Reading quotes for kids are the perfect way to encourage a love of learning! They’re like tiny seeds of wisdom that can grow into strong habits to last a lifetime.
At Begin, we know that reading is a superpower skill. It’s the foundation for your child’s learning journey, from analyzing math word problems to understanding how a friend feels. We also know that for some kids, picking up a book can feel like a chore.
So, whether your child is already hooked on books or they’re still searching for the story that sparks their interest, they need inspiration to keep them going.
To help you fan the flame, we’ve gathered 40 of our favorite reading quotes.
Table of Contents
40 Reading Quotes for Kids
1) “Reading is like traveling in your pajamas!” (Unknown)
2) “You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book!” (Dr. Seuss)
3) “A book is a dream that you hold in your hand.” (Neil Gaiman)
4) “Reading is a passport to countless adventures.” (Mary Pope Osborne)
5) “Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey.” (Anna Quindlen)
6) “Take a look, it’s in a book!” (Reading Rainbow)
7) “Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.” (Mason Cooley)
8) “Books are a uniquely portable magic.” (Stephen King)
9) “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” (Frederick Douglass)
10) “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.” (Margaret Fuller)
11) “To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.” (Victor Hugo)
12) “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” (Dr. Seuss)
13) “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” (Joseph Addison)
14) “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” (Harry S. Truman)
15) “The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who’ll get me a book I [haven’t] read.” (Abraham Lincoln)
16) “When you have a library card, you have a magic key.” (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood)
17) “A library is a place where you can find out about anything.” (Arthur from PBS Kids)
18) “We read to know we are not alone.” (C.S. Lewis)
19) “Books were my pass to personal freedom.” (Oprah Winfrey)
20) “I am a part of everything that I have read.” (Theodore Roosevelt)
21) “It is not true that we have only one life to live; if we can read, we can live as many more lives as we wish.” (S.I. Hayakawa)
22) “When you learn to read, you will be born again and you will never be quite so alone again.” (Rumer Godden)
23) “Books are mirrors: you only see in them what you already have inside you.” (Carlos Ruiz Zafón)
24) “If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book yet.” (J.K. Rowling)
25) “There is no such thing as a child who hates to read; there are only children who have not found the right book.” (Frank Serafini)
26) “A book is a gift you can open again and again.” (Garrison Keillor)
27) “There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.” (Walt Disney)
28) “Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading… is good for him.” (Maya Angelou)
29) “Be awesome! Be a book nut!” (Dr. Seuss)
30) “If you are going to get anywhere in life, you have to read a lot of books.” (Roald Dahl)
31) “The only thing you absolutely have to know is the location of the library.” (Albert Einstein)
32) “A house without books is like a room without windows.” (Horace Mann)
33) “I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.” (Jorge Luis Borges)
34) “Books are the quietest and most constant of friends.” (Charles W. Eliot)
35) “What an astonishing thing a book is… one glance at it and you’re inside the mind of another person.” (Carl Sagan)
36) “Books make great gifts because they have whole worlds inside of them.” (Neil Gaiman)
37) “Wear the old coat and buy the new book.” (Austin Phelps)
38) “A library is infinity under a roof.” (Gail Carson Levine)
39) “Books train your imagination to think big.” (Taylor Swift)
40) “Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.” (Malala Yousafzai)
How to Use Reading Quotes for Kids
There’s no right or wrong way to use these reading quotes to inspire a love of learning. Get creative and find things that work for you and your child!
For young children, start small. Don’t worry about who said what; just keep quotes short and simple. You may even consider shortening one of the longer quotes down to its simplest form for your youngest child.
For example, you might change “Books are a uniquely portable magic,” to “Books are magic!”
As your child grows, reintroduce the quote and add more words. So, for a five-year-old, you could say, “Books are a portable magic.” For an eight-year-old, you could say, “Books are a uniquely portable magic,” and then have a discussion about what makes books unique.
To get these quotes (or whichever quotes you choose) in front of your child, consider implementing a quote of the week, and post it on the refrigerator, on the bathroom mirror, or in their reading space.
During a meal, family time, or free time, ask your child what they think the words mean and how those words make them feel. This is a great way to build their vocabulary and critical thinking skills without making it feel like a chore!
Turn Inspiration Into Action
At the end of the day, a love of reading is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child. Whether it’s through one of these reading quotes for kids or their favorite bedtime story, every little thing you do helps them build a lifelong habit of curiosity.
At Begin, we’re here to support that journey every step of the way! If you want to keep the momentum going, our HOMER app is designed by experts to help kids build essential reading skills through play.
For a more hands-on adventure, check out our Little Passports boxes, which bring world cultures and stories right to your doorstep.
By combining the right words with the right tools, you’re helping your child turn the page toward a bright and confident future. Happy reading!
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my child is a reluctant reader who prefers screens?
Preferring screens over books is completely normal! The key is to meet them where they are. Try using the HOMER app, which turns screen time into reading time with interactive stories and games.
You can also use these reading quotes for kids to show that reading isn’t just about paper books. It’s also graphic novels, magazines, comic books, billboards, closed captions on their favorite program, even game instructions.
When your child sees that reading helps them navigate the things they already love, that “chore” feeling starts to fade, and their confidence begins to grow.
How can I create a reading space that my child will actually use?
A great reading space doesn’t have to be fancy. It just needs to be theirs.
Pick a quiet corner and add comfy pillows, good lighting, and their favorite books. To make it extra special, decorate with cool reading quotes (or inspirational quotes of any kind). Then, let them add their own unique touches to the decor to personalize the space.
You can even schedule time during the day to read with them in their spot to combine family time and reading into one fun activity. When your child has a dedicated place to explore new worlds, they’re much more likely to pick up a book on their own during quiet time.
At what age should I start using these reading quotes for kids?
It’s never too early to start using reading quotes for kids! Even before a child can read the words themselves, hearing you speak them builds their “ear” for language.
For toddlers, focus on short, rhythmic quotes and plenty of picture books. As they grow, start talking more about what each quote means.
By the time they’re using phonics to decode words and read, the quotes act as little cheerleaders. Starting early helps children associate words with warmth and wonder long before they open their first book.
