S2E343: The "Pay to Read" Method (+ 4 Other Unconventional Ways to Raise Bookworms)

In an era of instant dopamine hits like TikTok, YouTube, and ChatGPT summaries, getting a kid to crack open a book feels like a losing battle. But it doesn't have to be!

In this episode, MacKenzie breaks down the exact strategies used to build high-agency, avid readers—including a highly controversial, hyper-effective, science-backed weapon: paying kids to read.

For parents who want to build a lifelong reading muscle in their kids, this episode's 5 easy strategies are a great way to get started this summer.

Austin Scholar’s Age-by-Age Book Recommendations

(For the full age-by-age list, including graphic novels, series, and magazines, head over to Austin Scholar’s original post.)

Kindergarten — 1st grade:

• The I Can Read! and Ready-to-Read leveled series.
• Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff.

2nd — 3rd grade:

• Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White.
• Wonder by R.J. Palacio.
• The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne.

4th — 5th grade:

• Holes by Louis Sachar.
• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry.
• The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.
• The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau.
• The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley.
• Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling.
• Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan.
• Warrior Cats by Erin Hunter.

Middle School:

• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson.
• The Giver by Lois Lowry.
• Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card.
• Animal Farm by George Orwell.
• Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes.
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
• Legend by Marie Lu.
• The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall.
• Project Hail Mary and The Martian by Andy Weir.