Baby/Children's Books

[grumpyhack]

I think reading to kids is so important. Mine had a bedttime story every night from their very first months, long before they could really even make any sense of them. I think childen like the reassuring, gentle soothing voice as they go off to sleep.

In the very early years things like The Hungry Caterpillar are wonderful - beautiful illustrations. Anything by Janet and Allen Ahlberg like Each Peach, Pear Plum as they start to use their eyes. One that never failed from about one onwards was Mr Gumpy's Motorcar by John Burningham.

I think there are three stages/categories: Picture books, story books for you to read to them and books they can interact with and start reading the odd word and identifying the pictures.

I also think the categories can run in parallel. For example as they got older, from about 18 months mine got into Winne the Pooh (the original A.A. Milne not the horrible Disneyfied version). Lots of lovely lines like the flooding where 'it rained and it rained and it rained' that they loved. At that stage itr was a book I read to them. Often the stories might have been considered above their age but there were such lovely sounds and rhythms. Later when they were able to read themselves they were able to return to some of the books I'd read to them and read them themselves.

I found some books were wonderful to read out loud, like Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr Fox, where I had to do all the voices.

As they grew up they used to ask me for 'a story from my mouth.' At first I was confused as all the stories I read to them came out of my mouth but it was their way of asking for a story that I made up myself and told them rather than one I read from a book.

I now teach creative writing and one of the things I tell my students that you should always have a specific reader in mind when writing. A.A. Milne for example wrote his books for his son. When you have a specific reader in mind you get a sense of how well they'll go down.

Happy reading.

[rabid]

I found some books were wonderful to read out loud, like Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr Fox, where I had to do all the voices.

[RABun]

My daughter used to love having me read There's a Hair In My Dirt to her. Partly I think because I've passed on my sense of humour but mostly because she loved seeing daddy creased up and nearly unable to carry on reading.

[feral chile]

I think reading to kids is so important. Mine had a bedttime story every night from their very first months, long before they could really even make any sense of them. I think childen like the reassuring, gentle soothing voice as they go off to sleep.

In the very early years things like The Hungry Caterpillar are wonderful - beautiful illustrations. Anything by Janet and Allen Ahlberg like Each Peach, Pear Plum as they start to use their eyes. One that never failed from about one onwards was Mr Gumpy's Motorcar by John Burningham.

I think there are three stages/categories: Picture books, story books for you to read to them and books they can interact with and start reading the odd word and identifying the pictures.

I also think the categories can run in parallel. For example as they got older, from about 18 months mine got into Winne the Pooh (the original A.A. Milne not the horrible Disneyfied version). Lots of lovely lines like the flooding where 'it rained and it rained and it rained' that they loved. At that stage itr was a book I read to them. Often the stories might have been considered above their age but there were such lovely sounds and rhythms. Later when they were able to read themselves they were able to return to some of the books I'd read to them and read them themselves.

I found some books were wonderful to read out loud, like Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr Fox, where I had to do all the voices.

As they grew up they used to ask me for 'a story from my mouth.' At first I was confused as all the stories I read to them came out of my mouth but it was their way of asking for a story that I made up myself and told them rather than one I read from a book.

I now teach creative writing and one of the things I tell my students that you should always have a specific reader in mind when writing. A.A. Milne for example wrote his books for his son. When you have a specific reader in mind you get a sense of how well they'll go down.

Happy reading.

Edited February 3, 2011 by feral chile

[greenfairy43]

My daughter & I enjoyed Shirley Hughes' books when she was little. Really detailed pictures which give lots of things to talk about as well as reading the story.

I used to read her lots of French nursery rhymes too (in French).

[grumpyhack]

Two more. Where the Wild Things Are - Maurice Sendak and The Avocado Baby - John Burningham. My daugfhters when they were very young and my niece's daughters (5 & 7) loved them.

[LusciousLucy]

Just a little point to make...

all the books listed/mentioned are all classic with all the parents of this planet...therefore...

surely they are all plentifully available in second hand/charity shops etc?

Whilst its nice to get all new books, could you not double your haul by trawling second hand book stores instead of buying brand new at higher VAT costs etc?

You will be doing a good deed for charity, your wallet a bit of a favour and/or get twice as many books as originally planned. British Bookshops has gone into administration, you could investigate if they are selling any books off cheap too.

Just an idea

[dondo]

As father of a 2 year old and a 4 year old here's my tuppence worth some of which have already been mentioned that I have found were really enjoyed.

The that's not my series

Hungry caterpillar and very busy spider (both by Eric Carle)

The Gruffalo (anything by Julia Donaldson who wrote this are generally pretty darn good)

The Tiger who came to teaGuess how much I love you

Goodnight moon

Aliens love underpants

We're going on a bear hunt

Hairy Mclairy series

[Glitter+Vodka]

Childrens books were BOGOF in Tesco recently, not sure how long that was on for.

I bought myself Where the Wild Things Are, and How to Catch a Star. both lovely books )

[Katster]

Just a little point to make...

all the books listed/mentioned are all classic with all the parents of this planet...therefore...

surely they are all plentifully available in second hand/charity shops etc?

Whilst its nice to get all new books, could you not double your haul by trawling second hand book stores instead of buying brand new at higher VAT costs etc?

You will be doing a good deed for charity, your wallet a bit of a favour and/or get twice as many books as originally planned. British Bookshops has gone into administration, you could investigate if they are selling any books off cheap too.

Just an idea

[Katster]

not wanting to bang on about it, but I often wonder why the Dr. Seuss books aren't recommended more....