You guys! We just found the best kids books ever. Ok, we found it a while back and I only finally managed to get around to talking about it.
We’ve been trying to get the kids to fall in love with reading since they were born and on the scale of being interested in books, Tru has mostly been on the end of “not entirely impressed”. We got them tons of Dr. Seuss, Julia Donaldson, Oliver Jeffers, and he does sort of join in our reading sessions but often with very little enthusiasm.
And then a friend bought them a book from the Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems.
Total gamechanger.
Tru loved it. He almost never voluntarily picks out books to read on his own but these days, we often spy him sitting on the couch with a book in his hand and a smile on his face and I AM SO THRILLED to see my son in love with words (and pictures!). He thinks they’re hilarious and he’ll be giggling to himself while he reads. Did I mention that he’s reading them on his own? He still struggles with some words but his reading has improved tremendously since he started on these books and yes, I can’t stop raving.
The husband was so impressed he went out and bought the entire series from book depository.
You know what? We love these books so much I’m doing a giveaway – just a little something on the house. I have two of Truett’s favorite elephant and piggie books up for grabs. Just leave a comment below with your favourite kid’s book of all time and two winners will be chosen randomly. Contest ends at 11.59pm on Friday, 27 December.
60 Comments
George’s Marvellous Medicine- Roald Dahl (personal favourite though my daughter is too young for it atm.)
My son’s fav is ‘Wheels on the Bus’ by Paul O. Zelinsky.
You NEED to see this impressive pop up book!
I love reading and I personally think that it’s wonderful to witness a child pick up a book and read with interest! Good job, Mummy and I hope someday I can witness the children do the same like your boy, Truett!
My 2 year old fav book is any book on Cars Disney.
Trying to get him involved with other books other than cars.
My 4 yr old son’s fav book is The Lorax by Dr Seuss! He loves making me read it and he will act out scenes as the Lorax, and makes his dad say the lines of the Once-ler!!
I am trying to get my 5yr old boy interested in reading on his on too. We’re working on it & so far, not much luck.. I wonder sometimes if it’s a boy thing. Ha.. His favourite is We’re Going on A Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen.
My experience thus far with encouraging reading is getting the kids started on audio books early. My older two children were late readers, and my youngest is just starting to read, but the love for stories had started way before the ability to read, and that, I think, has made the difference. My oldest is a voracious reader, but my middle child isn’t a strong reader. However, he will still plough through a book “to know what happens next”. The National Library has a reasonable collection, and if you want to buy, try Audible.com. Give it a shot – it’s really worked for my kids.
Thanks for all the comments and wonderful book suggestions!!
And congrats to Jaime Chan & Yue for winning the Elephant & Piggie books. Drop me an email with your mailing address details at daphne@motherinc.org and I’ll have them sent right over. :)