Are you my Mother? by PD Eastman

 

Soooo cuuute... That's the first impression I got after reading this book. And indeed it was. 

 

Initially when my 3 year old chose the book from the library bookshelf, I thought... Hmmm.. Another book introducing lil' kids to animals and their young? So I was hesitant to read it. But I reminded myself that one of the ways to inculcate the love for reading in my child, is to allow her to choose her books (as long as they are decent, grammatically correct, and do not propagate any values that contradict me and my family's). So, we sat down on the green IKEA chair and started reading.

 

It was a pleasure to read.  Yes, there was the typical "Are you my Mother" line... But the difference with this book and other "Are you my Mother" books is the wit in the words used.  The illustrations also do justice to the book, in bringing out the nestling's determination in wanting to find his mum.

 

The best part comes at the end. And you would have to pick this book up, to know what it is. So what are you waiting for? ;-)

Why the Animals Came to Town by Michael Foreman

Another author and another book added to our family's list of much loved authors and books.

When we 1st found this book, my first impression was that it is a story about, well... yes as the title suggests... animals. Just an introduction to the different animals in the world, we thought.

But I've come to realise that Michael Foreman stories always withhold an important message. A message that i...s usually revealed in the middle or towards the end of the story. And for that reason, he has gained his place in our favourite author list.

From this story children come out learning -
1) Different kinds of animals
2) Conservation of our planet earth

I will not reveal more, lest it spoils your reading. It's never fun when someone tells you the ending now isn't it ;-)

Spot's Storybook by Eric Hill

 

Eric Hill's Spot series have been a favourite in my family for its simple yet amusing storyline. However, I would like to single out this particular book. Why?

First : I have been a big fan of books which have a compilation of stories in... them. Why? For one it is economical, as you can get many many stories in one book. This book has 14 stories, at an average of 10 pages per story. Two, it is easier to bring around especially when you are on holidays and you'd prefer not to lug around many storybooks to read during bedtime in the hotel room.

Second: The words are big and clear, very suitable for early readers. In fact I bought this book when my gal was 2. And she loved it. Now at the age of 8, when I read this book to the younger two, she would still remark at how she used to read this book when she was small, and exclaim to the younger ones how much she loved it.

This evening, I read this story to my soon to be 3-year-old for her bedtime. It was supposed to be 1 story, but I ended up reading 2 LOOOONG stories. So that's how much appeal this book has.

So go on, check it out ;-)See More

Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh

Time to Paint the Town... Red, Yellow, Blue!

3 white mice came across three jars of paint, and they decide that perhaps life can be a wee bit colourful. 

A great book to introduce the concept of primary and secondary colours to your kids.  And the types of post-reading activities that can follow its reading is sooooo plentiful - Rainbow Lollipop, Rainbow Pinwheel, Colour exploration... Truly, it's really all up to your colourful imagination.

The words are simple, making it an easy read for early readers.  Typical of Ellen Stoll Walsh, the illustrations are clean, bright and appeals to our senses.

A must have in the library.

Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems

It's laundry day and Trixie will be helping daddy today. It all starts fine and Trixie's in a jolly mood.  She's daddy's little helper today.  But on the way home, Trixie REALISED SOMETHING and her mood made a 180 degree turn... And Daddy doesn't have a single clue what caused the hullabaloo...

I had to repeat this story to my kids at least 3 times per reading cause they enjoyed it so much... They loved the fact how the dad went from calm to frazzled and finally to a point when he nearly lost it, about a problem which could have been easily solved if the dad had been a little more observant. 

The pictures and words are classic Mo Willems... Simple yet very expressive. Its best suited for 2 years and above.  

The parent reader will learn a thing or two from it too - (i) What causes tantrums? (ii) How to prevent tantrums?

It's a pity that I've gotta return it to the library.... My inner child is telling me "Can keep it mama... Can I? Can I?"

Can you please sit down, boy?

