Today is the National Education Association’s annual Read Across America Day. Traditionally celebrated in conjunction with Dr. Seuss’s birthday, RAA aims to promote literacy and a love of reading by encouraging educators, parents, and communities by participating in a week of special activities. Classrooms around the country will spend the week with some extra focus on the enjoyment of reading. Helping children grow into lifelong readers with critical thinking skills means instilling in them a love of books at a young age. If reading is fun and interactive, children are more likely to continue to enjoy reading into adulthood.
There is nothing quite like cuddling up with your children and some great books at the end of a long day. Reading together is a wonderful way to spend quality time exploring the world through books. Whether you laugh together over a silly story or inspire conversation that continues after the last page has been turned, when you read with your children you connect with them, strengthen your relationship, broaden their minds, and teach them to associate books with strong positive feelings.
In honor of Read Across America Day, I’d like to share some of the books my daughters and I enjoy together. Maybe you will find something new to share with a child in your life!
1. The Day the Crayons Quit: Our all time favorite book, and not just because I love color but also because I love listening to my children laugh and giggle, especially when we get to the nude crayon.
2. Iggy Peck Architect and Rosie Revere Engineer: Both of these are absolutely well written and beautifully illustrated. Iggy Peck and Rosie Revere never give up and teach that when something fails, you have to try again.
3. We Are in a Book! Anything written by Mo Willems is a hit in our house. Elephant & Piggie bring more giggles and great interaction between the children. We also can’t forget the Knuffle Bunny series by Mo Willems.
4. Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride A great chapter book for your kids.
5. Dear Mr. Blueberry An adorable story of a young girl named Emily and her teacher, Mr.Blueberry, who exchange letters during the summer about a whale in her pond. This is a joy to read, so sweet and innocent!
6. Pete the Cat Mikayla, my youngest daughter, loves the rhyming and song throughout the Pete the Cat series of books.
7. Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon Molly Lou Melon leaves you believing in being the best you can be and loving who you are.
8. National Geographic Readers Olivia, our 8 year old, absolutely loves these biographies from National Geographic. They make it so easy and interesting for children to learn about history.
Do you have favorite books to read with the children in your life?