Take books outside. A blanket, some snacks, a stack of library books or whatever's on the shelf. That's the whole plan.

The reason this works is context. Reading at a desk is school. Reading on a couch is fine but forgettable. Reading on a blanket under a tree with apple slices and cheese crackers is an event. The sensory richness of being outside — grass, breeze, sun — turns reading into a multi-sensory experience that kids remember and want to repeat.

This also works as a social activity. Invite another family. Everyone brings books. Kids read, swap, talk about what they're reading. Adults read their own books. It's a playdate where the main activity is reading, disguised as a picnic.