How to Make Storytime Their Favorite Part of the Day
Some nights, reading together feels like a dream. Other nights, it feels like herding raccoons. The difference usually isn’t the kid — it’s the setup.
Here are a few simple tricks that turn “Do we have to?” into “Can we read now?”
1. Make it a “special time,” not a “homework time”
If storytime only happens after “clean up your toys, brush your teeth, put on pajamas, hurry up,” it can start to feel like another task on a list. Try flipping it: “Let’s read first, and then we’ll get into PJs.”
When reading feels like a treat instead of a chore, kids lean in. You’re building an association: books = calm attention from you.
2. Use voices (they don’t have to be good)
You don’t have to be a voice actor. You just have to commit. A sleepy turtle voice. A dramatic “Wait… WHAT?!” voice. A whisper voice for secret parts. Kids love the performance more than the accuracy.
Bonus: when you change your voice for different characters, kids pick up on story structure — who’s talking, who’s reacting, what the mood is — without you “teaching a lesson.”
3. Pause and guess
Before you turn a page, ask, “What do you think happens next?” or “Uh-oh, what’s MAX about to do?” You’ll be amazed how fast even a five-year-old can build plot logic. They feel smart, involved, and proud of their ideas.
4. Pick stories where the main character thinks like a kid
Kids connect instantly with characters who make decisions the way they do — impulsive, confident, occasionally disastrous, but always sincere. The more they identify with the character, the more they want to sit and hear what happens.
Meet MAX. MAX sees the world like a kid sees it: big ideas, big feelings, big imagination. The MAX-Is-Me Adventures series turns that point of view into rhyme, rhythm, and “I would totally do that” moments that kids love hearing out loud.
The MAX-Is-Me 3-Book Holiday Edition bundles all three MAX stories (funny, high-energy, and warm at the end) into one big glossy book for ages 3–7. It’s made to be read out loud — bedtime, car rides, quiet time, whenever.
5. End on connection, not correction
After the last page, instead of “Okay, lights out,” try “What was your favorite part?” or “Would you do what MAX did?” You’re giving them the last word. That tiny debrief turns storytime into talking time — and kids love being listened to.
It also makes them want to do it again tomorrow.