The Page and the Porch

Have you ever had one of those “lightning bolt” moments where separate pieces of your life suddenly slam together and make perfect sense?

That’s exactly how my Family Book Club Guide was born.

If you’ve seen the kits in my shop, I want you to know something right off the bat: I didn’t just sit down to create a random printable to sell. This system exists because of real experiences with real kids, a whole lot of graduate research, and a personal mission to turn reading into a core family memory.

Here are the three distinct stepping stones that changed everything for me—and inspired a whole new way for families to connect.

1. The Note in Mark’s Backpack

Years ago, I was regularly substituting for a wonderful fourth-grade teacher and got to know her students well. One day, a student I’ll call Mark came up to me. He had just finished The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and told me he thought I would love it, handing me a copy from the classroom library.

If you’ve read that book, you know how incredible it is. I took it home, devoured it, and absolutely loved it. So, I wrote Mark a little note. I thanked him for the recommendation, told him my favorite part, and slipped it into his hands. I didn’t think much of it—I love to read, and sharing that joy with a student felt natural.

A few days later, Mark’s mom (who worked part-time at the school) found me in tears. She told me Mark couldn’t stop talking about how I read his recommendation. He was literally carrying my note around in his backpack, showing it to everyone. It brought an enormous wave of confidence and joy to her son. That was my first hint at just how powerful it is when an adult meets a child on their level through a story.

2. The Night My Daughter Caught Me Reading

The second stepping stone happened right at my own kitchen table. My daughter started the Percy Jackson series at school. Now, she was always a strong reader when it came to schoolwork, but reading for pleasure? We could never get much traction.

Until these books. They hit the ultimate sweet spot for her—adventure, Greek mythology, the whole nine yards. She talked about them constantly. Then came the ask: “Mom, you should read them too!”

I’ll admit, I immediately came up with a dozen reasons not to. My “To Be Read” pile was already a mile high! But she kept begging. Finally, I bought the book and started reading it on the sly. One afternoon, she walked into the room and caught me reading it.

Her entire face lit up. She was absolutely thrilled.

Suddenly, our conversations shifted. We were talking about characters, debating mythology, and laughing. The dialogue was easy and fun. We were already close, but now? We were bonding over a shared universe.

3. The “Aha!” Moment in Graduate School

In between those two stories, I was in graduate school researching a question that drives me to this day: What actually motivates kids to read?

Using a school Battle of the Books team as my population sample, the data made one thing crystal clear. Reading motivation requires two core ingredients:

1. Agency (choice and control)
2. Social Connection

Separately, these two things are powerful. Combined? They are pure magic.

From Scribbles to the “Reading Adventure Plan”

I started looking at my daughter, thinking about Mark, and staring at my research. I asked myself: How can I turn this shared reading experience into a core family memory? How can I use this to learn more about my daughter while helping her strengthen her literacy skills for life?

After a lot of notebook scribbles, late-night brainstorming, and random ideas in the shower, the Family Book Club Companion Guide (our family book club!) was born.

The philosophy is simple: Kids love it when parents do their idea. In a world where almost everything is dictated for them, this space gives them 100% agency. It boosts their confidence, independence, and sense of value. And guess what? It empowers them to read more.

This kit helps families make reading a joyful habit, not a mandatory chore. There are no reading timers, no logs, and no “read for 20 minutes to earn screen time” ultimatums. It’s a space where kids get agency, and parents go along for the ride.

How the Adventure Works:

• Step 1: The Decision. The family decides to start a book club together.
• Step 2: The Pick. The kids pick the book, and parents grab copies for everyone. (Alternative: Parents can pick the book if you’re using one of my ready-to-print title kits! We build the agency into the reading behaviors instead.)
• Step 3: The Map. You use a custom AI prompt to generate a “Reading Map” that splits the book into three sections at natural pause points. The map goes on the fridge, and everyone gets a magnet. As you read, you advance your magnet, stopping at the designated “rest stops” to wait for everyone to catch up.
• Step 4: The Connection. Once everyone hits the rest stop, the family gathers. The AI prompt generates three unique discussion prompts. These aren’t boring reading-comprehension questions. They connect the story to real life and ask everyone to share something about themselves. Parents, you will learn so much about your kids here! It reinforces that reading isn’t about passing a test—it’s about opening our worlds and building empathy.
• Step 5: The Next Leg. Everyone picks the book back up, hits the next set of chapters, and meets at the next rest stop for more conversation.
• Step 6: The Grand Finale. The third leg takes you to the end of the book. After your final connection prompts, you dive into an extension activity (also generated by the AI prompt) to do as a family. This is where the core memory-making hits its peak!

When you’re done, place the books on the shelf, donate the extra copies to a classroom or a Little Free Library, and when everyone is rested—start again.

Real Experience. Real Research. Real Connection.

I designed this because I use it in my own home. I know the magic that happens when a child feels heard, chosen, and connected.

If you’re ready to ditch the reading logs and start adventuring through stories with your kids, check out the Family Book Club Companion Guide in the shop. Let’s make some memories!