What Books Do I Read To My Son?

Reading is probably one of the best things you can do for your child (besides feeding, of course). I read to my DS every day when I'm putting him down for his nap.

Sometimes I read long stories, sometimes I read shorter stories. I'm not sure if he even pays attention while he's laying in my arms, drinking his bottle. I don't think it matters, though.



With some books, especially the tactile ones that have stuff for kids to touch, he reaches his hand out to play with the book. This can complicate things a little. It's hard to read while I'm holding him in one arm, holding the book in the other and keeping him from grabbing it. There have been a few times I've just given up and put the book down.

What do I read? Good question. There's no shortage of children's books. I like to relive my own toddler years and read stuff I remember my parents read to me.

Here's a short list of my favorite children's books:

• Miss Nelson is Missing By Harry Allard, James Marshall (illustrator)
• Best Nest By P.D. Eastmon
• Goodnight Moon By Margaret Wise Brown
• Guess How Much I Love You By Sam McBratney
• Everybody Poops By Taro Gomi, Amanda Mayer Stinchecum

Okay, I'll confess that I don't read Everybody Poops to my son, at least not yet. When it comes time to potty train him though, it will be all poop all the time!

"This book is a pretentious piece of crap."

When we go to the library to check out more books, I'm often overwhelmed by the large selection. I usually look for board books that are short, but still have some substance to them (i.e. don't have just one word per page).

I try to avoid books from the library that have pop-ups because my son will rip them right off the page. I also avoid the tactile books because I don't his hands where other germy toddler hands have been. Like I said above though, tactile books are fine when we buy them from the bookstore.

I'm hoping to instill good reading habits. My parents taught me a lot by example by reading every night before bed. I still do this, and often have a hard time sleeping if I don't read before bed. If my own DS does this when he's older, I'll be more than happy.

What books do you read your child before bed?

Photo Credits: smoorenburg Used under the Creative Commons License


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