I recently read a fabulous book called "The Book Thief" by Mark Zusak. It takes place in Nazi Germany and follows the life of a young girl, Liesel, whose most prized possessions are the books she accumulates (and eventually steals) from the mayor's wife.

The book moved me in many ways, but in the midst of the current financial crisis, it got me staring around my house, thinking of all the things I take for granted: the food, clothes, toys, and mostly the miles upon miles of books lining my walls.

Ours is a professed family of bibliophiles. I could never, ever throw away a book. But I'm not sure I cherish each book like Liesel, and I’m not sure my children do either. We're just entering the great phase of learning to read, and it has me thinking about what I can do to foster a love of reading and books with my children. I am by no means an expert, but this is what I've observed in my short years as a daughter, mother and avid reader:

Read this week's Bloggernacle Back Bench at MormonTimes.com