Author Topic: What are you reading to your kids right now? (Read 13777 times)

jengod · « **on:** November 25, 2015, 07:59:34 PM »

If anyone else on the board has a read-aloud practice with their kids, I would love to hear what you've enjoyed and what's on the to-do list. Read-aloud inspiration and good library lists are a treasure!

Right now I'm reading book four (What a Year) of the 26 Fairmount Avenue series by Tomie De Paola to my five-year-old. The two-year-old has been asking for Tom and Pippo books by Helen Oxenbury.

mxt0133 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 25, 2015, 09:21:54 PM »

My four year old enjoys the Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne and Sal Murdocca. We are up to book #18 as the series goes up it gets longer and harder for my son (more like me finishing) to sit through.

mxt0133 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 25, 2015, 09:29:57 PM »

Also wanted to add if you are looking for reading suggestions for various ages the book The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease it a treasure trove of great books. It's also a great book on the benefits of reading aloud to your kids well into their teenage years.

Runningtuff · « **Reply #3 on:** November 26, 2015, 12:44:20 AM »

That handbook sounds good!

My 4 year old is right into having the Faraway Tree books by Enid Blyton read to her at the moment.

jamaicaspanish · « **Reply #4 on:** November 26, 2015, 01:51:13 AM »

Reading aloud (over and over) to my 5 and 3 year-old nephews:

The Book with No Pictures (BJ Novak)

2Cent · « **Reply #5 on:** November 26, 2015, 02:57:44 AM »

Fox by Margaret Wild.
A fantastic book and great artwork. Very deep and thought provoking about desire for more and the value of relationships.

gooki · « **Reply #6 on:** November 26, 2015, 03:33:27 AM »

Currently reading The Wind in The Willows to our five year old. Upping reflection it's probably a bit advanced. But she listens and asks questions.

PS. the Book with no Pictures is great.

markbrynn · « **Reply #7 on:** November 26, 2015, 06:07:40 AM »

Reading Peter Pan to my 2 year old. He doesn't get all of it, but seems to enjoy it. Also read a lot of simpler books (like Where the Wild Things Are) in between.

totesmahgoats · « **Reply #8 on:** November 26, 2015, 06:13:20 AM »

Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder to 4,6 (and sometimes 8) year old.

meg_shannon · « **Reply #9 on:** November 26, 2015, 07:28:51 AM »

We just finished Little House in the Big Woods. Others that we've read recently include
The Night Fairy (great for boys too - Flory is fierce fairy with a thorn for a dagger who rides a squirrel),
The Princess in Black,
Charlotte's Web,
any of the younger stuff by Kate DiCamillo (one of our favorite children's authors - look her up)
and many, many, picture books.

I think we probably read about 5-6 picture books per day plus 1-2 chapters.

calimom · « **Reply #10 on:** November 26, 2015, 08:15:05 AM »

I'm reading Pippi Longstocking right now to my 9 year old. She is a great reader on her own, but loves the time spent together, and I enjoy revisiting some of the old-school books from my own childhood.

Splashncash · « **Reply #11 on:** November 26, 2015, 05:58:09 PM »

Currently on Watership Down with boy #2. We love, love, love this book. loy #1 heard it a few years ago.

Maya · « **Reply #12 on:** November 27, 2015, 06:15:38 PM »

Just finished pipi long stocking and now reading Harry potter to our 4 yo.

Just bought a collection of Ronald Dahl books, but MMM is making me wonder if I should return them or give them for Xmas.

MerryMcQ · « **Reply #13 on:** November 28, 2015, 07:59:29 AM »

I still read at night to my 11 & 13 year olds. They love it and I am so thankful each night they haven't gotten too old for it!

We just finished Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow, by Orson Scott Card. Now we are reading The Hero And The Crown, by Robin McKinley.

MicroRN · « **Reply #14 on:** November 28, 2015, 12:07:00 PM »

Bunnicula to the 4 year old. The 2 year old is uninterested, so for him it's a rotation of picture books. They both love Skippyjohn Jones, and the Three little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig.

La Bibliotecaria Feroz · « **Reply #15 on:** November 28, 2015, 01:59:57 PM »

Another vote for Little House (2 boys, ages 3 and 4--sometimes the 3-year-old toddles off to bed). We are on book 3, On the Banks of Plum Creek. Mr. FP finished Stuart Little with them and is on to Charlotte's Web.

