Monday, March 3, 2008

My Favorite Things #1

I decided to start a new category on my blog. Yes, I stole the idea from Oprah, however, I have not the wealth, or media exposure to make a difference in the world. No, this is more my way of sharing some things that make my time with my kids more fun.

Probably 85% of you are aware of these books already:

But those of you who have little boys will know them soon.. I know girls would love them too but there are several other series for the 5-8 year old age range for girls.

I spend a lot of time with Noah listening to him reading (or learning to read). Because of this, I enjoy the time when we can sit down and I can read to him. AA often tries to join us, but the attention span of a three year old doesn't go very far.

There are several reasons I LOVE these books.

They are entertaining for me as well as him
They are educational but not in a preachy way
The words are easy enough that he will be able to read the books by himself soon
They always make him hungry for more

The chapters are short and after EVERY one, Noah begs for more. We went through 3 books this weekend because Noah was constantly asking for more.

Some of the pages have pictures, but most don't. But the words are bigger and Noah was listening and looking through picking out words he knew the entire time I was reading. He also knows that it's his job to read the title of each chapter. He read words like "follow" "writing" and "ghost" which all would have sent him into a fit if they were in one of his books that I was listening to him read.

This morning, as a bribe to get him ready for school quicker, I told him if he got ready in ten minutes, I would read a chapter. He got ready quicker than I have seen him all year. The only downside is the tantrum I got because he wanted more and it was time to go.

The only thing I worry about is the day that comes when he no longer wants to sit and let me read, preferring to read to himself. I will be sad and excited all at the same time.

All in all, a great read aloud chapter book series for kids. I don't know who enjoyed the time more...Noah or me.

Does anyone else have any great ides for chapter read alouds for the 5-8 age range they would like to share?

10 comments:

bethn said...

Oh Kristi, Just wait. I found Alex reading in bed yesterday morning (a magic treehouse book of course) and thought he was just paging through it. He told me this morning that he read 2 more chapters last night and is now on chapter 8. I'm not ready for him to be able to read these books by himself. He sure is growing up. Yesterday he even made breakfast for himself and Dylan before Mark got up. Things sure are changing.

Deb said...

Abby's reading to herself all of the time now, but she still loves to be read to at bedtime and other times too.

Abby likes the Junie B. Jones books, and she just borrowed a bunch from Matthew - he loved them, so I don't think that they're 'just' for girls. Junie B. is a riot - I read several of them over the weekend while we were there. :)

Anonymous said...

Don't forget, Treehouse and Junie B. Jones can cross gender lines! Marc Brown has a series of chapter books based on he characters in his Arthur series. Mr. Popper's Penguins is a good one. Don't forget favorites like Amelia Bedelia and Little Bar and Frog & Toad books. They are classics with a little more difficult vocabulary, look like chapter books and are good for younger readers.
Way to go K and way to go Noah! From,
Aunt Shannon

Anonymous said...

I've seen these books at the library and I think I'll check them out now.
I'm sad yet excited too that Count Dooku is starting to want to read to himself more. My favorite thing to do with my kids is read to them.

Ally said...

Excellent review. I've heard of these books, but I've never read them or seen them.

I do have a Baby Boy, who won't be reading for a few more years. But our 4-year-old daughter loves to have stores read to her, and she might enjoy them when she learns to read.

Thanks for the review! :)

Ally said...

Hey there again. ;)

I know your Lioness post was deleted, but I read it yesterday and didn't have time to comment before it was gone.

I just want you to know that I totally understand. I am in that boat too, and really wishing I could get out and do better.

I seriously could have written that post - it's like a page right out of my life.

It's not that it makes me feel better knowing someone else struggles with it, it's just that....

I just wish I could change. You're not alone! You can delete this comment if you want. Just know that I'm praying for you like I pray for me on this one!! ;)

((((((HUGS)))))

Hillary said...

I'll have to look into these books once JJ gets a little older.

Anonymous said...

Such a great sounding book! I'll file that one away for when our youngest gets older (he's got quite the interest in dinosaurs already!)

Right now, we're reading a chapter a a day from A.A. Milne's "The World Of Pooh" with our five-year-old. Even the youngest crawls up in my lap to listen : )

Next on our list is E.B. White's Trumpet of The Swan. My parents always read aloud to me and my brother and sister even all the way through high school. Make it into something special that your family treasures, Kristi, and you'll have lots of read-aloud years left :) Happy reading!

KC said...

Mr Man(8 years old) and Sweet Pea(6 years old) and I have been reading these outloud at night. Right now we are 1/2 way though the Summer of the Sea Serpent one. Don't know which # that is.. Sadly we started out of order and Mr Man doesn't want to go back and start from the begining, he only wants to read the ones he picks out LOL..
I wouldn't mind going back and starting at #1(which we already read) and doing them in order.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the heads up on these!! I'll have to check them out the next time I get to the library.