she worked a minimum-wage job in a transistor factory's packing and shipping department. Unfamiliar with American children's books, she invested in those encyclopedias because she believed in the power of education.
"She wanted us to know that it mattered what you knew — that it mattered to have facts and information," Medina says. Medina also remembers the Troll Book Club orders, similar to today's Scholastic flyers. Her mother set aside money so she could order a few paperbacks each month.
"Every month this wonderful plastic bag would come and it had my name in it," Medina says. "When you're that age, it just feels good to have agency. To pick what you read, to pay for it, to get it delivered with your name on it."
And, of course, the library was a big part of her childhood, especially the Queensborough Public Library.
"It was especially wonderful because it was across the street from Jack in the Box," Medina says. "So I could go to the library and make a side trip to get my plain hamburger, small french fry and Coke. It was a wonderful thing."
Medina's love of reading eventually led her to become an author. Not just any author, but one who championed diversity so more children might recognize themselves in the stories they read.
As the first Latina National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, appointed by the Library of Congress, she traveled the country speaking about the power of books.
Today, Medina acknowledges that reading faces stiff competition.
"It's undeniable that a lot of things compete for our kids' attention," she says. "It's the busyness of life that has sort of pushed this quiet thing that we do to the side."
Research suggests our attention spans are shrinking. Books require us to wrestle with ideas, unfamiliar vocabulary and complex emotions, Medina says. In a culture of quick swipes and instant gratification, that kind of sustained attention can feel counterintuitive. Even so, Medina believes parents can still raise children who love reading.
Create a Family Reading Life
The first thing Medina wants to know is whether books, magazines and reading are visible in your home. Do your children see you reading? Do you talk about what you're reading? Do they hear family members discussing books, articles or ideas?
Those conversations signal that reading matters. Much as her mother did by investing in encyclopedias and monthly book orders, Medina encourages parents to demonstrate through their actions that reading has value.
"When you're thinking about your family life," Medina says, "be thinking about your family's reading life as a whole, not just your kids, but everybody's."
Raise Children Who Value the Library
Medina encourages families to think of libraries as much more than places to borrow books.
Many offer makerspaces, films, guest speakers, language classes and even lending programs for items such as musical instruments, sewing machines and kitchen equipment. When children experience libraries as vibrant community spaces, they're more likely to return.
When It Comes to Screens, It Doesn't Have to Be Either-Or
"The Wild Robot" is a beautiful book. It's also a wonderful film.
"I don't feel like we have to be completely militant because the fact is screens are a part of their lives," Medina says. "That genie's out of the bottle."
Instead of treating books and screens as opposing forces, she encourages parents to think about how technology can coexist with a love of reading.
"How do we use screens for the positives and still hold on to the really beautiful thing about books?" Medina asks. "It's not a clean answer because the problem's so thorny and thick."
One answer, she says, is to rescue reading from feeling like another school subject. At home, reading should be low-stakes. No book reports. No quizzes. No forcing. Give children permission to find joy in stories and choose what interests them.
Sometimes what adults dismiss as "junk reading" serves an important purpose. It helps children build confidence, fluency and comfort with books, often leading them to tackle more challenging literature later. "Respect your children's role as a reader," Medina quotes. "Reading is a place where it seems so vital to provide them that."
Reading Can Bring Families Together
As ambassador, Medina traveled the country talking with families about reading. One memory stands out. During an office-hours session, a family of five visited her. The father talked about how he had been an avid comic book reader as a child. His children had become graphic novel fans as well.
"After a while, that family forgot I was in the room," Medina says. "They were talking about what they were reading next. And it was amazing."
For Medina, the moment captured what reading can become at its best: a way for families to connect, exchange ideas and build a life of curiosity together.
(This is a 50-word sidebar with a 2-by-2 photo of Meg Medina)
Meg Medina’s Library Challenge This month, visit your local library and let every family member check out something they genuinely want — no requirements attached. A cookbook. A comic book. A mystery. A magazine. Then spend one dinner talking about what everyone chose.