And picture books out the wazoo. I am getting a lot from What Your Preschooler Needs To Know as well as Read-Aloud Handbook. Some series we're working on:

House on E. 88th St./Lyle, Lyle Crocodile
Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems
George and Martha series by James Marshall
If You Give a ___ a ___

mm1970 · « **Reply #16 on:** November 28, 2015, 06:26:07 PM »

The Boxcar children

Quinny · « **Reply #17 on:** November 28, 2015, 08:06:22 PM »

We have the Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen published by Taschen (http://www.amazon.com/Fairy-Tales-Hans-Christian-Andersen/dp/3836526751) that all of us absolutely love. The illustrations are amazing, and we've had some quite interesting discussions. (5 and 7 yo) I'm looking at Grimms fairy tales next. I've worried that some may be a bit intense for them but decided that these stories have been told for years...

Kitsune · « **Reply #18 on:** December 01, 2015, 07:32:03 AM »

My 18-month-old has developped an inexplicable love for Pete the Cat and his Four Groovy Buttons. *sigh*

Also Homeplace by Anne Shelby, which I highly recommend, along with The Ox Cart Man, and Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site. (These are all recommended for kids 4+, but my kid gets bored with board books and she'll sit through paragraphs of text being read to her, so... we read longer books.)

jengod · « **Reply #19 on:** December 01, 2015, 09:22:00 AM »

Two-year-old is currently obsessed with Tom and Pippo books by Helen Oxenbury. We have about eight of them and we have to read ALL eight.

We're also on an "Over in the Meadow" kick. We have the original magical Over in the Meadow (Langstaff/Rojankovsky), but we also got books that use the same format set in different places: Way Out in the Desert and Deep in the Swamp. Big brother likes the animals-ecosystem information and little brother loves the rhythm.

Eric222 · « **Reply #20 on:** December 01, 2015, 09:48:39 AM »

I'm starting Wednesday night "big-book" night with my kids. This thread is great for ideas!

I'm thinking of being predictable and starting with Harry Potter (just the first 3). This is mostly for my six year old. My three year old will sit and listen to anyone reading anything. Or, she'll pretend to read her own book, which is freaking adorable.

TVRodriguez · « **Reply #21 on:** December 01, 2015, 01:30:04 PM »

Nice ideas here.

DS8 generally reads to himself, but I sometimes read him a short story or fairy tale or something. Or I'll read the series he's reading, separately, and we'll discuss it at breakfast. Last series was Gregor the Overlander, before that was Fablehaven, before that was Harry Potter (he got bored after book 4--it got a little too old for him, I think). Those were really enjoyable for me, too. He picked up Ender's Game recently from the shelf, and I put it back. Same with Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? I don't think he's ready for those just yet. Sometimes I'll read to him a few pages/entries from books of facts (1000 Things about whatever).

DD6 is reading the Magic Treehouse books often and the Berenstain Bears, or an Ever After High book, and sometimes I'll read her a chapter at bedtime (she'll keep reading the rest afterwards).

DS4 is just starting to read, so he'll read me one of the BOB books (Mat, Sam, Dot) or a Primary Phonics reader. He has lately been requesting a set of books at bedtime based on the Inside Out movie--one for each emotion. His favorite is Anger.

Other bedtime read-aloud favorites (of mine) are any Maurice Sendak, or other short story--How the Tsar Drinks His Tea (or something like that) was last night's read; an illustrated Jabberwocky is another favorite. Or books of poems/lullabies.

hoping2retire35 · « **Reply #22 on:** December 02, 2015, 02:30:27 PM »

twin 3 1/2 year olds. they don't really care about how trendy a book is, they just need something that takes ~10 min to read and has pictures, we read several per night for 20+min. When they were born we ordered ~80 of the "little golden books" (ebay for $65) and dw and I each had some books from childhood still. We read these and an occasional new book to them. Afterward and throughout the day they stare and "read" them. They can also tell you what is happening on each page after several readings. I would like to start reading longer ones and without pictures but they seem to absorb the information better throughout the day as they "read" the ones with pictures.
As much as I would like to use the library this has been a big no-no since they like to destroy their books so much, but they have gotten away from that recently.

ponyespresso · « **Reply #23 on:** December 02, 2015, 03:36:09 PM »

I've read Pippi Longstocking to our daughter, right now my husband is reading her Treasure Island (my idea). Wizard of Oz. She's just under 5 but has a good attention span. Christmas Carol.

