I felt silly as I lay in bed all by myself with a stack of read alouds and my Bible.
Beatrix Potter was perched on my huge pregnant twin baby belly as I read out loud to the little ones inside. I guess I wanted to get an early start.
I was ecstatic to be pregnant, and while it felt awkward at first, I soon grew to look forward to those quiet times. I had been infertile so long that it was my way of day-dreaming about coming motherhood. Reading aloud from children’s books was a big part of my concept of homemaking.
In my way of thinking, reading children’s books aloud to your child would ideally begin as soon after birth as possible. Not only does it help with brain and speech development, but it develops healthy concepts of how to live life in many circumstances, it fosters bonding with your child and gradually trains them to be still for short times.
If all parents understood the huge educational benefit and intense happiness brought about by reading aloud to their children, the TV might remain silent and might even become considered obsolete in your home. Radical thinking, this!
Many people don’t realize that when an infant is born, only 25% of the brain is yet developed, and another 60% or so develops within the first young years of life till finally the corpus callosum is fully formed at around age 25. During the most crucial time (the first dozen in a child’s development), eye contact, touch, warmth and normal speech (not goo-goo-ga-ga) will help tremendously as will lots of reading aloud.
I firmly believed this (still do) and so nursed our twins (with a nursing pillow for twins) while reading to our 2 year old.
If I had to do read alouds over again, I would have integrated the Psalms and other favorite portions of my Bible with other books when they were only 1 and 2 instead of waiting until I thought they could understand. I have often thought that Daniel in the Bible (Daniel 1: 3-5) must have had parents who taught/read to him about Almighty God from youth for him to not forsake his faith under the rigorous training and indoctrination when stolen away to the courts of the Babylonians. Ultimately, even being thrown to the lions didn’t daunt him (Daniel 6: 1-28).
Make Reading Time Memorable:
• Timing– Choose a time for reading aloud that is relaxed, quiet, and conducive to listening. For us, the best time was right after lunch; others begin or end their day with a read aloud. As homeschoolers, finding time for everything within the regular school day is challenging, but read-alouds can be combined with other activities. For example, when our children were a bit older, I read aloud as they silently cleaned up from lunch, and while there was some guidance needed from time to time, it was a win-win – I loved it and so did they! Generally 10 to 30 minutes is appropriate.
• Atmosphere– Setting the tone is important, too. Gather everyone together on the carpet, lower the lights in the room, and have a special chair for you to read from or snuggle on the couch, rotating where they sit to avoid an argument. Let it become a stable and comfortable routine in the midst of our chaotic world. Make it relational!
• Book Selection– Charlie Tremendous Jones once stated, “You’re the same today as you’ll be in five years except for the people you meet and the books you read.” Books have the power to change us for good or for evil, thus the choice of a children’s book should have as its purpose to help our children identify with others of noble and faithful character. It is a window in time in which to develop integrity, compassion, purity, a love of truth and honesty, and a biblical worldview. A book can be a powerful tool to influence a child for Christ. As our young sons and daughters keep company with these rich characters, it will help them form internal values for a lifetime.
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” ~Proverbs 13: 20
Time-tested Young Children’s Read Alouds:
- The Story of Babar by Jean de Brunhoff, 1933
- Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler by Esphyr Slobodkina, 1982
- The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, 1940
- Curious George by
- Doctor De Soto by
- The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack, 1933
- Other Marjorie Flack books
- One Morning In Maine by Robert McCloskey, 1952
- The Little Fur Family, Margaret Wise Brown (one of our favorite authors), 1968
- Dandelion Hill by Clyde Robert Bulla, 1982
- The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame, 1953
- Just-So Stories by Rudyard Kipling, 1912
- Jennie’s Hat by Ezra Jack Keats, 1966
- Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey, 1941
- Other Robert McCloskey books
- Little Bear’s Friend (series) by Else Holmelund Minarik, 1960
- The Snowy Day by
- The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper, 1976
- Harry the Dirty Dog by
- Hilda the Hen Who Wouldn’t Give Up by Jill Tomlinson, 1967
- Mr. Brown and Mr. Gray by William Wondriska, 1968
- Madeline (series) by Ludwig Bemelmans, 1939
- Mrs. Piggy Wiggle by Betty MacDonald, 1957
- Old Mother West Wind by
- The Velveteen Rabbit: Or, How Toys Become Real by Margery Williams, 1922
- Goodnight Moon by
- Corduroy by
What are your favorite young children’s books and read alouds? I’d love you to share your read alouds in the comments.
