Reading to a preschooler

Nate loves his bedtime stories, sometimes he will ask for five or seven books just before bedtime. This is great but I'm starting to get bored of the same books every night. I decided at the beginning of the year to start reading a chapter book for a bedtime story to Nate. 

We have started with the Chronicles of Narnia. 

Nate struggled slightly with The Magician's Nephew or at least he looked bored but after every chapter I'd ask one or two questions about what we'd just read and he'd answer them. Every night as it approached bedtime he'd ask for the story so he was obviously enjoying the book. 

We have recently moved on to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. 

Every night he has wanted another chapter and before he settles down to read he tells me about what has happened previously in the book. 

I found that letting Nate choose one picture book to read before the chapter helped him settle into listening to the chapter. We also chose a book which contained pictures so that once in a while there was something for his eyes to focus on instead of looking around the room. This also helps with the transition from reading being a very visual experience with a little listening to reading becoming a listening experience. 

Most importantly it's something we both enjoy. 

Tiddler Review

Last week Julia Donaldson visited our local bookshop. We have many of her books, What the Ladybird Heard being Nate's favourite at the moment (or was his favourite). Nate had the option of any of her books to buy and get signed, he chose Tiddler.

He loves the sea, and fish so we happily bought him Tiddler. It's a lovely sing song book, with the repetition that Julia Donaldson does so well. There is a surprise guest from a previous Julia Donaldson book (The Gruffalo) which to me illustrates the fun in this book.

Just today alone we have read the book three times, Nate loves it. He loves the refrain and really enjoys giving Tiddlers reasons for being late. And as a sign of his growing, for the first time Nathaniel is joining in with the story. Aided by its repetition, he'll say "Tiddler? Tiddler? Tiddler's late!"

So as with her other books, Tiddler comes highly recommended by Nate. and his Dad and Mum, who have all enjoyed reading it.

Bedtime Story

Mumsnet Bedtime Stories

We were recently sent the Mumsnet Bedtime stories book which contains 10 stories written by Mumsnetters.

Nate hasn't had all of the stories read to him yet but mainly that is because he keeps choosing the same two to be read to him.

The Dancing Bear is one of the stories that Nate keeps choosing. We (the adults) liked the beginning of the story which is written beautifully however the story comes to a rather abrupt end. The story is poetically more than narratively pleasing.

We all liked the underlying moral of not to judge by appearances in Allie to the Rescue, especially pleasing considering Nate's mixed race background.

The stories were more for a slightly older age group than Nate, but this didn't effect his enjoyment of the stories, and think he'll enjoy some of the other stories when he's older himself.

All in all there is the feeling of the old stories I used to have read to me before going to bed as a child, and that same soothing atmosphere within the Book of Bedtime Stories should appeal to both mums, dads and their children.

We were sent the book in exchange of a review.

No Bot The Robot

Not too long ago, Sue Hendra the author/illustrator of No Bot and a few other books appeared in our local book shop.
She gave a reading of No Bot and then helped the children to create a cardboard robots of their own, using pipe cleaners, a little cardboard box and stickers. Nate being one of the youngest, if not the youngest, loved the reading but as always loves to stand up in the middle of the carpet to get the best view. He needed a lot of help creating his robot but he genuinely loves drawing and sticking things down and still plays with his robot even a couple of months after the event.

On to the book, No Bot is a book about a Robot who manages to lose his bottom. Nate loves this book and some days we have to read it over and over again. The illustration style is lovely and deceptively simple, we love the way the front inside cover pages contain circuit boards with the pictures of animals. Nate can identify the animals within the circuit board and really enjoys finding the animals 'hidden' in the circuitry. A big thumbs up from Nate for this book.

Library Trips

Once a week, we like to visit the library; we started going due to the story time but we have since found they have an abundance of board books which are safe for Nate to play with as he likes to read with his mouth. 

The story time is great as there are a variety of books and unfortunately I never really know where to start with most children's book shops as there are so many books to choose from, at the moment I'm rather lucky as I'm limited to the board books as I quite like Nate being involved with the reading. We have a few book ideas for when we can finally trust him not to scrunch up the pages. One of my favourites so far is Billy Monster's Daymare, I'm not sure Nate enjoyed it as much as I did.

Nate enjoying his very own Library Card. 

Book Review: Peepo!

One of our loves is reading, one that I think is important that Nate shares with us. Peepo! was written and illustrated by Janet and Allan Ahlberg who have also written The Jolly Postman and the Funny Bones (one of my favourite books). Peepo! seems to be Nate's favourite book at the moment he loves the illustrations which surprises us as they are incredibly intricate with lots going on which hopefully means this book will remain a favourite as he grows.
It's plus points for me are that we got it in board book form, which means Nate can play with it and we don't have to worry about dribble; it has a story and isn't just single words on a page which is what a lot of board books are.