Oh and I can't forget about Hank the Cowdog. It's a big series and a lot of fun. You don't have to read them in order.

asauer · « **Reply #24 on:** December 03, 2015, 10:22:22 AM »

My 8 year old son and daughter love Harry Potter. We're on the dreaded 6th book where LOTS happens so I'm hoping they wont' be scarred. They've loved all of the others so far!

Eric222 · « **Reply #25 on:** December 03, 2015, 10:41:14 AM »

Quote from: asauer on December 03, 2015, 10:22:22 AM

My 8 year old son and daughter love Harry Potter. We're on the dreaded 6th book where LOTS happens so I'm hoping they wont' be scarred. They've loved all of the others so far!

We started HP1 last night. No one cared for Chapter 1 (Harry is a baby and is being dropped off), but my son (6) loved Chapter 2 (where Harry is actually a kid) and didn't want to stop when it was bedtime. My daughter (3) fell asleep. I call that a win, win!

ponyespresso · « **Reply #26 on:** December 04, 2015, 08:52:59 AM »

What age did you start reading these to them? I've been wondering when we start with our DD. She tends to get somewhat easily scared so I might have to hold off until she's 8 or so. (she's just about 5). But I'm trying to remember how scary the first few books are, it's been awhile.

Quote from: asauer on December 03, 2015, 10:22:22 AM

My 8 year old son and daughter love Harry Potter. We're on the dreaded 6th book where LOTS happens so I'm hoping they wont' be scarred. They've loved all of the others so far!

Magpie · « **Reply #27 on:** December 04, 2015, 12:41:03 PM »

My kids are 6 and 4 and we starting reading longer chapter books to them about a year ago. Each night, we start by asking them what happened the last time we read together. The 6 year old also reads on her own (with a flashlight after bedtime, bless her!) but still loves our nightly reading time. Admittedly, I have purposely chosen titles I enjoyed as a child including: Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, The Borrowers, The Whipping Boy, The Secret Garden, The Trumpet of the Swan, A Cricket in Time Square. I plan to read the Laura Ingalls Wilder series, and probably the Boxcar Children books. Both kids have also enjoyed the Magic School Bus, the Berenstein Bears, Curious George, and Clifford.

Eric222 · « **Reply #28 on:** December 04, 2015, 01:11:07 PM »

Quote from: Magpie on December 04, 2015, 12:41:03 PM

My kids are 6 and 4 and we starting reading longer chapter books to them about a year ago. Each night, we start by asking them what happened the last time we read together.
....

Good idea! I occasionally ask my son (6) what happened, but not in a structured sort of way. My daughter (3) falls asleep while I read every night - so she won't know...

ponyespresso · « **Reply #29 on:** December 04, 2015, 09:26:03 PM »

these are great suggestions, now I have a good list for when we need a new book. :-) Also asking the for a recap is a such a good idea, I think I tried that a bit with Wizard of Oz, but have not since then. I'm curious what she is understanding in Treasure Island (of course as I write this I hear her asking DH questions about the book while he's reading!)

Quote from: Magpie on December 04, 2015, 12:41:03 PM

My kids are 6 and 4 and we starting reading longer chapter books to them about a year ago. Each night, we start by asking them what happened the last time we read together. The 6 year old also reads on her own (with a flashlight after bedtime, bless her!) but still loves our nightly reading time. Admittedly, I have purposely chosen titles I enjoyed as a child including: Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, The Borrowers, The Whipping Boy, The Secret Garden, The Trumpet of the Swan, A Cricket in Time Square. I plan to read the Laura Ingalls Wilder series, and probably the Boxcar Children books. Both kids have also enjoyed the Magic School Bus, the Berenstein Bears, Curious George, and Clifford.

jengod · « **Reply #30 on:** December 04, 2015, 09:34:56 PM »

If you don't mind giving up your email address in exchange, I like this printable guide for book discussions with kids:

Five Questions to Ask Your Kids About Any Book Besides "Did You Like It?"

formerlydivorcedmom · « **Reply #31 on:** December 15, 2015, 01:41:06 PM »

Are we the only nonfiction family? My 6-year-old is obsessed with National Geographic's Kids' First Big Book of Dinosaurs. For the last two years we have read this book all the way through at least once a week (and I can only get through 1/4 - 1/2 of it at a time). Now that he's learning to read, he reads one page, I read the next.