Check out other completely different book lists here at Deep Roots at Home!
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Mary Hill
These titles look so sweet. Thanks for linking up with Literacy Musing Mondays.
Jamie
I really love “Guess How Much I love you”, “I’ll Love You Forever”, and Richard Scary books, among many!
Jolene
I just came across your blog, through a link on CHEWV. Thank you for the sound advice, and for not being afraid to speak your faith. I’m also thankful for the timely reminder that supervison is necessary when visiting the library. We have two little boys, and our daily story time is very special to us.
Jacqueline
Jolene, I an thankful it was helpful and encouraging to you! Praying right now for you, dear Mama, and your boys! May you and your family THRIVE in the Lord!!
Kathy Whitemyer
I just read the list, and I have to say there is one book that has remained in my heart since my children were young some 20 plus years ago. Peef the Christmas bear, is a story about love friendship, giving, and sacrifice, told in such a way that it made me cry every time I read it to a class in an elementary school. I just recently read it to my grandchildren, and just barely made it through!
Jacqueline
Kathy, thank you for this title!! Peef the Christmas Bear! Will check it out! Blessings, ~J
Debbie
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-good, Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst (I also love her Alexander Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday.
Jacqueline
Debbie, thanks for these book titles by Judith Viorst! 😀 ~J
Jan Joyal
The books by A. A. Milne: Winnie the Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner are delightful. I love Milne’s gentleness and love of nature and childhood. They are also humorous for adults.
DavetteB
The Secret Garden
Heidi
Charlotte’s Web
The Trumpet of the Swan
Frindle (and most of the Andrew Clements books)
Most of the Little House series
I read a ton to my son, then when he got older we took turns. Don’t stop just because your kids can read on their own,
Jacqueline
Amen, DavetteB,
Thanks for these additions… they are likely on one of my other book lists! Search “children’s books”.
Here are a few off the top:
https://deeprootsathome.com/reading-library-childrens-books/
https://deeprootsathome.com/100-whole-hearted-books-to-fight-back-the-culture-a-giveaway/
and https://deeprootsathome.com/60-titles-for-the-well-rounded-childrens-bookshelf/
Enjoy,
~Jacque
Anas
I started setting a time for reading out loud to my kids when they turned 6 months old. I don’t know why, but it seemed like a good idea. Although we read books to them since they were 3 months old, but not as a routine until they were a little older. My babies favorites were “Mr Brown can moo”, oh my! Read it like a gazillion times. “The Barnyard dance” was another one they loved.
Our time was before bedtime, we cuddle up in a rocking chair. I miss those days. As they grew up we always read to them until they were like 7 years old, then they would each read on their own. My kids love reading, as a result they said their first words at 10 months of age, started reading at three and a half, they get high grades in ELA at school and still love reading a good book. Thank you for writing about this, more parents need to do this, so good for the children’s development.
Jacqueline
Ana, what you did was set them up with a great foundation and potential love of learning.
Even into the teens, I have found that many still love being read to or reading to others!
Blessings,
Jacque
Geri
‘Blackberry Cottage’ is a favorite and we eat blackberries as I read it. All the ‘Clack, Clack, Moo’ books are loved; almost any book we have is loved! I need to get my hands on some of the Paddington Bear books. My first grandson and I laughed ourselves silly reading those; we’ll never forget his HARD STARE! What happy memories are awakened in me!
Jacqueline
Geri, I need to add Blackberry Cottage to my list! I was not aware of it!
Thanks for sharing the book joys in you and your children’s lives!
Hugs,
Jacque