In my own experience, I still remember reading picture books with my dad. Molly Moves Out was a particular favorite. Then we moved on to chapter books such as Key to the Treasure by Peggy Parish. My mom read Heidi to me, and, for some reason, I still have clear memories of reading that particular book with her. I was a big fan of Halloween books, and I remember tons of favorite stories from this time of year. In fact, we used to have to ask the librarians to let us in the storage closet so I could look at the Halloween books in the middle of the summer! I loved Dorrie the Witch, A Woggle of Witches, and others. So many favorites! I have searched (and found!) many of these favorites from my childhood and hope to share them with the boys. They are so much like me--they really got into a lot of the Halloween books last season, and they don't seem scared by witches at all (in fact, they love the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz!).
In order to get the boys interested in reading and in books, Carlos and I started reading to them every single night after baths and before bed from the first days they were home with us. We did this even when they couldn't understand a word that was being said. We read picture books, poems, whatever we wanted. And the tradition has continued every single night since. I think I could count on one hand the nights when we have skipped reading to them.
It has not always been successful. There have been phases where they weren't interested, where they resisted, or when they were fighting with each other instead of listening. But we keep at it, and we don't offer a choice of whether they want to do it or not--we just do it. (Well, we do, I guess--we tell them it's books or straight to bed. They always choose to read!) We let them choose the books, so we are often reading the same stories over and over again. But we want them to be interested in what they are reading, so that's fine with us.
Snuggling with them and reading books is by far the best part of my day. I wish I could have them with me to read a book every night forever.
Here is what they are into right now.
Cranberry series
Cranberry Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas, Valentine, Easter, etc.
Cranberry Thanksgiving is the most famous and the best of the series. Kids can't help but love the gruff, but endearing, Mr. Whiskers and his friends Maggie and Grandmother. The books take place in a quaint New England town called Cranberryport, and the stories are filled with lovely old-fashioned charm. Each book has a cranberry recipe in the back; Grandmother's Famous Cranberry Bread has been a family favorite in our house for two generations now!
Llama Llama series
The simple rhymes and story lines are catchy. Every book uses a similar structure and pattern to talk about being sick, sharing, bullying, sleeping, etc--always topics both kids and parents will relate to.
Dragons Love Tacos
Sort of a ridiculous book--I can't quite find the appeal. But my kids love it. They get a kick out of telling the dragons not to eat the spicy tacos. They ask for this book over and over and over.
Little Blue Truck
Cute little story about a country truck who feels overwhelmed and pushed around in the city at first. He comes to the rescue of the mayor, though, and ends up saving the city from a traffic jam.
Roller Coaster
Very simple book about roller coasters that conveys the motion and emotion of the ride very well to young kids.
Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site
Easily one of our favorites to read. The prose about various construction vehicles going to sleep actually induces sleep with its rhythm and word choice. (I yawn constantly as I read it!) Plus, it talks about diggers, cement trucks, and dump trucks--what more could a kid want? Added bonus: the illustrations are great.
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