My DIY to Encourage My Kids to Read

Jessika Reed
by Jessika Reed
$6
Easy
My kids love to read. It was time to move the changing table out of my kid's room to make room for a dresser I just refinished. The problem is we were using the bottom shelf of the changing table as our bookshelf. I needed a way to keep the books organized, easily accessible for my kids and to encourage them to read.
This is my fun DIY solution to organize their books and keep them excited about reading!
My son is OBSESSED with dinosaurs! Using 1/2" MDF I had The Home Depot rip a shelf back and ledge, each at 8" x 24". You could do this with a circular saw yourself. On the remaining MDF sheet, I traced out a dinosaur face pattern I created (free pattern download on my blog), inspired by Arlo in Disney's The Good Dinosaur - something he loves.
I then cut the pattern using my jig saw. You could do this with a bandsaw or circular saw as well.
I used the original pattern and transfers on the face details using chalk and then painted everything with detail brushes. I kept it simple and easy.
Since I used thinner MDF, I opted to glue everything together.
This could be used as a bookshelf and/or bench. If we were using it more as a bench, I would have gone thicker on the MDF and done pocket holes and screwed it together, as well as used glue, for additional strength. But on 1/2" MDF, they tend to rip the material when you put in the screws. This thing is sturdy though. I sat in it for a bit to test it before putting in books and letting my kids climb on it - it didn't budge.
My kids love it and were super excited when it was set up in their room.
My daughter came to see what I was doing when I was snapping some pictures. She plopped down and started flipping through books. I love this solution to keep the books right in their reach and the fun dino they love helps to keep their enthusiasm for books and reading! Read more details on how I did this and get your free dino pattern download over on my blog!


Jessika Reed
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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 3 comments
  • Hannah V Hannah V on Jan 20, 2016
    AWH it's just too cute!!
  • Mary Mary on Jan 22, 2016
    Awesome job Mommy!!! So smart, easy, and super functional fun (: love it! Thanks for sharing, I actually have been trying to decide for a week how to affordably keep my daughters books within her reach! This is something I can use and make even with my lack of building skills!!! Blessings
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