Jenna Bush Hager shares Judy Blume’s parenting advice about daughter Mila’s reading

Show summary Hide summary

• 🔥 Quick Facts
• The Philosophy Behind Judy Blume’s Unconventional Parenting Advice
• Why “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” Matters in This Context
• Jenna Bush Hager’s Reading Advocacy and Family Values
• The Broader Landscape of Book Banning and Child Development
• What This Conversation Reveals About Modern Parenting
• How Can Parents Apply Judy Blume’s Parenting Wisdom to Their Own Households?
  • Sources

Jenna Bush Hager revealed how Judy Blume, the legendary children’s author, offered her nuanced parenting guidance about introducing controversial books to her 13-year-old daughter Mila. During a Wednesday appearance on the Today Show, Bush Hager shared that Blume advised against gifting “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” to her daughter—not due to age-appropriateness concerns, but for a more sophisticated reason rooted in reader autonomy and natural literary discovery.

The Philosophy Behind Judy Blume’s Unconventional Parenting Advice

Judy Blume’s recommendation reflects decades of expertise in children’s literature and reader psychology. Rather than censoring books or controlling what children read, Blume advocates for a counterintuitive approach: parents should allow books to naturally enter their children’s orbits without explicit promotion. This strategy contrasts sharply with contemporary parenting trends that emphasize curated reading lists and age-matched selections.

Blume’s core insight stems from her observation that children possess inherent judgment about literary boundaries. When a child independently discovers a book, they develop stronger emotional investment and authentic reading comprehension. Conversely, when parents prescriptively assign books—even beloved classics—the experience becomes transactional rather than transformative.

Why “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” Matters in This Context

“Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” ranks among Blume’s most frequently challenged works in American schools, with challenges centered on discussions of menstruation, religion, and adolescent development. The novel has faced bans in libraries and school systems for over 50 years, making it a lightning rod in book-censorship debates. Bush Hager herself has become an outspoken advocate against book banning, leveraging her platform to defend young readers’ access to diverse literature.

Blume’s advice about this specific title reveals a sophisticated understanding. Rather than refusing the book to Mila, Bush Hager should make it visibly available and let her daughter’s natural curiosity drive the decision. This approach respects the adolescent’s emerging agency while sidestepping the psychological pressure that comes with parental recommendations.

Jenna Bush Hager’s Reading Advocacy and Family Values

Bush Hager has consistently demonstrated her commitment to fostering literacy across her three children. She frequently discusses shared reading moments on the Today Show, where curated book selections and household reading rituals form the backbone of her parenting philosophy. Her children include Mila (13), Poppy (approximately 10), and Hal (approximately 6)—spanning the full spectrum of reading development stages.

What distinguishes Bush Hager’s approach is her willingness to embrace complexity. She recognizes that young adult literature contains important conversations about identity, menstruation, faith questions, and social dynamics that adolescents genuinely encounter. Rather than sanitizing their reading experiences, she champions their access to authentic narratives while maintaining open dialogue.

The Broader Landscape of Book Banning and Child Development

Factor	Impact on Reader Development
Self-Directed Book Discovery	Increases intrinsic motivation, deeper comprehension, sustained reading habits
Parental Book Recommendations	May create obligation-based reading; can reduce enjoyment if child feels pressured
Access to Diverse Narratives	Develops empathy, exposes adolescents to real-world challenges, validates personal experiences
Book Challenges and Banning	Restricts literacy growth, limits exposure to accurate health information, isolates readers
Age-Appropriate Gatekeeping	Can underestimate adolescent maturity; misses opportunity for guided discussion

Judy Blume’s parenting advice arrives at a critical moment in American literacy history. Book challenges have increased dramatically, with 2023-2024 seeing record numbers of attempts to remove titles from school libraries. Blume’s own works rank among the most targeted, yet she maintains that anxiety-driven parenting undermines children’s cognitive development and emotional resilience.

“Let children read whatever they want and then talk about it with them. If parents and kids can talk together, we won’t have as much censorship because we’re communicating openly.”

— Judy Blume, Author and Literacy Advocate

What This Conversation Reveals About Modern Parenting

Bush Hager’s willingness to publicly discuss Blume’s advice signals a generational shift in parenting transparency. Rather than pretending children can be protected from adolescent realities through selective reading lists, contemporary parents increasingly recognize that authentic conversations about growing up require access to literature that mirrors young people’s actual experiences and questions.

The strategy Blume recommends—leaving books around and allowing independent discovery—represents a paradoxical form of active parenting. Bush Hager isn’t being passive; she’s strategically creating an environment where her daughter can exercise genuine choice while knowing her parent remains a conversation partner rather than a gatekeeper or enforcer.

How Can Parents Apply Judy Blume’s Parenting Wisdom to Their Own Households?

Blume’s foundational principle applies beyond just her own books. Parents can create home libraries that reflect diverse perspectives, include titles their children might self-select, and position themselves as discussion facilitators rather than literary censors. This requires emotional maturity—acknowledging that young readers may encounter themes parents find uncomfortable—while maintaining trust in the relationship.

The practical application involves stocking bookshelves generously, resisting the urge to explain or oversell titles, and most importantly, creating psychological safety for children to ask questions and process what they’ve read alongside a trusted adult. Mila Hager benefits from having a mother publicly committed to this philosophy and a legendary author providing strategic guidance.

Sources

• People Magazine — Coverage of Judy Blume and Jenna Bush Hager‘s discussion about parenting and children’s literature (May 2026)
• Today Show — Jenna Bush Hager appearance featuring parenting insights and book advocacy
• LitHub — Judy Blume interview on parental anxiety regarding children’s reading materials
• Goodreads — Judy Blume quotes on reader autonomy and parental engagement
• HuffPost — Archive of Judy Blume‘s parenting advice strategies