A mom went viral on TikTok after giving her son a bookstore shopping spree for his 12th birthday.
Last October, Jaci Moore surprised her 12-year-old son with a shopping spree at a Barnes & Noble in Illinois for his birthday.
She expected him to pick up around twelve books, but he grabbed 47, totaling over $270.
Jaci shared the touching moment on TikTok, which has been viewed by almost 3 million people as of writing.
In the video, Jaci’s son, Bentley, celebrating his birthday, eagerly races through the store, swiftly filling a Barnes & Noble bag with books once the timer starts.
Jaci shared with Insider that Bentley collects books from the “Who HQ” series, which explores significant historical figures and events.
During the bookstore shopping spree, Bentley picked up books on Alex Trebek, the Civil Rights movement, the Rolling Stones, Zendaya, and more. Before the spree, Bentley mentioned owning 81 books from this series.
His collection has expanded to over 128 books after the shopping spree, Jaci shared.
Jaci originally planned to celebrate Bentley’s birthday at the Shedd Aquarium but adjusted their plans when his sister fell ill.
Inspired by online challenges where adults surprise each other, Jaci decided a shopping spree would be a perfect birthday treat for Bentley, who is passionate about collecting all the Who HQ books.
Jaci humorously expressed surprise in the video as Bentley grabbed more books than expected.
She admitted in the description that she underestimated his speed.
“Be nice to the books,” she urged her son.
“This is your idea,” Bentley replied, smiling.
The mom chuckled, admitting she made a mistake as Bentley grabbed more books.
She jokingly told him to leave some for others. She laughed nervously, mentioning her concern about what Bentley’s dad would think while checking the time.
Towards the video’s conclusion, Bentley struggled to manage his overflowing bag of books, which amounted to a $274 purchase for Jaci.
Jaci and her son sorted through the bag together in the follow-up video. They found only four duplicate books among Bentley’s selections.
She then proudly displayed Bentley standing next to his impressive stack of books.
“Are you happy?” Jaci asked.
“Yes,” Bentley answered with a smile.
In a message to Insider, Bentley shared that he chose the books because he finds learning about history, facts, geography, and people fun and interesting.
The videos received an outpouring of positive comments, with viewers praising Bentley for his love of reading and Jaci for supporting his hobby.
Many remarked that the video was heartwarming.
One top comment from a teacher expressed joy, wishing more parents would encourage reading like Jaci did with Bentley.
Another viewer commented that Bentley’s happiness brought them joy.
Jaci told Insider she was pleased by the positive response to Bentley’s passion for reading.
“The idea of other people getting to smile because of him is a great feeling,” she said. “He is thrilled that people love it too.”
Why should you urge your kids to read physical books?
E-books have become increasingly accessible with the popularity of e-readers and tablets in schools, particularly during remote or hybrid learning. Concerns arise among parents about excessive screen time due to the allure of technology.
While e-readers and tablets offer their appeal for reading, printed books provide several advantages for reading enjoyment:
1. Printed books help children concentrate more on the story without distractions from multimedia. Some e-books can be interactive, potentially diverting attention to visuals or other apps and games on the device.
2. Children may comprehend and retain information better when reading physical books. Unlike e-books, which allow quick word lookups, deriving meanings from the context in printed books can enhance cognitive processes. Printed books also offer easier navigation by flipping directly to desired pages.
3. Reading printed books can reduce eye strain and provide a break from technology use.
Studies indicate that children often prefer printed books for their tactile experience of holding, turning pages, and feeling the book’s texture and cover, as per Newark Advocate.
However, e-books offer advantages like accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and interactive elements like music or games.
Parents should assess which format best supports their child’s productive reading habits.
Watch Bentley during his birthday bookstore shopping spree through the video below:
@jaciandmoore @Barnes & Noble I tried to suprise him for his 12th birthday and it immediately backfired. I underestimated him. #booksonbooks #bookstorechallenge2023 #birthdaysurprise #mistakesweremade ♬ original sound – JaciandMoore
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That was an amazing and beautiful gift for his birthday. Be blessed that he loves to read.