Booking Mama: The Benefits of a Mother-Daughter Book Club

With Mother's Day coming up this weekend, we asked Julie Peterson, founder of the Booking Mama blog, to tell us about the mother-daughter book club she started. Along with sharing what both she and her daughter have gained from discussing books together, Julie shares some reading suggestions for those who might be thinking about doing something similar.

Check back tomorrow for a guest post by author Lynne Griffin, who writes about how she's shared her love of reading with her daughter from childhood to adulthood.


With Mother's Day approaching, I've been reflecting on how fortunate I am to be a mother. I have two wonderful children, a daughter who is almost 10 and a son who is almost 5. Like many mothers, reading books to my kids has always been a priority for me; and I'm just so happy that they both appreciate the magic and wonder of stories.

I was a little bit worried when my daughter was younger. She was a very active child and wouldn't sit through even the shortest picture book. As a book lover and first time mother, I was devastated! I continued to start book after book with the hopes that eventually she would sit long enough to finish the story. Luckily, we both stuck with it. By age seven she developed a love of reading. She is now reading about five books per week; and I even have to tell her to stop reading when it's dinner time or time to go to bed.

When my daughter was seven and starting to love reading, I thought it would be fun to start a Mother-Daughter book club. My first attempt was a complete failure --- no one was interested! A little over a year ago, I tried again and was thrilled to find three other mothers, and their daughters, who were willing to join us to discuss Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachan. The first meeting was a huge success.

Our group has now been meeting for more than a year and is still going strong. We have just finished our eleventh book and now have ten sets of mothers and daughters in our club. I love discussing these books with my daughter; and I'm definitely getting to know her better by learning her impressions of them.

I am constantly amazed by the benefits of our Mother-Daughter book club --- so many of these girls have really matured in the past 14 months. A few weren't big readers or enthusiastic about books and that has definitely changed. The last book we read, The Lightning Thief by Rick Rioran, was over 375 pages. (Keep in mind that these girls are eight and nine years old!) In addition, despite some initial shyness, they are all eager to discuss the book and share their opinions. In fact, after just a few meetings, some of the girls wanted to lead the discussion on their own instead of depending on the moms; and they've even been known to ask us to leave the room while they talk amongst themselves! I am especially impressed that a few of the girls, including my daughter, come to each meeting with their own set of questions printed on index cards.

Below is a list of books we've read so far. I'm sure you'll recognize some terrific books that you remember from your childhood. While I do enjoy reading the new books, I love getting to re-read my old favorites.

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

Anne Frank: Life in Hiding by Johanna Hurwitz

Sounder by William H. Armstrong

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

Meet Kit: An American Girl 1934 by Valerie Tripp

The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary

Bed-Knob and Broomstick by Mary Norton

The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

The Doll People by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

We've read some great books, but I am always on the lookout for new book suggestions. Even though the girls are reading middle grade books at this time, I'm already noting some terrific Young Adult books for the years ahead. I'd love to hear your suggestions!

I highly recommend starting a book club with your daughter or son. I think you'll be surprised by the rewards for both you and your child. It will encourage a love of reading in your child, and it just might give them the added benefit of more self-confidence.

In addition, I really appreciate that these books have facilitated the discussion of difficult topics, including racial discrimination, the Holocaust and the Great Depression. I'd have to say the best thing about belonging to a Mother-Daughter book club is that I really feel as if I've gotten to know my daughter better. And I'm hoping that we can continue to openly communicate through this book club and the books we read together.

---Julie Peterson
bookingmama.blogspot.com