To increase interest in the books you are reading, connect them to real life.
If you read about a specific food (bean porridge? chocolate? Turkish Delight?), look up a recipe online and TRY it. You might even find a book at the library of recipes from your book (like the Little House Cookbook).
If you read about a specific place (Wales? King's Cross Station? Disneyland?) look it up online. There are maps and photos of almost any place available. Some places in books are made-up (like the town in "The Great Brain") but they are based on real places you can study (like dozens of small towns in Utah that are just like the town in "The Great Brain"). Often you can find out where the author lived or grew up--and find similarities between that place and the fictional settings in the book.
If you read about specific clothing, find pictures. Sometimes you can find actual examples of things like hoop skirts or riding hoods in local museums, thrift shops, or vintage clothing stores. And there are dozens of books in the library that can help you see what you are reading about. It helps to know that in the academic discipline of studying old clothing, the clothes are called "costume". Look here for ideas: The Drexel Museum and Digital Collection. You can also find patterns to make the clothing (for you or for dolls) if you are ambitious and have the skills.
If you read about a historic event or person, look it up.
And then, after you read the book, watch the movie!
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