Buy what you can afford and give books as gifts. My favorite gifts for newborns are books. Those in rhyme are good for babies and toddlers who respond to the rhythm and repetitive sounds.
Books are available everywhere. There are plenty of lousy books (gimmick books, derivatives from Disney movies, dumbed down classics to name a few). I'm not suggesting that those are worth purchasing but I wouldn't cause WW3 if little Johnny had his hands and heart set on a crummy one. I'd buy another one as well that I thought might intrigue him and sit back and see which one lasts…
I refuse to buy anything morbid or depressing and I try to buy a good story with a winning touch. To follow a plot trains the thinking process. It's easy to read the children's books right in the store. The Newberry and Caldecott winners are usually good but I choose what I like.
Boys like variety and choice. They like non-fiction, plays, comics, gross humor, bizarre twists, irreverence and adventure. Older boys like books on sports, contemporary problems, horror and technical books.
Girls like "fairy-tale princess" stories, contemporary girl stories as well as all the boys favorite genres. Girls will read stories with boy heroes but boys usually don't read girl heroine stories. Both read the Harry Potter series, for example, but only girls would read the series if the central character were named Harriet Potter. Both like animal stories.
Read them and you'll know for yourself. Then ask your kids for their opinion! Exchanging opinions with respect develops discernment.
Reading is a family skill that can be shared in so many ways. As a parent, you must learn to listen to your child and sharing reading experiences is one way to develop that skill. Your child will be more able to talk to you if this two way exchange is developed and future crises may possibly be avoided by these open lines of communication. This can lessen stress in the family.
So find the time and share reading with your children.
Let me tell you a little history. I hated studying history in school. I couldn’t remember all those dates and wars were exasperatingly stupid to me. Now I write about history for children and I love doing it. How
did that happen?
