From very early on, I have tried to make books a huge part of Jaia’s life. Both Dan and I love to read (though I admit to doing far less reading than him over the past couple of years) and I firmly believe that teaching a kid the importance of reading could foster a love a reading early on. My idea of teaching Jaia the importance of reading was to wrangle her and try to have her pay attention to at least one page of the book if not more. It also involved buying her all of my all-time favourite books, including Where the Wild Things Are and Alligator Pie from my childhood, and new favoutires including Freckleface Strawberry (which I wish I would have had as a child) and I Love You, Stinkyface.
My plan backfired at first. She wanted nothing to do with books. Nada. Zip. Most attempts to read to her ended with her pushing the book away or throwing it down and crawling over or stepping on it as she went in the other direction towards the toy of choice that day. I thought we were doomed.
Well, my persistence paid off. Maybe too well. Jaia’s new found fascination with books has come on like a fury. She is driving me crazy. At every turn, all day long, she’s carrying over another book for me to read to her, one that I’ve likely already read to her 42 times that day. In fact, since I’ve been typing this post she’s brought me 6 books and one shoe (?), and I’ve read each one at least twice. She seems to want nothing to do with the other toys now and only carries around books, forcing them on daddy, mama and guests alike, though we all happpily oblige.
I know that this does not guarantee a lifelong love of reading, but it’s definitely looking more promising than it was a few months ago. It’s lovely to see. And as annoying as it can be some days, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’m glad she’s currently an avid ‘reader’, even if it is just of the same five or six books over and over (and over and over and over and over).
Kris - I hope there’s a copy of ‘Go Dog Go’ on those shelves. #1 in kids’ hearts, #1 on parents’ Most Annoying Book Ever list. Full of grammatical errors and with a seriously ridiculous story line, it tormented my parents for years as first me and then Kelsey fell in love with it. Still, I saw it haunting Chapters’ “Most Recommended” shelves last year, so obviously I wasn’t the only one entranced by “do you like my hat? No, I do not like your hat. Good-by. Good-by.” Spelling errors intentional.
Other baby fave was “Bears in the Night”, an early Berenstein Bears book. Excellent read. I love kids books!
Kris - P.S. I see the foot representation of a familiar frog in that first photo…did he end up with a name?
Julie - What struck me most about the first picture is how neatly arranged the little people and animals are. I’m impressed and amused!
Sarah Doak - Kayleigh actually wore out a copy of Silly Sheep, it actually disintegrated into pieces from being read so many times….
Dan - What Shannen neglected to mention is that it is rare that she sits through the entire book, bedtime usually the exception … she’ll sit through several. During the day, iit is 1 or 2 pages, and then the squirm to go and get another book.
The attention span will follow, I’m sure 🙂
EAP - ” In fact, since I’ve been typing this post she’s brought me 6 books and one shoe (?), and I’ve read each one at least twice.”
My question: How does one read a shoe?
shannen - Hahahaha…normally I don’t read shoes, but this one actually has words on it.
😉
Sonja - I loved “Bears in the Night”! Other favs of mine include “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” and “Matthew and the Midnight Turkeys”.
Lizzie Jean - My favorite – “The Magic Porridge Pot” (I LOVED oatmeal so a pot that fills a whole town with porridge was my idea of heaven).
My Dad’s favorite – “Witches Four” (he especially liked the frog-eye soap).