Marcus Pfister The Rainbow Fish

• The most important element in choosing the perfect children’s book is the story. What is the book about and how does it relate to your child and your family? “Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch is about the unconditional and timeless love between a parent and child, so it’s a very relatable story that many families are familiar with. On the other hand, “The Wonky Donkey” by Craig Smith is about a donkey with three legs and the adventures he has. “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein is about a little boy and his relationship to a tree throughout the course of his life. “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak is a classic about a little boy named Max who wreaks havoc at home while dressed in his wolf costume. He is so naughty that he gets sent to bed without dinner, only to discover that his room has transformed into a mysterious jungle, where he meets some wild things.
• For some parents, it’s important for children’s books to have important life lessons that they can teach their kids. Reinforcing lessons through books helps children to remember them and embody them. The lesson in Robert Munsch’s “Love You Forever” is about the importance of family. No matter where you go in life or what happens to you, your family will always be there to love you. In “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein, the lesson is somewhat ambiguous. It’s not clear whether the book is about unconditional and selfless giving, as it can also be seen as a story about a boy who doesn’t learn his lesson. “The Wonky Donkey” by Craig Smith finds the humor in all things, while “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak teaches kids how to use their imaginations when they are feeling big emotions.
• It’s no secret that a child’s attention span isn’t very long. Some children can sit for books that take ten or more minutes to read, while others want to read books that only take a minute or two. “The Wonky Donkey” by Craig Smith is a quick and enjoyable read, while Robert Munsch’s “Love You Forever” and Shel Silverstein’s “The Giving Tree” are a little longer. “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak has under 350 words, but it can take a while thanks to the fanciful illustrations.
• Consider the format you want to buy your book in. There are many more options than just paperback books these days. Depending on the ages of your kids and the way you like to read, you may choose a different option for format. “Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch is available as an ebook, hardcover, paperback, audio CD and board book. On the other hand, “The Wonky Donkey” by Craig Smith is only available as an ebook and paperback. Similarly, Shel Silverstein’s”The Giving Tree” is only available as an ebook and hardcover. “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak can be bought as a hardcover, paperback, multimedia CD and audio CD.
• Kids can be rough with their books, so price may be a purchasing factor, especially if you have to replace books often. “Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch is available for under $10 in hardcover, while Shel Silverstein’s “The Giving Tree” can be found for under $12 in the same format. Paperback versions of “The Wonky Donkey” by Craig Smith are available for under $5 while “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak is available for under $8.

Reading to young children is an activity many parents and caregivers love to do. For many families, reading is part of the daily routine. Many caregivers enjoy reading to kids before naptime and bedtime to help them relax and settle down. However, reading can be done at any time of day! It’s a perfect activity for sitting down during playtime or even while at the park or playground. Not only is it useful for bonding with your child, reading has many developmental benefits too.

Did you know that reading to children promotes brain development, social skills and verbal communication skills? Reading helps children to learn new sounds and understand new words within context. Books that are repetitive or have a rhyme or rhythm are particularly beneficial for helping children improve their verbal communication skills. By hearing certain sounds over and over again, children learn to mimic those sounds and words. The tempo of a book can help a child to memorize the lines and repeat them during the story and during playtime.

Books also help to stimulate a child’s imagination and grow their curiosity about the world around them. Stories help children to understand the difference between real and make-believe. Playing pretend is an integral part of growing up, and books help to encourage imaginative play activities. Children often impersonate the stories they learn through reading in their playtime activities. If you read a book about a dog running through the park, you may find that your child pretends she is that dog running through the park herself during her next playtime!

Books also help children understand transformative events, such as the birth of a new sibling or the death of a loved one. Books can help children learn the importance of developmental milestones, such as potty training or drinking from a sippy cup. They can teach children about important life lessons, such as how to share with others or how to take turns with friends. Stories also help children to verbalize complex emotions such as love, anger, sadness and confusion.

It’s never too early or too late to start reading with your child. While there are many developmental benefits to reading, nothing beats snuggling with your little one and reading a story you both love.