My 9-year-old likes me to reach from the Ever After High series.

nixjasr · « **Reply #32 on:** December 15, 2015, 09:41:01 PM »

Our 7-year-old LOVES Beverly Cleary books. There's no hint of Disney-ish consumerism, just stories about family (sometimes dealing with financial hardship and coming together as a result).
They're set in nearby Portland (mostly), which allows us to scope out locations on our road trips there.

mxt0133 · « **Reply #33 on:** December 17, 2015, 03:31:49 PM »

Quote from: jengod on December 04, 2015, 09:34:56 PM

If you don't mind giving up your email address in exchange, I like this printable guide for book discussions with kids:

Five Questions to Ask Your Kids About Any Book Besides "Did You Like It?"

Any way you can summarize it for us?

gaja · « **Reply #34 on:** December 20, 2015, 08:41:21 AM »

My kids are weird. We are reading Snorri's Heimskringla, written in 1230, based on the 1899 translation by Gustav Storm.

The nine year old is on her second or third re-reading of Harry Potter. The youngest (7) is more normal. She likes fairytales about princesses and trolls when she reads on her own. These are some of her favorites: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tales-Troll-Forest-Sissel-Madsen/dp/8282600814/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1450625973&sr=1-1

FrugalHeights · « **Reply #35 on:** December 20, 2015, 09:19:33 AM »

I am wondering if anyone came across good books about money. I went to a public library to check what they have. There are maybe 100+ kids books related to money, but I liked only 5, at most 10. The rest I would not want a child to read.
Thank you.

lucky-girl · « **Reply #36 on:** December 21, 2015, 08:26:59 PM »

Also reading Little House in the Big Woods. I'm almost surprised how much my almost 5-year-old boy is enjoying it. a few nights ago we went form watching star wars battle craziness to reading about Sundays in the Big Woods (where they pretty much litterally did nothing), and he seems to love it! Nice to have some quiet time with him. And nice to do some compare and contrast with our lives. What is similiar, and what is different.

We started reading chapter books very recently- the first was the BFG- I would highly recommend it. I went a little nuts getting more chapter books for christmas. I think I am at least as excited as he is. I'm thinking we may need to get Shel Silverstein too soon. An old favorite of mine.

And a quick shout out for buying books - though I certainly am also a fan of the library. We started our chapter-book-reading adventure when we visited my dad's house where he still had several books (including BFG and Little House) on the shelf from when I was a kid.

hoping2retire35 · « **Reply #37 on:** December 27, 2015, 01:37:42 PM »

Our 1yo brings us animal books and quietly sits as we read them to him. This has only happened in the last two weeks. Sure is nice to have such a sweet little guy so snugly sit with you.

farmerj · « **Reply #38 on:** December 28, 2015, 09:56:04 AM »

The "Uncle Wiggily" books don't seem to be read much anymore, but the 4 year old boy really likes him, and now the 2 year old girl similarly demands him at bedtime (*). Each chapter is sufficiently self-contained (and short), so it fits well. I do simplify a bit & remove some of the slangy asides (the series began in 1910). Downloaded the Kindle version for free off of Project Gutenberg. Currently on Book #2, "Uncle Wiggily's Travels".

Prior to our second march through Uncle Wiggily's doings, I read one of the 1950s "Tom Swift" series. Son was enthralled, but daughter entirely uninterested.

(*) She didn't care for Uncle Wiggily particularly the first time through; I think a couple of months made a big difference in her vocabulary & listening skills. Personally I think they're OK - rather formulaic, but the formula is clearly one that kids enjoy.

farmerj · « **Reply #39 on:** December 28, 2015, 10:05:15 AM »

Quote from: Kitsune on December 01, 2015, 07:32:03 AM

[...]Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site. (These are all recommended for kids 4+, but my kid gets bored with board books and she'll sit through paragraphs of text being read to her, so... we read longer books.)

