Reading to your child is one of the best things you can do for their development. Children who are read to at least three times a week are twenty six percent more likely to recognize every single letter in the alphabet. Sixty percent can count to twenty, fifty five percent can write their own names and nearly eighty percent can read by themselves! (Or at least pretend to read.) Best of all, you have a chance to slow down and enjoy some one on one time with your child. With so many advantages, why wouldn’t you make story time apart of your daily routine? Here are some delightful children’s books to get your library started.
Love You Forever
Love You Forever by Canadian author Robert Munsch has a tragic back-story and a beautiful outcome. This tender picture book follows a mother and her son from his birth all the way until he has a child of his own. Ever night his mother comes in while he’s sleeping, rocks him and sings “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be.” In just a few readings, you and your child will be repeating back the poem to each other. If you’d like a story that uses repetitive, vocabulary building language and brings you and your child closer, this is the perfect book to lull them to sleep confident in your love for them. To know more about Robert Munsch and his extensive collection of children’s books, visit his website.
The Book with No Pictures
You might recognize B.J. Novak from The Amazing Spider Man or The Office. but did you know he is an accomplished stand-up comedian, director, screenwriter, executive producer and now a very talented children’s literature author? He released The Book With No Pictures in 2014 to fantastic acclaim. Most parents would be skeptical to read their children a book without any illustrations, but as Novak proved in a video taken of him reading the book aloud to an audience of children, is just as funny as it is captivating. If you love to hear your child laugh, this book full of nonsense words is sure to have them rolling. Just be ready to do some acting. The Book with No Pictures requires the reader to do whatever it says, including making silly sounds and embarrassing voices.
The Runaway Bunny
Finally, we have The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown. The illustrations of this book really highlight the comforting themes of the story. No matter where this baby bunny hides, his mother always finds him because he is her “little bunny.” This is the perfect bedtime book to cuddle up with and lull your little bunny to sleep.
Photo Credit: istockphoto.com
