Parents vs. Children: When We Love Books Our Kids Don’t
March 15th, 2010 by the1stdaughter
So, we’ve all been there. You’re in a book store, online or in the library and there it is…the most beautiful, colorful and wonderful children’s book ever! It even has one of those bright and shiny stickers on the front. You’re thinking, “They thought it was great, why wouldn’t my son (or daughter)? I mean I LOVE it!” You take it home and that night you sit down, eager to read it to your little one for their newest bedtime treat! You’re both excited, and then…page after page, the book falls flat with your little one. Instead, they push it aside abruptly only to pick up that same old book about the car with the mouse driving it (let’s not even mention you’ve already read it every night for the last three months).
What’s a parent to do? How do you handle the disappointment when your son or daughter just doesn’t seem to appreciate the “finer” things in life? Do you hide it away and hope for another day? Or do you secretly stash it for your own personal enjoyment?
This topic came up with a friend of mine the other day. We were discussing how difficult it can be to find books that match both our little one’s tastes and our own. It can get cumbersome to read the same book night in and night out, especially when it’s one you are completely sick of and never really loved to begin with. For me, it’s a fine line, you need to keep the kiddo interested or they may never learn to love reading, but it’s also important to expose them the wonderful options out there. If we continue to allow the same book to be read every night they may never learn to love another and one that may be one they love even more.
So, tell me, are there any books that you just love that your son or daughter (old or young, I think it applies to all ages) still hasn’t learned to appreciate? And what do you do to encourage your children to try other books?
Here are a few I’m IN LOVE with that I’m really hoping Littlebug or the Turkeybird “grow” into (I know, some of you will be appalled, but that’s just how it goes!):
Toy Boat by Randall de Seve illustrated by Loren Long
Published by Philomel Books (A division of Penguin Books)
Pages: 40
Ages: 4-8
Publishers Summary: A little boy has a toy boat. He made it out of a can, a cork, a yellow pencil, and some white cloth. The boy and his boat are inseparable, until one day when the wind pushes the toy boat out into the wide lake. Alone now, the little boat must face fierce waves, a grumpy ferry, a sassy schooner, and a growling speed boat. How the little boat misses the boy! But if he is going to survive, he must figure a way to do it on his own.
Charley Harper 123s by Charley Harper
Published by AMMO Books
Pages: 20
Ages: 4-8
Publishers Summary: Charley Harper 123’s, is a board book companion to the skinny version of the ABC’s. In this book, counting from 1 to 10, is demonstrated through a colorful and playful range of creatures. From 1 Ladybug Lounging, to 2 Birds Nesting, to 3 Chimpanzees Playing, all of the animals featured are active, delightful, and easy to count.
Moo Baa La La La by Sandra Boynton
Published by Little Simon (A division of Simon and Schuster)
Pages: 14
Ages: Baby-Preschool
Publishers Summary: It’s BIG fun from Sandra Boynton in this big, big size of this favorite title. Great for laps and sharing, this oversized edition on thick, sturdy board material is perfect for oversized fun for children of all ages. This raucous story about the sounds animals make — including three pigs who say la la la! – is just right for reading aloud.
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 40
Ages: 4-8
Publishers Summary: One boy’s quest for a greener world… one garden at a time.
While out exploring one day, a little boy named Liam discovers a struggling garden and decides to take care of it. As time passes, the garden spreads throughout the dark, gray city, transforming it into a lush, green world.
These books were purchased for our home library.
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Posted in Book Reviews, Turkeybird Speaks | 13 Comments »
Moo Baa Laa Laa Laa? Oh, my! That is a beloved one in our home! I will never rid our home of that book, or any Sandra Boynton book, for that matter (and my boys are well past that delicious toddler phase).
