Fine, I'll Read This Book

In just a few episodes on our podcast, Care and Feeding, we interview Katie Day Good, who casually drops the kind of parenting hack that makes every mom stop mid-scroll: she pays her kids to read.

“C’mon girl” - says every best mom friend reading this.

The setup was simple. She made a list of ten books, handed it to her kids, and said: “Read all 10 books and you get $100.”

DAYUMMM, KATIE!

My first thought wasn’t even about the kids. It was: Wait… how do I get in on this? And then immediately after: how do I make a list my girls will actually want to read without turning summer into mandatory homework? I hate mandatory summer homework.

I didn’t grow up in a house where reading was a thing. In my home, you got rewarded for good grades and staying off the mean streets of Hialeah. That was the curriculum. My parents worked like dogs and library trips weren’t exactly built into the schedule. The only things I consistently read were Time Magazine, HOLA! and National Geographic. Books-books? Negative.

So when I became a mother, I made it my mission to build a home full of books, storytelling, and sharing what we’ve learned. And honestly? I think we’re doing pretty good. Both my daughters are avid readers. We have tiny piles of books all over the house. My kids read to unwind. If Miami weather starts acting like it’s auditioning for a tsunami at 3 p.m., they’re curled up somewhere reading a book.

So when Katie shared her plan, I decided to remix it a little. My reading list is curated around what my girls actually love — and because this economy is economy-ing — if they finish all 10 books, they get a cool $50 each.

When I pitched the idea to my girls, they LOVED it. After I shared the list, they said, “Mami, we love this idea. Gracias.”

So here it is: My Summer 2026 Reading List That Will Get You Paid $50 (but you must be my child to cash that check)

1. Classic Read: Little Women

2. Graphic Novel: Ms. Marvel by G. Willow Wilson - No Normal

3. A Play: Romeo and Juliet

4. Your Favorite Artist’s Favorite Book: Olivia Rodrigo LOVES Helium by Rudy Fransisco.

5. Something That’s Streaming: Lord of The Flies

6. A Book Based On A Summer Movie: Remarkably Bright Creatures

7. History: Courage Has No Color

8. A Cool Picture/Art Book: The Art of Makeup

9. Cuban American Story told by Cuban American Authors: Tell It To Me Singing

10. Something Spooky: The Obsession

I know, it’s a long list BUTTT isn’t a fun list? I encourage you to craft your own list of summer reading musts and if your budget permits - put a price tag on it!

Happy Reading Besties,

Lucy Lopez