Most parents don’t like reading to their kids, according to a recent survey from HarperCollins and Nielsen. In 2012, nearly two-thirds of parents said they read to their young children frequently. That number has sunk over the years, bottoming out at 41% this year.
Parents’ distaste for reading aloud has disastrous effects on early literacy. The words children hear when read to form their vocabularies. Story time also builds children’s understanding of how sounds come together to form words, giving them a foundation for phonics.
These arguments may not convince parents to change their habits. If parents’ skill-based view of reading won’t get them to crack open a board book, maybe they need a reminder that reading out loud can be fun—with the right books.
In our house, books usher in the start of the day, mark the settling down for a nap, and bring a final note of peace before bed.
The reason I like reading out loud so much? I don’t read bad books. I’m a snob when it comes to children’s stories. I hate to read books that are boring, inane, or preachy, even if they’re topped off with cute illustrations.
Sadly, I’ve found that a lot of books fit these categories. It’s easy to stroll through the children’s section of the library and pick up a dud. The shelves are stuffed with regurgitated Disney movies (as if I need to review the plot of “Frozen”), neverending series (I don’t want to know what Fancy Nancy does for Christmas), and wordless picture books.
There’s an easy solution to the problem of bad, boring, or annoying books: Don’t read them. My kids know I won’t read the witless encyclopedia on aquarium creatures their grandpa gave them, but they don’t know I threw out the book about a cat who wishes to be a unicorn.
So to the parent who thinks they hate reading aloud, I’d politely suggest you take stock of the kinds of books you’re reading.
Here’s a list of great books by Michigan authors that you can have fun reading to your kids:
“Thunder Cake” by Patricia Polacco
Patricia Polacco was born in Lansing and spent her childhood summers in Michigan, as chronicled in “Thunder Cake” and other stories. Our copy, saved from my childhood, is so well loved that the cover has long fallen off, leaving soft, worn pages that my children know to treat with care. Polacco’s work includes many other vivid books, including “The Keeping Quilt,” “The Bee Tree,” and “Chicken Sunday.”
“Jumanji” by Chris Van Allsburg
Chris Van Allsburg, who grew up in Grand Rapids, is famous for several tales, including the thrilling “Jumanji” and the nostalgic “Polar Express” (which is way more enchanting than the movie). His shadowy illustrations are captivating, and his writing is no less transportive.
“Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum” by Lisa Wheeler
Lisa Wheeler’s most recent work is an ongoing series about dinosaurs, but I will always think of her as the author of books like the singable “Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum” or the equally melodic “Porcupining.” Wheeler is a personal favorite of mine. The Michigan native visited my elementary school several times when I was a girl. I treasure her Thanksgiving tale, “Turk and Runt,” so much that I bought myself a copy the first time I celebrated the holiday away from home at age 22.
“A Sick Day for Amos McGee” by Erin and Philip Stead
Erin and Philip Stead live in Ann Arbor, where they created charming tales such as the Caldecott-winning “A Sick Day for Amos McGee.” My children are also fond of the Steads’ “Bear Has a Story to Tell,” a perfect book for Michigan’s blustery November days.
“The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!” by Jon Scieszka
Flint-born Jon Scieska has reimagined a number of folk stories and fairy tales. His retelling of the Three Little Pigs gives the wolf a chance to tell his side of the story, and his account—along with laughably disgusting illustrations—captivates young readers and parents alike. Scieszka achieves similar results in stories like “The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales.”
Katie Clarey is a contributing writer for Michigan Enjoyer.
