Over here we have really gotten into reading as part of our daily routine. Most of the time it’s books at the end of the day as part of our bedtime routine, but because we are trying to work on Cameron’s word count and speech, we have been incorporating reading as often as we can when she’s at home.
Here are the books that we have been favoring this past month. A theme I was trying to represent for her books at bedtime was “goodnight, and bedtime is nice” because I wanted her to understand when we were reading these books it was time to settle down and settle in, that nighttime was not scary, and bedtime is fun. All our favorites this month sort of rotate around that theme. Now that we’ve been reading at bedtime for a while now, I feel comfortable rotating in and out books so we get a bigger variety. When I first started reading to her at bedtime, it was more to establish a routine so that she understood that when we read, it meant it was time for bed, so I was trying to give her those same constant stories to she would put two and two together. Now I think she does understand that regardless of what books we read, once she gets into bed and mommy or daddy read her those stories, whichever ones we choose, that after that it’s lights out and bedtime.
Most of the books I read to her, were either gifts, or bought at a second hand store, but I’m sure you can find most on Amazon or at Target.
The Goodnight Train by June Sobel– This is a cute book about a train that takes passengers on a journey as they get ready for bed. You get the train ready by cleaning it up, then the passengers board, and it travels off to dreamland, then you get dropped back off at home and get ready for bed. I like the book because it has some great pictures, it’s the right length for a toddler, and it rhymes. All great points in my book.
Goodnight, I Love You by Caroline Jayne Church- Another cute and short book to hold your toddler’s attention. This book describes your bedtime routine, and to wash up, brush teeth, get ready for bed, and all tucked it. This book also rhymes so it’s fun to be able to put emphasis on different words and make the story exciting.
I Love you Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak- This book has easily become one of our favorites. It talk about all the things you love about the person, and when I read it I try to act out different words, and go through motions, so that Cameron is also learning body parts and such. Because we have read it every night for some time, she now has parts of it memorized, so she does the action before I even get to the part in the book. Great story too.
I’ll See you in the Morning by Mike Jolley- I wanted a book that sort of described that although it’s bedtime and you need to go to sleep, that we would still be here in the morning. This book did that perfectly. It sets the tone to not be afraid of the dark, and reassures that we are here if you need us, and we will see you in the morning. With all the negative in the world, I just wanted something that would help ease any of those scared feelings. I don’t know if Cameron will be scared of the dark, or of monsters in her closet as she gets older, but I like how this book tries to explain that all is going to be alright.
I’m excited to see what books become our favorite in the month of March. I have found that we like books of the medium length, and I personally enjoy reading books that rhyme but still tell a story. Although we may change it up and do one or two longer stories rather than four or more medium to short stories. It all depends on how she reacts as we begin the books.
