Reading is a big part of my daily routine with G. We read on a variety of topics, a wide range of material (e.g. simple to more complex stories), and most importantly, for fun. He loves to read and is constantly bringing me books to read to him from various nooks in the house. I love it.
In reading various books on early childhood development there is a not surprisingly, a common theme emphasizing the importance of reading from an early age. Studies show that kids need to be reading in their spare time and for fun. While children need to learn the mechanics of reading they also need to develop a love of reading. Developmental experts caution against any approach that puts phonics first at the expense of intrinsic appeal and significance of reading to the young reader.
Hand in hand we come
Christopher Robin and I
To lay this book on your lap.
Say you’re surprised?
Say you like it?
Say it’s just what you wanted?
Because it’s yours—
Because we love you.
~A.A. Milne
Family stroll on the C&O Canal. We also place a high value on outdoor time. Research has demonstrated that children must have a rich, interactive sensory environment – touching, smelling, seeing, hearing the real world in order for a child’s brain to develop properly. Without real-world experiences, a child’s development will be impaired. (E.g. “nature-deficit disorder”, constellation of symptoms seen in children who spend their time indoors.)
Barn time and pony life.
First snow for W & L.
Prompted by friends’ inquiries, excited to share the books we love to read on a daily basis, and for my own personal recordation purposes, below is a list of some of our current favorites that we read together. (Thanks Mom for the majority of these — an avid reader herself, she scours the best seller lists for the top children books and makes sure that G has a proper book collection, including books that I read as a child and new ones. She instilled the love of reading for me as a young child and now passes on to her grandchildren.)
Books can also be the perfect gift. (Toys are fun but books – and the lifelong love of reading – are forever, right?!). Some of the books that I read to G are inscribed with notes to me as a very young child. I plan to keep G’s collection for him to pass on him to his children one day. Consider gifting books for a child’s birthday party, too.
I have linked all listed books in the widget below. Happy reading and best wishes for 2019.
1. I Can Read With My Eyes Shut – Dr. Seuss
2. Go Dog. Go! – Dr. Seuss
3. Hop on Pop – Dr. Seuss
4. The Best Pet of All – David LaRochelle
5. Millions of Cats – Wanda Ga’G
6. Harry the Dirty Dog – Gene Zion
7. Time of Wonder – Robert McCloskey
8. Make Way for Ducklings – Robert McCloskey
9. The Jungle – Helen Borten
10. Counting With Tiny Cat – Viviane Schwarz
11. Where the Wild Things Are – Maurice Sendak
12. The Story of Ferdinand – Munro Leaf
13. Goodnight Moon – Margaret Wise Brown
14. Pooh’s Library – A.A. Milne
15. Spirit Riding Free – Suzanne Selfors
16. Skippyjon Jones Series – Judy Schachner
17. Good Rosie! – Kate DiCamillo
18. The Little Engine That Could – Watty Piper
19. The Tale of Despereaux – Kate DiCamillo
20. The River Bank – Kij Johnson
21. Into the Jungle Stories for Mowgli – Katherine Rundell
22. The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahme
Do not shy away from books that are more “complex” in nature (e.g. #19, 20, 21, & 22). As an example, little children, like adults, love a good story! As a family we spent 30 minutes every evening reading the Wind in the Willows.
Recommended Books
