When I handed my daughter a copy of King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry, she looked skeptical. She reluctantly agreed to read it with me after I told her it was one of my favorite stories when I was her age, and her skepticism quicklymorphed into enthusiasm as she fell in love with the book. 

Watching her connect to the story brought back a flood of memories about my first time reading the book. It was like introducing my daughter to a much younger version of myself. I highly recommend other parents share their favorite childhood books, a sweet activity with lots of benefits. 

Every night, I sit on the end of my daughters' beds and read them the stories I've cherished for decades. This distraction-free time gives my kids the chance to ask questions about the book we're reading, the "olden days" when I was a kid, and whatever else is on their minds.

My 9-year-old especially adores this time together and the deeper connection she feels to her family because of it. Reading her a book that holds significant meaning for me brings us together in a whole new way. 

There's nothing better than watching my kids' reactions to books I've loved my entire life. They chattered with excitement when Charlie found his golden ticket in Roald Dahl's classic and pulled the covers over their blushing faces when Almanzo asked Laura if he could walk her home in the Little House series.

In these moments, it feels like I'm reaching through time and connecting my childhood with theirs.

Every generation has books that define them. For my kids, it's mostly fantasy and realistic fiction. By reading my childhood favorites to them, my kids step outside their comfort zones and try new genres, authors, and writing styles. My 9-year-old didn't know she loved folklore until we read my favorite collection of Japanese children's stories together. My 11-year-old became obsessed with wilderness survival stories when I read Scott O'Dell's Island of the Blue Dolphins to her.