Does the idea of a cozy family reading night sound wonderful in theory—but totally impossible in your real life? Between sports practices, dishes, and bedtime meltdowns, it can feel like there’s no way to add one more thing. But family reading nights don’t have to be perfect (or even quiet) to be powerful.
In this episode of the Engaging Reluctant Readers Podcast, Ellen Westbrook shares how family reading nights can bring connection, laughter, and calm—even if your evenings are anything but picture-perfect. From unplanned story pile-ups to silly multi-voice read alouds, you’ll discover simple ways to make family reading nights work for your family, in your real world.
What You’ll Learn:
☑️ Why family reading nights matter (even if they’re messy)
☑️ How to start small—without pressure or a “perfect book”
☑️ Simple tweaks to make reading time inviting and fun
☑️ Creative ideas: comfort items, book jars, movie tie-ins, and more
☑️ Why these imperfect moments still leave a lasting impact
⏳ Key Episode Highlights:
[00:00:25] Why evenings feel frantic (and how reading can shift the tone)
[00:01:12] What real-life family reading nights look like (hint: not picture-perfect)
[00:02:16] From divide-and-conquer to a shared family read aloud
[00:04:07] Why the biggest barrier isn’t time—it’s pressure
[00:05:17] Cozy pile-ups, comfort items, and other inviting tweaks
[00:06:19] Fun twists: book jars, family favorites, and book-plus-movie teasers
[00:07:34] Multi-voice read alouds (and why the laughter matters)
[00:08:12] Ripple effects: calmer bedtimes and sibling moments worth savoring
[00:10:34] Why these small, imperfect moments matter more than you think
[00:10:58] Sneak peek at next week’s episode
📖 Prefer to Read? Full blog post: https://engagingreluctantreaders.com/2025/09/25/family-reading-nights/
✨ FREEBIE ALERT!
Grab your Mini Reading Goal Planner—a simple, kid-friendly tool to help your child set goals they’re actually excited about (without pressure or battles).
📥 Get it here → https://engagingreluctantreaders.m-pages.com/minigoalplanner
🎟️ Reset & Read Workshop Replay
If family reading nights—or reading time in general—keep falling apart, the Reset & Read Workshop replay will help you rebuild your reading rhythm in a way that actually sticks.
🎯 Grab the replay here → https://bit.ly/resetandread
🎧Love the podcast? Hit the 5⭐to leave a rating & review!
It helps get this podcast out in front of more moms that need to hear it, so we can help more reluctant readers learn to love books and put an end to the nightly battles around reading!
Resources:
Follow on Instagram
Join the Engaging Reluctant Readers Tribe (Facebook Group)
✨ Grab your Book Nook Starter Kit today!
✨ Grab your Reading Bucket List Bundle today!
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Brothers Ortiz
The Brothers Ortiz is the story of two brothers–both successful, but in very different ways. Gabe Ortiz becomes a third-highest ranking officer in all of Texas while his younger brother Larry climbs the ranks in Puro Tango Blast, a notorious Texas Prison gang. Gabe doesn’t know all the details of his brother’s nefarious dealings, and he’s made a point not to ask, to protect their relationship. But when Larry is murdered during a home invasion in a rented beach house, Gabe has no choice but to look into what happened that night. To solve Larry’s murder, Gabe, and the whole Ortiz family, must ask each other tough questions.