By all accounts, Jenna Bush Hager’s three children are mini-mes when it comes to reading. Her oldest, Mila, has even torn through the entire Harry Potter series. Just before the launch of Love Comes First, the fourth picture book she’s co-written with her sister Barbara Pierce Bush, the co-host of TODAY with Hoda & Jenna shares how she keeps up the reading momentum in her house.
On the best books to read to kids:
Charlotte’s Web is magnificent. I want people who don’t even have kids to read it because E.B. White was such a beautiful writer. For a fun series, try Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon. Everything by Mo Willems makes my family laugh. His Elephant & Piggie series is incredible for teaching kids how to read.
On her kids’ bedtime reading routine:
Hal, my 4-year-old, picks two to three books a night for me to read to him. He knows the books I love. He’ll say, ‘I’m going to surprise you with something that will make you so happy,’ and he’ll choose On the Night You Were Born [by Nancy Tillman] or another story about a mother’s love. Even though Mila, who’s 10, can fully read everything to herself, I’ll have her read out loud so she can work on her fluency. She’s now reading Number the Stars [by Lois Lowry] to both Poppy, who’s 8, and me.
On keeping her kids engaged in reading:
Sometimes parents worry too much about having their kids read the right thing as opposed to what’s going to engage them. For instance, Hal is super into trucks and vehicles. We didn’t even own a truck book before he was born. I’m also a big fan of graphic novels for reluctant readers because that’s what they’re interested in reading.
On the importance of no-screen time:
Reading is my favorite hobby. It’s my only hobby. And I sometimes have to physically more my phone away from me so I can finish my book. If we have to do that, how are we expecting our children to focus on reading if they’re distracted by electronics? We have a hard-and-fast rule that there are no electronics during the week except for a little television. As a result, our kids read, draw, write and get creative on weeknights. But early in the pandemic, when I was doing Today from my kitchen and we didn’t have child care, we had to put the kids in front of the screen. Once we were back in the studio, we reined in our screen policies. It’s not too late for you to make a change too.
On the children’s book character she would love to be the voice of:
Junie B. Jones is hilarious, precocious and not scared to speak up. I’d pick her.
On writing a book with her sister:
It was so much fun! This is our fourth book together now — our third for kids. The best part is that we get to go on a book tour together around the country. We check into the hotels, and they’re like would you like two rooms, and we say 'No thank you, we’ll share,' because even though we live close to each other, with our busy jobs and our kids’ schedules, we don’t get to spend as much time together as we want.
On whether her girls wished for Hal, the way the characters in Love Comes First wished for a brother:
They wouldn’t tell me because those wishes can’t come true. But they definitely said out loud that they wanted a baby. I heard them pray for a baby brother and when they talked about their dreams, a baby was always one of them.
Jenna Bush Hager's Family Favorites
Jenna and her kids helped test books for Good Housekeeping’s 2023 Kids’ Book Awards. Here are their top picks.
Written and illustrated by Travis Jonker
“This book celebrates the uniqueness in all of us. Hal laughed out loud.” Ages 4 to 8
Written and illustrated by Jarvis
“Poppy and I took turns reading this collection of stories, reminiscent of Frog and Toad and other classics, to celebrate the importance of friendship.” Ages 5 to 9
Written and illustrated by Matt Tavares
“Mila flew through this graphic novel that will encourage even reluctant readers. Hoops is a celebration of females in sports, teamwork and the power of dreams.” Ages 8 to 12
'Jenna’s new picture book, Love Comes First, cowritten with her sister Barbara Pierce Bush, comes out in November. Jenna is also the founder of the production company Thousand Voices.
Karen is a seasoned journalist who specializes in travel, book, lifestyle and food coverage. Cicero has visited almost every state with her family (look out Wyoming, she’s coming for you next!). She has spoken at several travel industry conferences, including PRSA and the Mid-Atlantic Tourism Alliance and was previously the senior editor at Parents. A mom who goes overboard for all the holidays, Cicero lives in the Christmas city itself: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
