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What bedtime story did you read to your kids last night?
Babble Editors asked on Twitter for readers to share what bedtime story they read to their kids last night. My husband usually reads a chapter of the Hardy Boys to our kids every night. But on the evenings he is working late, I choose a story from the bookshelf or the stack of library books we accumulate each week. I enjoy obscure, never-heard-of titles to keep it interesting. A recent favorite that I read the other night is The Seal Mother. Magical!
Readers tweeted their bedtime stories; read on for 7 great suggestions. Have you read these books? We’d love to hear what story you told to your kids last night.
When Alice Ozma left home to go to college, the hardest part was giving up her bedtime stories. Her father had been reading to her every night for over 9 years, since her parents split up when she was in 4th grade.
At the beginning, the nightly reading was a way to find stability and togetherness during a rough period. They agreed to read together every night for 100 days. But at the end of that hundred days they just kept going. For the rest of her childhood. All told, they logged 3,218 nights of reading.
Now Ozma has written a book about the experience, called The Reading Promise: My Father and the Books We Shared. In it, she not only shares her own stories but offers tips to families on how they can start reading streaks of their own.
A snapshot of the scroll sent to the Times.
Here’s a feel-good story for your Friday: The New York Times recently received, “in a tube sent by postal mail… a 15-foot-long scroll to the editor” sent by students at Birch Lane Elementary School in Davis, CA. The scroll is covered in hand prints and student signatures, along with a note that reads, “We believe picture books are essential to the development of life-long readers and learners.” The scroll was sent in response to the Times‘ coverage of waning sales of picture books.
Back in October, when the original piece was published in the Times, Sierra wrote, “I pick up a copy of Goodnight Moon, and it’s like I’m holding my baby again.” I totally agree. My daughter and I still read lots of picture books, even though she’s 5 1/2 and she can read chapter books silently. My daughter loves hearing me read to her, and to be honest – I love looking at the illustrations in picture books maybe even more than she does. I find it super-relaxing, like a loving lava lamp at the end of a long day.
Here are a few of our favorite picture books: Continue reading »
Do you read your kids' books?
One of the best things about parenting is the story times. It’s not just the snuggles that make it great, or the treasured routine between parent and child. It’s also the books.
Some of the best books in the world are written for kids. Picture books are often works of art, sneakily tucked between the mass-produced cartoon serials on the shelf. Young adult books tackle big themes in fresh ways, with great stories. Children’s literature from Alice in Wonderland up through Harry Potter offers us some of the best escapism ever committed to the page.
Young adult books are what I read when I go to bed; they’re the paperbacks stacked next to my headboard for those quiet hours of simple escape. Because they are a great escape, especially the ones set in fantastic worlds or imaginary times. When I want an intellectual challenge, I visit my library or bookstore. But when I just want to get away from my own mind for awhile, I raid my kids’ bookshelf.
Whether they’ve just graduated from Dr. Seuss or are deep into the Vampire Diaries, your kids have books you want. Here are six titles to steal off their shelves – or add to them – today.
Ferdinand goes his own way
Ursula Nordstrom wanted to accomplish one thing in her job as children’s book editor: publish good books for bad children. And she did. Lots of them.
But she’s not the editor behind the Wimpy Kid books or Captain Underpants. Nordstrom aimed for subversive kids lit decades ago. From 1940 to 1973, she brought to print much of what we consider the canon for children, works like Where the Wild Things Are, Charlotte’s Web and Harriet the Spy. See? Not just funny or gross-0ut stuff. But books with characters that encourage kids to think for themselves. Continue reading »
12-Steps to Giving Up the Thumb
Who am I to judge your child if sucking her thumb makes her happy? Sure, there are the teeth issues, the germs, the notion that it’s a gateway to other uncontrollable dependencies like alcohol, drugs or 100-calorie snack bags of crackers and cookies. But braces are practically inevitable, eating boogers also invites viruses. And a thumb? Neither impairs one’s driving nor contributes to childhood obesity.
Still, if you’re wanting your child to give up the thumb, there’s a book (and a Facebook page!) that you might like (and “like”!). Thumb Love, by Elise Primavera (New York Times bestselling author of Auntie Claus) goes on sale today. Continue reading »
It’s all anyone’s talking about in the nursery school line these days, so is it any wonder kids books about getting sick are a hot commodity these days?
Babble took a look at two of the biggies and weighed out what kids will learn (and more importantly – should you spend your money?): Continue reading »
Joslyn Gray 
Amber Doty 
Julianna Miner 
Monica Bielanko 
Sierra Black 
Meredith Carroll 
Carolyn Castiglia 
Sunny Chanel 
Madeline Holler 
Wendy Michaels 
Rebecca Odes 
Danielle Smith 
Danielle Sullivan 
Katherine Stone 
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