The Best Books to Read to Your Children
As your child heads into the preschool years, reading is more important than ever. Your child will have distinctive preferences (like princesses or cars) and may want to read about things that he or she likes. Since you want your child to remain interested during story time, it’s a good idea to let him or her pick out some of the books during your trips to the library.
And then there’s the old standby’s. Books that are classics or are destined to be. Remember, it’s important for you to remain interested during story time too, so here are some suggestions for books that every child (and adult) should experience:
— “Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See” by Eric Carle. Carle is known for his boldly illustrated and lyrically written books. This book is especially great because your child can actually help read along. As you ask each animal what they see, the answer appears on the next page. And then you go on to ask the next animal what they see. Your toddler or preschooler will quickly catch on to the formula of the story and after two or three readings will want to help you “read” it. This book contains Carle’s usual colorful illustrations– everything from a purple cat to a big red bird.
— “Chicken Soup with Rice” by Maurice Sendak. While most people favor Sendak’s Caldecott award winning book “Where the Wild Things Are”, I find “Chicken Soup” to be more suitable for younger children. The book is written in a fun, sing song rhyme tone, and the simple illustrations are fantastic. This book is also a great way for your child to learn about the different months and seasons.
— “I Love You as Much ” by Laura Krauss Melmed. This gorgeously illustrated book takes you on a journey to visit animal mothers and their babies. The text is beautifully written and you may even get a little teary-eyed as you near the end of the book.
— “Harry the Dirty Dog” by Gene Zion. This book may be a little wordy for very small children, but most preschoolers love to hear about the antics of this mischievous dog named Harry. This book has been around for decades, so it may mean a trip down memory lane for you as well.
— “And the Rain Came Down” by David Shannon. Shannon’s detailed illustrations make this a book that your children will love. It’s a chaotic day when a rainstorm comes, but after the rain ends you can practically smell the sweet fresh air.
— “The Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister. This book will teach your child a valuable lesson about friendship and sharing. It also features eye-catching, glittery illustrations that will keep your child mesmerized.
— “Silly Little Goose” by Nancy Tafuri. Tafuri is a master at her craft, and this is one of her most beloved books. Your child will love following Goose around as she tries to find a place to lay her eggs. Rest assured that after a few foiled attempts, all ends well.
— “Ann Likes Red” by Dorothy Seymour. This book is a real blast from the past– but an important one. When it was first released in the mid- 1960’s, “Ann Likes Red” was touted for helping young children learn to read. Why? Because the book is cleverly written using only sixteen words repeatedly. After repeated readings, young children will begin to recognize simple words such as “red” and “hat”. Back by popular demand, this classic book was reissued in 2001.
— “Good Night God” by Holly Bea. This is the prefect bedtime book. Read about a young child who says goodnight to all of his favorite things before being tucked into bed. This book is sure to send your child off into dreamland as well.
— “Counting Kisses: A Kiss and Read Book” by Karen Katz. A fun counting book with adorable illustrations. Your child will want to “kiss along” as you read the story. The most fun part? Counting those “teeny tiny toes”, of course!
Try to use these book suggestions as a guideline as you come up with a list of your child’s own favorites. And always remember that the best book to read to your child is any book that he or she loves.
