Roopashree Shivananda is an Usborne Books representative, entrepreneur, and advocate for children’s literacy. Originally from India and now based in Stuttgart, Germany, she is dedicated to helping families discover engaging, high-quality books that nurture curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of reading.

Through organising book fairs at schools, creating educational content for parents, and building a supportive community around reading, Roopa combines her love for education with a practical understanding of the challenges modern families face in a screen-driven world.

In this article, Roopa shares a personal story from her own parenting journey, reflecting on how small, consistent moments with books can gently guide children toward reading, encourage their imaginations and foster a lifelong love for books.

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I still remember one evening very clearly. It was a normal weekday and my daughter had come home from school. Like many children, the first thing she reached for was a screen. I was tired, she was tired, and honestly, it felt easier to just let her be.

But that day, for some reason, I picked up a book instead. I sat next to her and said, “Let’s just read one page.” She wasn’t very interested at first abd kept looking at the screen, turning away, not really paying attention. I almost gave up, which would have been easier. But I continued reading.

Slowly, something changed. She started looking at the pictures, and asked a question, then another. Before I realised it, we had finished the book together. That moment stayed with me and made me realise something very simple: children don’t always reject books. Sometimes, they just need a little help to begin.

When I think about my own childhood, I remember how different things were. We didn’t have screens competing for our attention. Books were one of the few ways to explore, imagine, and spend time. I didn’t know then how important that habit would become later in life. Reading gave me confidence and helped me express myself. It allowed me to understand things beyond what I could see around me.

Years later, as a parent in Germany, I faced a different kind of challenge. I wanted to bring that same experience to my daughter, but finding the right books was not always easy. Either they were not engaging enough, or they didn’t connect with what children actually enjoy. As a parent I found this frustrating, because I knew what books could do, but I couldn’t always find the right ones. Over time, this feeling stayed with me and slowly turned into something bigger. I wanted to make it easier for other parents like me.

Today, when I meet parents, I hear the same concern again and again: “My child only wants screens.” And I completely understand, because I’ve been there too. But what I have seen firsthand is that children don’t need to be forced away from screens, they just need something that can naturally draw them in. And the right book can do that.

Reading is not just about learning new words or doing better in school. It is about creating a pause where children can think, imagine, and connect. Often this becomes a special moment between parent and child. Even today, some of my favourite moments with my daughter are the simplest: sitting together, turning pages, discussing a story, or laughing at the same book again and again.

If there is one thing I have learned, it is that reading doesn’t need to be perfect and you don’t need a long routine. Even 10 to 15 minutes a day is enough. Some days it will work, some days it won’t, and that’s okay. Because it’s not about doing it perfectly, it’s about being consistent and forming a habit over time, that can evolve into lifelong love of reading.

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