Reading With Babies

I was recently asked if I wanted a free book in exchange for writing about said book on my blog.  I never turn down something free and a free BOOK is super cool.  So here I am on a blog tour!  Look, see how I'm late?  I didn't know I had a deadline.  Oops.

You can find the book here if you wish to make a purchase.  The official title is Reading with Babies, Toddlers, and Twos: A Guide to Choosing, Reading and Loving Books Together (I am underlining it, but upon retrospect am wondering if I should italicize instead).  We are all about reading in our house and the number of books in our bookshelves is easily in the hundreds.  Before kids, we spent many happy Saturday nights with our introverted selves, curled up together on the couch, reading and occasionally playing footsie.  It should come as no surprise, then, that our kids (at 2 years of age) already own more books than we know what to do with.  They both love to read and we spend many hours reading together.  I didn't really expect to learn anything from this book, but I did get a few ideas.

The authors mention how photo books-books of faces and daily life-have major appeal to toddlers.  I will say to this: Amen!  I remember the first time E stood at the bottom of one of our bookshelves and cried, "Baby! Baby!"  I showed her where the babies (dolls) were, tried to get her to play with it, and finally realized that she wanted to see the photo albums that were on top of the bookshelf.  Now those albums are part of the book rotation.  They love looking through them and seeing themselves, friends, family, and activities we've done together. 

I also liked a section on how to tell stories to your kids.  I've just assumed that A will be the expert at making up stories; his ability to improvise is eons ahead of mine, but their "how-to" on storytelling gives me confidence.  After all, my kids will probably like to hear about 2 sisters who had a funny-looking dad and hot mom and a dog named Lucy.  They'll want to hear about their friends and how they all went to the park together.  That kind of storytelling I can do.  If I'm feeling experimental, I'll follow the guideline of "CAPeR" that's offered in the book: Characters, Action, Problem, Resolution.

I appreciate that they offer different ways to read to kids of different ages.  They give some good ideas on how to make reading with your child more interesting for them and (importantly) for you.  Because, frankly, I get pretty bored reading the same damn books over and over again.  Sometimes we just look at the pictures and talk about them.  Sometimes E and L read and I do tequila shooters.  We all have fun!

The authors also offer the suggestion of audio books.  I'm a freakishly visual person and have never been that into audio books, but enjoyed it when A read Breakfast of Champions to me when we were dating.  Of course, that was when I thought everything he did was charming.  I was reminded about audio books when we were cleaning the girls' room this weekend and A wanted to take the stereo out.  I figure when we move them out of cribs, we'll need music and/or audio books added to the bedtime routine.  I read somewhere about a brilliant mom who would put on an hour long CD or audio book and tell her kid that they could have another drink of water/hug/trip to the bathroom when it was over.  Voila!  They're asleep before the end.

There are also several chapters near the end of the book that suggest appropriate "life" books.  You know, books that deal with death, siblings, mean kids and other things that cause parents to become tongue-tied.  (Speaking of tongue-tied and this is so very off the subject it's like we're speaking a different language, have you guys read this account of "the talk?"  I practically pee my pants every time I read it.)  I figure those chapters will come in handy when the dog/cats die or when there are friendship issues later on.

The only quibble I will mention is the many, many, many, many lists in this book.  I love lists, you guys.  I make lists all the time and then lose them and make them again.  I make lists of stuff I've already done and stuff I have to still do and groceries to buy and phone calls to make and topics for blog entries.  I adore lists.  Me+Lists=4evah.  But there are a lot of lists in this book and at times it seemed like maybe the authors were trying to outdo each other.  Like, they were drunk and writing and challenging, "Whut?  You got FORTY lists?  Bee-yawch!  Look at me go!  I know we have a list of poetry books, but I'm going to add a list of rhyme books! Ha!"  And then the other author responds, "Yeah?  Well, there's already that list of 'Books to Engage Nimble Fingers,' but I'm adding 'Books with Flaps for Lifting!'  Top that!" while cracking the Wild Irish Rose bottle over her head.  It's a minor complaint and actually enhanced my reading pleasure due to my overactive imagination, but it still counts as a complaint.

Pretty good book, very all-encompassing.  Provided lots of ideas for future lib'ary trips.  That is all.

Comments

[Becky]

Interesting book! I have often wanted to compile my own lists of Emily's favorites. Cool that you got it for free just for writing a reivew. We are also readers and have overflowing bookshelves (both having been English majors).

Oh, and italics vs. underline doesn't matter. It's basically the same thing.

Becky

[Mayberry]

So wouldja say the book makes a good gift? I mean obviously you enjoyed getting it free :) but would you give it to a new mom as a present?

[macboudica]

We love books here, too. The little guys love finger play books like Hand Rhymes by Marc Brown.

[cloudscome]

That sounds like a good one for me. I'm going to look for it!