Book Bonding: Building Connections Through Family Reading

by Megan Dowd Lambert, Mia Saine (Illustrator)

A collection of essays about family, reading, and bonding with others through books. From children’s literature educator and children’s book author Megan Dowd Lambert.

This poignant, funny, and touching essay collection invites readers to consider how they bond with children, other family, friends, and students through shared reading. 

Divided into 4 sections organized around themes of parenting, adoption, race, and healing, this 21-essay collection with its joyous and colorful illustrations is perfect gift for parents, grandparents, librarians, educators, and anyone who spends time with children or reading together with others. 

The author's experience as an educator and as a parent in a blended family that includes seven children of various racial backgrounds (four of whom came home through adoption) adds depth and breadth to her expertise about how people read and respond to books. 

"I grew up with a mother who loved to read, and what a sustaining gift that has been to me. If you are holding this book, it’s a good bet that you love to read, too. Read on, and let Megan show you how to make your love for books and your love for the children in your life add up to something special."
--Roger Sutton, Editor Emeritus, The Horn Book, Inc., from Book Bonding's foreword

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Books About Books, LGBT

175 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 18, 2023

Reviews

[Hannah Showalter · Rating 3 out of 5]

little collection of essays about using reading together as a parenting tool, a quick and interesting read! it was fun to recognize most of the books/authors that were mentioned. only 3 stars because some of the essays fell a little flat for me and didn't really leave a mark on me.

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection of essays, it made me so excited about having my own kids someday and the book bonding me and their mother will do with them <3 it's even more exciting that Megan Dowd Lambert's family structure is adoptive and queer and overall non-normative in the same ways that I anticipate my own family will be. Also it was so sweet that the afterword was written by her oldest son <3

[Dollface ;) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lambert discusses her nerve-wracking search for children’s books that have characters that mirror her “multiracial, foster-adoptive, queer, blended family” (pg. 9). Her search proved difficult as she found topics surrounding LGBTQA+, mental health, and disabilities have only been recently, and slowly, integrated into children’s books. With the limited number of books she was able to find on those topics, Lambert made sure to introduce them to her kids to show representation and a reflection of who they are and who they can be. Revealing her faults as a parent, and the mistakes that she’s made with her kids, provides an example of an imperfect parent, but one trying to do better for her kids. Lambert brings lightheartedness in the face of hard issues she’s had to face through humor and tear-jerking stories. This book would be useful for parents looking to find a way to connect to their child and would be great recommendation from librarians or other educational professionals. Children’s and other educational literature are mentioned with limited context, but Lambert later expands on the moral of each story to illustrate personal lessons learned about parenting and the importance of spending quality time with kids. Created digitally and primarily using darker colors, the limited illustrations represent a variety of skin colors and realistic actions happening in each scene, matching Lambert and her messages about parenting her children through a variety of literature. Connecting adults through heartfelt stories about parenting and healing, Book Bonding: Building Connections Through Family Reading inspires readers to bond with children through books, as they will teach kids the value of connection and maybe learn something themselves along the way.

[Laurel Solorzano · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up because I read with my sister when we were kids. It connected us in ways we wouldn't have been connected otherwise. I was curious to see what the author had to say on the subject. While I enjoyed her perspective on multicultural literature and the narrative that many books have, I would have preferred a book with one longer story rather than short essays that weren't related to each other. Some sort of overarching theme rather than just little pieces of one. I also thought it might give me tips for reading with my daughter in the future or maybe more of the science behind the bonding you feel when you read together.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I don't normally read essays. Could be that I usually like longer forms of literature. BUT I completely resonated with the gist of this book:

1.) Your children deserve to have windows, doors, and mirrors in read-a-louds as much as a storytime audience
2.) Reading with your children makes so many connections and memories. It helps inform their whole worldview!

Did I agree with everything with how Megan raises her children? Goodness no, but the essence is there. And I liked being reminded of why I want to do things with Audrey.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having been an elementary school librarian during my career as an educator for young children, I found this book to be extraordinary ! It is up to date in terms of our culture and a fascinating read. I learned so much!

[Cook Memorial Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 2023 Staff Nonfiction Favorite Pick by Natalia! For readers of Raising Raffi by Keith Gessen and Talk With Her by Kimberly Wolf.

Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore...

[Martha D'Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I enjoyed the essay style, felt easy to pick up and read about a new topic and mull on it for a bit. She had some new and thought provoking ideas about family reading. Definitely had some more progressive views than me, but wasn't rude or over the top about it.

[Danielle Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little dose of serotonin for my bookworm and foster/bio parent heart. Just cerebral enough to be stimulating but still easy to read.

[Beth & Luna · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a parent who loves to devour books with my six year old daughter, I went into this book wanting to love it. But...well, wow, this ain't it.

[Alexandra Hinrichs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of essays that offers a testament to the power of reading together.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many good recommendations!

[Hannah Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

feels like every essay ended just as she was getting into something substantive. however, I did get lots of good children’s literature recommendations!