Sense any frustration from the title? Yup, that's my exact feeling when reading to my son when he was younger... the reason y I am writing this is because I have heard some mummies telling me and asking me -
"Why won't my boy sit down, so I can read to him"
"I have just read two pages, and he's off running around the room... How am I to read anything to him?"
"I have just read two pages, and he'll snatch the book from me, and start turning the pages on his own... The story has never gone further than the 2nd page."

Sounds familiar to anyone? well, if doesn't sound familiar to any of you, it sure does sound very very familiar to me.

My first-born is a girl, and was a pretty low-maintenance kinda gal... It was easy to just get her to sit down and listen to me read to her for a period of time. So when I had my boy, I thought hey, why not just apply the same technique with him. Boy, was I wrong!

My son is a typically active boy... Well, which boy is not, right? Being a new mummy then, and juggling with some hectic workload, it was not easy for me to adjust to raising 2 kids... This weakness of mine at that point, I believe was at the detriment of my boy, as I could not expose him to the same personal time and activities that I had exposed my girl during the 1st 3 years of her life (before my boy popped out).

I tried reading to him as I did for my daughter, but I had wrongly assumed that my boy would be like my gal... That he would sit down quitely and diligently, and read with me, or do his activities etc... Fortunately, for both kids, I did not experience the terrible two syndrome.  It would however be difficult for me to sit him down and read with me... The frustration level increased at every reading. Being very perceptive creatures, reading would also become a frustrating activity for him too... (similar to breast feeding, whatever emotion that a nursing mom is feeling at that point of time, would somehow rub off on the child).  Every time I read a story to him, he would start moving around the room after the 2nd page; He would say "I don't want to read"; He would say "Reading is so boring"; etc etc... He was 2 then.

I was at my wits end... How come? How come? How come? Then, I came to the conclusion that I was making reading a chore for him... I was thinking too much into how to prepare him to read, that the magic of reading was lost (I still am thinking a lot now...) .  So I decided to just CHILL!!! Have fun....

So these were the subtle things that i did -

• I continued reading to him even if he moves around the room. Just make sure that he is within earshot
•  fully believe that he is actively listening. 
•  Be dramatic
•  read with a clear strong voice
• ask him questions about the pictures, story
• Be consisten in your story time... I.e. if you have decided to read every night to them, do so. They would appreciate the structure 
• Get him to choose his own books
• Where possible to come up with pre and post reading activities
• Be a role model I.e. show that you are a reader too, and that you enjoy reading

And the drastic moves I made -

• Renovated my house and created and entire library for the kids and parents
• Reduced my working hours and suffered a pay cut.

And of course, never ever lose hope in your child.  No 2 children are alike, so don't even attempt to compare.  

At 4, my sweet lil boy has shown great improvements He enjoys reading together now (reading on his own is still work-in-progress). He can sit for longer periods now. He asks questions about the story and understands what the story is about. If we do not read for the night, he will remind me that we have yet to read one. 

I would attribute this change also to the fact that he is bigger now, and perhaps to my little attempts at change.  Now my wish and prayer is for him to be able to read on his own.  I have to still constantly remind myself though that a child will read once he is ready.  Meanwhile, just continue reading to him, and have fun reading!!!

Mr McGee and the Big Bag of Bread by Pamela Allen

"DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS"
"DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS""DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS"

That's what the sign says... But Mr McGee has a big bag of bread. He can't let that go to waste now can he? Read the book and find out whether he does...

I was 1st introduced to Pamela Allen's Mr McGee from a read-aloud episode on Tv (Mr McGee and the Blackberry Jam) and found the character so hilariously interesting... So during our next library visit, I scouted for more of  Pamela Allen and was not disappointed with the literary treasure that I found in her books. You can liken Mr McGee to our dear old Mr Bean. The mess that he gets himself into during his day-to-day living will amuse not only your kids but the reading parent.  The words are simple and few and suitable for children as young as 2.  Early readers would also enjoy it...

So DO READ THE BOOK!

4 stars.