Bedtime stories

May 17, 2009 · 3 comments

Like most kids, my boys have their favorite books that they want us to read to them {over and over and over and over….}.  Matt has been getting into chapter books lately, which is truly a nice change of pace. We started with Phineas & Ferb, but have since moved on to Captain Underpants.  I always rolled my eyes at those underpants books, but they really are quite silly and fun. The best part is that when he starts reading chapter books himself, he can read those (well, he could probably read most of it now, but by the time he’s really able, he’ll get more of the jokes).

There have been many wonderful books over the years, as well as some that I simply hide try to avoid.  By far, my favorite board books have always been Sandra Boynton’s.  Her latest addition to the group is Fifteen Animals and Preston laughs hysterically at the end, every. single. time. (Me too).  61xichessql_sl500_aa240_

Some of my other favorites are by Amy Krouse Rosenthal – we recently added Duck! Rabbit! to our collection, and she is the author of my beloved littles: Little Pea, Little Hoot and Little Oink.  Cute books, good message, fabulous illustrations.

Another of my favorites is Te Amo, Bebe, Little One.  This book was given to Matt on his first birthday, and was signed by the author with birthday wishes for him; it’s a sweet story of a little boy growing up, with a very rhythmic style.

Of course, the boys love Dr. Seuss. Preston’s current favorites are The Cat in the Hat and Wacky Wednesday.  Matt has always enjoyed one of the books I adored as a kid, A Fish Out of Water…51ynk9i-5zl_bo2204203200_pisitb-sticker-arrow-clicktopright35-76_aa240_sh20_ou01_

The boys have 100s of books and I keep buying them more and I can’t seem to get rid of any. I’m honestly hoping I’ve turned them into book lovers like me.  I certainly believe that my reading to them from the time they were little ones has helped them become smarter; and that has to be part of the reason my kindergarten kid is reading at a end-of-1st-grade level.

I look at kids in Matt’s class and I wonder if their parents read to them or encourage reading and books as much as we do. And I honestly hope to god that we’ve given them some sort of unfair advantage.  Yes, bedtime can be a chore, but both boys get 4 books every night.  Generally we let them choose, but we choose as necessary (because seriously? The Sleep Book, The Lorax, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and a Berenstein Bears book in one night? NO thanks!!). I know people who don’t read to their kids at all, who read one book, who read as many books as it takes.  I’m glad we read as much as we do.  It will probably change as they change, but right now, reading to them ranks up pretty high on the awesome things we get to do as parents.  (Yes, even when Matt is completely bratty and won’t calm down).

{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

Thea May 18, 2009 at 12:07 am

My kids read and read and read. I get comments all the time from my friends when they come over and my kids are reading. Like, “Your kids read? For fun? Seriously?” Makes me feel like such a proud mama. :mrgreen:

Theas last blog post..Oh hai!

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Above Average Joe May 19, 2009 at 12:32 pm

The Champ is heavily into chapter books now. Our library has 3 different series. He’s well into the first one. I shouldn’t have to buy him any books for a while.

Above Average Joes last blog post..If Its A Dumb Rule, Mind As Well Break It

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bejewell May 29, 2009 at 10:33 pm

I can recite the entire text from “Moo, Baa, La La La” to you RIGHT NOW. But The Monster at the End of this Book” has been and will always be the Bean’s favorite. Every night at bedtime, it’s “Grover!” as he pulls it from the shelf and brings it to me. Hell, even the BEAN can recite that one at this point. And that’s saying something. He’s just two.

bejewells last blog post..Sunburn, Albino Alligators, Rancid Milk, Devil Repellant, my Mother of the Year Award, and Hemmorhoids. But Mostly, Sunburn.

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