Our family does a lot of reading!
We read everything! Fiction, non-fiction, classics, pulp fiction, graphic novels, how-to books, comics and more!
Bedtime is a favorite time for reading, (followed up with a quick tickle!)
As soon as the kids are old enough they begin to share in the "reading aloud ritual." At first, they choose a book that they can read independantly and share that one with a parent or sibling. Then they take turns reading the same book that we are. At first it might be tag-team reading where the child is encouraged to read any of the words in the sentence that they recognize or can sound out. We both look at the words and the mentor reads slowly so that the emerging reader can jump in with any words that they want to try. Eventually, it moves on to alternate sentences or paragraphs or even pages!
Early in the morning is another common time to find us all reading. We will often snuggle up together in one bed : mine! luckily it's king size! The morning sun coming in the window from the east is the perfect light to read by! I'm often greeted with a nice big pile of picture books borrowed from the library to read through before we start our day. It's such a peaceful time for all of us!
Since I have boys, I am interested in the fact that a greater proportion of boys are reluctant readers. We have not found that phenomenon to represent our situation. I believe that each child is unique and has their own strengths, and I don't really believe in sex stereotyping. But is is undenyable that my boys are drawn to certain genres.
Some fiction series that my boys have enjoyed tremendously are: (In order: youngest to oldest, beginning at about age 6.)
- Nate the Great
(We love these for the first super-early chapter book!)
- Cam Jansen mysteries
- The Magic Treehouse
- Geronimo Stilton
- Hank the Cowdog
- we discovered these when we ran out of books on a family holiday in Florida! - Books by N.E Body including The Anybodies
, The Somebodies
, and The Nobodies
.
- Books by Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III
, translated from Old Norse by Cressida Cowell. - crazy comedy about vikings.
- Harry Potter (well, the first few, they get a little dark by book 4)
- The Chronicles of Narnia
- The Lord of the Rings