Yeah, that one's terrific. Really cute illustrations. Wasn't as much a fan of the text, but (unlike other books) it really grew on me after multiple readings.

jengod · « **Reply #40 on:** January 04, 2016, 11:04:17 AM »

Quote from: lucky-girl on December 21, 2015, 08:26:59 PM

And a quick shout out for buying books - though I certainly am also a fan of the library. We started our chapter-book-reading adventure when we visited my dad's house where he still had several books (including BFG and Little House) on the shelf from when I was a kid.

Agree. We visit the library often, but there's something to be said for (a) an owned book, and (b) a standing collection of browsable books.

Protip: If you have titles in mind that you would like to own, the BWB used book sales get the unit price down to as low as $2.50 a book which is about as cheap as you can find online.

http://www.betterworldbooks.com/

Protip2: http://www.booksalefinder.com/ - Index of library and non-profit book sales nationwide. Great prices, support good causes.

Eric222 · « **Reply #41 on:** January 04, 2016, 03:25:26 PM »

I just made it known to relatives that books were heavily favored for presents instead of plastic/electronic garbage and now my kids are getting quite the nice home library. And then we have SATURDAY LIBRARY DAY! (The pancakes only happen occasionally....).

meg_shannon · « **Reply #42 on:** February 02, 2016, 02:03:22 PM »

We're reading the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe for the second time. We average about three chapters a day - one in the morning and two at bedtime. Plus my husband reads her 2 picture books of her choosing at bedtime. She's 5.5 y/o.

I'm not sure how we ended up with me reading the chapter books and him the picture books. I do read more for pleasure than he does, and partially because I'm a SAHP right now, I tend to research and choose the books.

For anyone looking for good read alouds, may I suggest Jim Trelease's Read Aloud Handbook.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Read-Aloud-Handbook-Seventh-Edition/dp/014312160X

Kitsune · « **Reply #43 on:** February 02, 2016, 06:47:10 PM »

For read-aloud books: Bunnicula. Or anything by Roald Dahl.

tobitonic · « **Reply #44 on:** February 14, 2016, 01:47:23 AM »

We take turns reading a bedtime story each night (I read in Spanish on odd nights, mom reads in English on even nights). The big one is really into Peter Pan right now in both languages (we have a number of bilingual books). The little one is a baby, so he just listens.

GoBigRed · « **Reply #45 on:** February 21, 2016, 05:07:11 PM »

Oswald: Bicycle For Sale, is a great book I picked up at a used kid's store. The main character wants a new bike. Then realizes after fixing his bike up for sale by using recycled items around the house that his bike is just fine. For younger children.

I also like the Cat in the Hat's Learning Library, which some are better than others. These go fast at the thrift store, but everyone once in a while will come across for a dollar. Or you can buy in lots on ebay.

NoStacheOhio · « **Reply #46 on:** February 22, 2016, 10:16:51 AM »

We're big fans of Jon Klassen (I Want My Hat Back, Sam & Dave Dig A Hole, The Dark). They're technically above our son's age range, but we've been reading them to him since he was like 1, and he absolutely loves them. He'll spontaneously quote stuff throughout the day, in the car, when something reminds him of it.

justajane · « **Reply #47 on:** February 22, 2016, 11:01:34 AM »

To our seven year old, my husband is reading The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander. It's a Welsh fantasy series.

jengod · « **Reply #48 on:** February 23, 2016, 11:01:32 AM »

Just started reading The Children of Green Knowe by Lucy M. Boston. Never read it myself as a kid but it is ENCHANTING.

La Bibliotecaria Feroz · « **Reply #49 on:** February 24, 2016, 10:27:59 PM »

Biscuit and more Biscuit. I could kill Grandma FP for bringing that puppy into our household.

We're also doing a little nonfiction. Those DK books have great pictures even if you don't read all the words.

Oh, and they LOVED The Story of Life, speaking of nonfiction. Big Brother kept asking where people came from before there were people, so we went to the beginning :-).

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Author Topic: What are you reading to your kids right now? (Read 13777 times)