As far as book choices, it’s funny you should write this post…I noticed the same thing when we went to the library today. My middle son has the oddest (to me) choices. He loves all things NF, especially topics that deal with the sea or sea animals. I was finding it hard to support him because I am not an enthusiastic reader of that specific topic and am (truthfully) only beginning to fully appreciate all that NF offers. I do find that when I act excited about his choices, that he becomes more committed to them. He is also the one boy who begins a half dozen books but never finishes one of them. He is a puzzle to me, but I know he will find that “one” book someday (and I am praying soon!) and he will be off and running.
.-= Reading Countess´s last blog ..Texas is leading the way…but to where? =-.
Isn’t is terrible?! I brought home Moo Baa La La La when my son was first born and was so so excited to read it to him. Much to my chagrin neither of my kiddos have latched on to it. That doesn’t mean they won’t ever, but not for now. I just get to enjoy it myself…which is just fine for now. I’m just so glad they enjoy reading at such a young age already!
Since reading is a personal journey, parents should realize that their tastes and their children’s may not be the same. Certainly we need to help guide them, but for me getting children to read is the most important thing.
Even in my classroom, I allow students to choose their own books to read and encourage them to abandon books they do not like. There are just too many great books out there for them to feel they must read any one book. I do make recommendations, but the ultimate choice is up to them. I would much rather develop a love of reading than force my opinions on them and many in the process stifle the reading process.
I completely agree! The wonderful thing about reading is that there are so many options out there and that’s good because no one person is exactly the same.
I like what Jan said: there are so many books out there so why force oneself to read a book that one doesn’t like? Right now Ella seems to have taken to the books we now have. She loves some more than others. She loves the one you sent in particular about baby animals.
I’m really glad to hear she likes it so much! It’s true, there are so many. I guess the question is, if you have limited access to books (no/or insufficient library) or limited funds, how do you decide which books to get? Go on the “experts” recommendations and hope they like them, go with your gut, or just guess? I think this is where we really need to know our children and hope we can find the ones they will really like.
Moo, Baa, La La La is popular with the kidlet, but not with me. I hate how it sets up a fantasy element then doesn’t follow through. That said, I do love the rest of Boynton’s books.
So far, Baby hasn’t actively disliked anything we’ve picked up, though he clearly favors some book over others. He does listen to everything all the way through, though.
I’m okay with the idea of him not liking books–I’m passionate about books I dislike, and that makes me think a lot about why and if it’s a valid reaction. (Am I reacting to a writing style, a theme, or something I can’t put my finger on?) My hope is that Baby will, when he’s older, do the same thing, and so learn something about himself and the world as it is.
.-= Peta Jinnath Andersen´s last blog ..YA Fiction: Filial Piety & Uncool YA =-.
That’s a very good point! There are books I absolutely detest and it’s actually really great for getting conversations going. Just to be able to learn from others what makes them interested and how it appealed to them can be a wonderful learning adventure. Thank you so much for your comment!
You have just captured how the Reading Tub came to be … I was whining about how books Catherine picked out (or I picked out) just didn’t connect with her. Two pages in and “no more Mama.” My SIL said ‘make a website’ and the rest, as they say, is history!
There are so many amazing books, and it is great if we can get kids to understand that they don’t have to like every one, even if they’re only 4.
Again…another reason why I just love everything you do!
It is important to help them see all the different book available and I can’t wait to keep bringing more home!
My daughter is a bit older than these books, but on the subject of what to do when I love it and she doesn’t….I have learned that she can be very stubborn about things. It is best for me to take her to the store with me, and if she isn’t interested in it there, she won’t be at home. If she sees something she likes in the store, once we get it home she won’t be able to read it fast enough. I have resorted to bribing her though …..I will buy her the one she really wants in exchange for her reading the one I really like. (it works!) and once in a while she has ended up liking my picks.
That’s great actually! Bribing with books doesn’t sound so bad to me, especially if it works! Great job!
[...] Two Cents: “Not too long ago I wrote a post titled, Parents vs. Children: When We Love Books Our Kids Don’t. It was all about me venting that my tastes and the tastes of Turkeybird and Littlebug were [...]