This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Purina for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

As a homeschooling mom is can be hard to encourage my children to pick up a book. When I was a child I always had a book in my hand. I loved them and they were my escape. In these modern days though, children are far more likely to pick up a cell phone or tablet before they ever pick up their first book. So, what can parents do to help encourage a love of reading in today's kids?

Create a Reading Space

Creating a designated space for reading can help children want to read more often. It can be an entire room or even just a corner. As long as it is colorful, fun and comfy, this designated reading space will help make reading a fun activity that children will enjoy doing.

Choose Engaging Books

Or better yet, let your children choose books based on topics that they love. Does your son love baseball? Then fill his shelves with baseball themed books. For my youngest, it was car themed books that first graced his shelves. As children learn to love reading more, they will branch out to other subjects.

Give Your Child a Reading Buddy

Whether it is yourself, or in our case most of the time, a pet, giving children someone or something to read to helps to encourage them to not only love reading, but to read for longer periods of time too. I can't tell you how many times I have walked in to find Jase curled up with a book and a puppy in his reading corner.

Dollar General understands the importance of having healthy pets and book-loving children. That is why they have teamed up with Purina during the month of April to help you "Do more with your dollar" while also bringing awareness of the importance of literacy in children. Through 4/30/15, Purina will donate $1 to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, up to $20,000, for every one of the Dollar General digital coupons that is redeemed for Purina products.

What does this mean for you? Well, for starters, you can save money on some of your favorite Purina brand pet products available at Dollar General, and for two, just by redeeming those savings, you are helping to donate a $1 towards promoting awareness of literacy in children!

What savings on Purina products can you get this month at Dollar General?

• Save $1.00 on one (1) 12lb bag of Purina® Friskies® Dry Cat Food
• Buy ANY five (5) 5.5oz cans of Purina® Friskies® Wet Cat Food and get one (1) can FREE (up to 50¢)
• Save $1.00 on one (1) 14lb or larger bag of Purina® Alpo® Dry Dog Food
• Save $1.00 on ANY one (1) package of Purina® Tidy Cats® Scoopable Litter
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Just visit the Dollar General website to access the digital coupons and save!

Does your child enjoy reading to your pets? I would love to see a picture, fell free to share them in the comments below!