28 February 2018
OUR FAVOURITE BOOKS - WORLD BOOK DAY
With World Book Day tomorrow, I thought I'd put together a little piece on our favourite stories, it's not something I often blog about or even think too much into if I'm honest. Reading is such a natural part of our day to day lives that I almost forget it's a 'thing'. We love reading to Noah, we always read a story before bed and books are always on display for our boys to grab at any point of the day, I think reading is really important. Over time we've begun to learn what style of books Noah enjoys and those that he doesn't, we tend to let him choose books each evening and only step in when we've read the same one for five nights in a row. Please tell me other children do this? I never really talk about the stories we enjoy, I say we because it would be a total lie to say me and John don't have preferences, that we don't groan when certain books are pulled off the shelves to be read, and then feel all smug when we know they've selected a favourite of ours. I think your enjoyment, or lack of completely translates to your little one. Plus, how are you going to get all into character with the voices etc, if you're not really feeling the book yourself?
First up on our favourites, are the classic story books. Your basic book with pictures and a simple story alongside, these are fail safe and we have tonnes upon tonnes of them in our house. It's funny though that a lot of the ones we all enjoy, are stories that were around for us as children. The tiger who came for tea, Whatever Next, Funnybones - all classics in their own rite. Our books have to have large pictures, usually a whole page's worth to compete with the text, it's what keeps Noah interested as he can explore the images whilst listening to the words at the same time. At age four, I think it would be slightly unreasonable for us to expect him to enjoy a story without pictures if I'm honest. Flip the flap books aren't massively popular in our household, which I remember adoring as a child, a story that I had to actually take part in by actioning something. Noah gets a bit waylaid if we opt for one of those at bedtime, though he loves to explore them independently it's more the classic story that he can sit back and relax with, that he prefers at night.
Rhyming stories are also a huge hit for us. A little bit more adventurous and usually quite short and sweet, we tend to cram a few of these in they're chosen for bedtime reading. Though sometimes I find these really frustrating as obviously books don't cater for different dialects or accents, and quite often they just don't rhyme quite right. Noah enjoys them thoroughly though and again, most of our favourites are classics that me and John remember. Each peach pear plum and Hairy Mclairy being our top stories overall.
Noah himself seems to be taking a new direction with stories of late, I'm not sure whether it's because he's at school now and used to his reading books - but he is opting for some more 'grown up' stories. I first picked up a story from the Marks and Spencers 'first readers' collection a good year ago, and it fast turned into that story he wanted every single night. They focus on classics, The Gingerbread Man and The Three Billy Goats Gruff being the firm favourites, but over the last year we've amounted quite a collection and given they bring new ones out quite often, I'm sure it'll continue to grow. There is so many reasons as a Mum, I like these stories. The have a little guide to start that explains how you can help your child learn to read themselves, and then a small work page at the back which includes a couple of games or suggested discussions you can have with your child. I think that's fantastic, learning through play is really important for us and I think if you can do that with reading too - it's a big bonus. The pages themselves have a side for the adults to read, and then a small summary sentence your child can get to grips with as they begin to learn to read. Genius.
I think on the whole we do read quite a variety of stories, we're always trying to change up the selection on their shelves to correlate any special events. We're just transitioning from books about love, such as Guess how much I love you, to Easter and spring stories. It helps us refresh and makes sure we're using all of our books, as we tend to forget to go rummaging through the boxes and often find stories we'd completely forgotten about. This world book day Noah is dressing up as Willy Wonka, though it is his favourite film too, he also adores the book, in which we grabbed his own personalised version from wonderbly. What will your little one be dressing as this World Book Day?
Ah some of these books bring back great memories. Poppy already has a great collection of books, mainly Julia Donaldson, but we need to get some more classics, more so I can enjoy the books that I did as a child! x
ReplyDeleteSome fab books here, many are in our favourite list too. Hopefully Harry will be better and if he is he will be going as Where’s Wally x
ReplyDeleteWe love books and reading, but I have never seen those First Readers books they look fab! We have a new favourite here which is Interstellar Cinderella - which is a fab retelling of the fairytale
ReplyDeleteSuch a great list of books! We love Julia Donaldson and Evie is currently reading Isodora Moon.
ReplyDeleteOh we have read so many of these books. Like you, reading is just a part of our daily routine. It isn't something I overthink because both my boys love books. We have such a variety, there is always something different to read. Although I do remember the time where we went weeks reading the same two books every night because Zach adored them! Our World Book Day was postponed because of the snow (although half the children still seemed to dress up!) but if it does happen, he wants to go as a spaceman - the one in his personalised Wonderbly book (he has a few including the intergalactic journey home!).
ReplyDeleteHairy Maclairy is ABSOLUTELY my most favourite book ever! I loved it as a child
ReplyDeleteThese look great Em! Amelia is obsessed with books and always brings one up to read and then wants another 43653543 books read to her. It's so cute and I love that she loves them so these are ones we can look for when shes a bit older !!
ReplyDeletePlus I do love a personalised book as it's something they can keep forever! Will have to check out Wonderbly :) xxx
Lucie - www.lucielovesit.com
We have SO many books! Tyler is only 1 but I love reading to him, I think he enjoys it!! I need to dig out some of the copies of the classics that we have! We didn't dress up for world book day but I'm planning on doing so next year! x
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! You've just reminded me about Whatever Next! I'd completely forgotten about that book! THANK YOU!!! xx
ReplyDeleteReuben is loving books lately, he sits there and flicks through the pages for ages it’s so sweet! I’ll have to get him some more x
ReplyDeletesome really lovely picks, I love nothing more than curling up under a blanket reading books with Emily. Her current favourites are spider sandwiches, Miffy and vegetable glue. Hairy Macairy looks so good, will have to purchase that one! x
ReplyDeleteMy little girl absolutely loves books. We have never read hairy maclary, I will have to get it for her.
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