DrCris Reads

8 Things my kids taught me about books

June 17, 2008 9:51 pm admin Uncategorized

I have two wonderful children: Zoe is two and Jacob is 10 months. J is just starting to get really thrilled about reading, and Zoe has been a bibliophile for a long time now. Seeing their enthusiasm about their books, I realised that they have lot to teach me.

It’s ok to read books over and over

If you enjoy a book, you can close the cover and start again at the beginning. For both my kids, this doesn’t break the “three books before bed only” rule, because it seems to be part of one continuous reading. So if I have to read the same page three times? That’s ok. It counts as one reading only.

It’s good to read your books so much that they disintegrate.

Zoe has a big hardcover book called “The Toddlers Book of Everything”. It has over 1000 labelled images in it, and she has loved it for 18 months now. Initially, she learnt “duck” and “cow” and “cup” and “spoon”, and now she has moved on to “summer” and “city” and “semi-circle” and “paddock.

This book is read in bed, in the car, under the coffee table and on the stairs. Jacob knows how much she likes it, so he likes to read it too. So it has dropped, held by the pages, fought over and tripped over. Surprisingly, it has very few torn pages. But the binding is falling apart.

I noticed the other day that I will have to buy another soon, and it will be totally worth it.

Put a book under your pillow before you go to sleep, in case of emergencies

It is much easier to go to sleep with a book at arm’s reach. You may never wake up in the middle of the night, but if you do, you will have something to do.

Books are better when you get involved

My son really loves books that include different textures to touch. He loves books with a button to press that makes a noise. He loves turning the pages. Zoe loves opening windows and flaps where objects are hidden.

When I read a book, I don’t need doors, or textures. But I do need a book that picks me up and transports me. Where I can hear the sounds and the atmosphere is real. And I can’t ignore non-fiction books that have me questioning everything in my life, and quizzing family members for their opinions.

The best books aren’t always the handsome ones

Some of the books I loved when I was a child have ended up in our bookshelf. They are pretty beaten up, but they still get read over and over. The illustrations are remarkable seventies, but they appeal to my kids as much as they did to me. Hand, Hand, FIngers, Thumb; Bears in the Night; Gendarme, the police horse. All great books. All favourites.

One of my recent favourite books was “I Heard the Owl Call my Name” by Margaret Craven. It was old and dusty, and the cover illustration was nothing impressive, but it was a great book.

No one else has your taste in books

I take my kids shopping for books at my local charity shop. They are allowed to choose any book they like. Sometimes they are even allowed to choose two. Sometimes they grab the brightest, shiniest book, as I expect. But last week Zoe chose an old Golden Book on flying dinosaurs. It is really boring, but she loves it. The books Jacob squeals with laughter at are not the ones I love, either.

Don’t waste time on bad books

No matter how much you think you will like a book, if you get bored halfway through, it is better just to skip to the end and find something you like better.

Books are fun

Books aren’t a quiet, solitary pastime. They are about cuddles, tickles, funny voices and laughter. Books need to be read with all your energy.

I love my kids, and they love books. Every time they squeal at books, and rifle through the bookshelf, they remind me to revel in books.

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