Today’s Notes From the Reading Nook is an experiment with an open thread (Substack’s endeavor, in my mind, to revive the heady days of ye olde chatroom, in the best way). It’s available to all subscribers because the more the merrier.
Now that 2022 is officially here, four days into it I am vaguely considering the next 12 months. I never make resolutions, but I’ve been thinking about my family’s reading life, as always, and dreaming about this year.
I want to increase our before-bed reading time by 15 minutes, either out of bed or in it (so, firstly, where can I get an actual Time-Turner?)
I want to incorporate some American Sign Language learning books, as this is something in which my 7yo has expressed strong interest (anyone have any recommendations?)
And I want to read my kids L. Frank Baum’s original The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
What is a family reading goal or dream you’d like to work toward this year?
I’d like to return to more regularly reading poetry in the mornings. I vie for breakfast time with the boys’ grandfather, but he’s rarely up in time before the middleschooler leaves for the bus, so that’s one possibility. And I’d like to decrease the amount I read onscreen and increase actual book or magazine reading.
I read Wizard of Oz to my kids a few years ago and maybe they were too young or the movie had too much of an imprint but it was a different experience than I imagined it would be. Still fun, of course, but unsettling in places. I censored some decapitations. I’m curious to hear how it goes in your family.
I really appreciate this comment, Kyle. I have definitely heard that the experience of the book is different than expected... but I didn't know about decapitations. One of my children is very sensitive and doesn't do well with anything scary, much less violent, so maybe I need to pre-read this one. Thanks for bringing this up!
I LOVE this thread question! Since I have a young one, all our book reading has been very organic. For instance, my family each reads their own book in our bed as part of our nighttime routine. For my new year goal, I’d like to be more deliberate in how the ways we fit in reading time into our schedules so we keep good practices moving forward
I started reading to my babies at bedtime when they were each 3 months old (in addition to the organic reading) -- it was and still is something we all look forward to.
Hi Sarah (& community), I'm glad I found your substack, and I feel a jolt of happiness when I see one of your emails in my inbox. My son will be 5 this year and has gotten very into early chapter books, so one of our goals is to find some gems. We have read the whole Zoey and Sassafras series twice, so science and magic clearly work for us. Besides that, just continuing daily reading together is a (tangible) dream for the year.
I cannot think of a better compliment than, "I feel a jolt of happiness when I see one of your emails in my inbox." Thank you so much, Stephanie ❤️
Your goals sound very fun, and 5 is such a great age for reading together. Do you know the Questioneers series? They're chapter books based on the characters from Andrea Beaty's picture books (Rosie Revere, Engineer, etc.) There is no magic but the stories are well-done and entertaining (my kiddos like Ada Twist and The Perilous Pants the best) and I can see them appealing to fans of Zoey and Sassafras.
Also worth checking out is Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon -- it made my 5yo laugh so hard she fell off the couch (and it's a series too, so there's more where that came from).
Hi Sarah! I have a few goals when it comes to reading with my two-year-old daughter:
1) Get better at finding books that are the right length—lately I've been grabbing stories that end up being way too long to read aloud repeatedly and keep my sanity (she doesn't mind length, but we sure do). Also, I've found that rhyming books are just easier and more fun to read aloud, so I'd like to find more of those.
2) Find some books to help illustrate big milestones in her life. Specifically: potty training, the arrival of a baby sibling, and the passing of a beloved grandfather with terminal cancer. I feel like I haven't found anything that strikes the right balance of developmentally appropriate, the right length and tone, and well-written and illustrated. Let me know if you have suggestions!
3) Encourage her to look at her books independently. She loves being read to, but maybe I am just TOO fantastic a reader? At what age do kids start really digging looking at their books without an adult narrating them?
Rose, you're doing such a great job -- I can tell just by how thoughtfully and intentionally you approached this prompt.
1) If you can give me a couple examples of books you feel are too long right now, I might be able to suggest some shorter (sanity saving!) ones.
2) I actually have a book list for potty training on my Bookshop.org storefront! I do get a small commission if you use this link to purchase any books but no pressure -- I make these to more easily share lists with people, like now! https://bookshop.org/lists/books-for-potty-training
I also did a Spotlight On edition for Loss, Death, and Grief -- there is an entire section there at the bottom with book suggestions for loss of a loved one. I recommend The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr and Liplap's Wish by Jonathan London for a 2yo. https://canweread.substack.com/p/spotlight-on-loss-death-and-grief
3) I don't think there's a common age when this starts to happen -- it all depends on your particular household, access to books, what else she might be interested in at the moment. There are so many factors. But if this is behavior you'd like to cultivate, I'd set her up for success: give her a small basket of books to look at in the car while you're driving (or bring a few in a bag during public transit). Leave the same sort of small basket at the foot of her bed or in a small comfortable area (I once made a reading nook for my toddler with a bathmat and a pillow propped against the wall -- this does NOT have to be fancy). Even if she has access to bookshelves of her own, in her room or otherwise, pulling a handful of titles and putting them in a special container might pique her interest enough to sit down on her own, and help her focus (seeing a shelf of spines might as well be a blank wall for a lot of kids; heck, even adults, so the point is to narrow her vision, so to speak). I have more ideas if you need them, so please don't hesitate to reach out!
I got "Extra Yarn" from the library and really lost stream halfway through. I think maybe the problem is that I'm mostly placing holds at the library without seeing the books in person first, so I'm not really gauging the length. But, it's also kind of fun to be surprised with whatever I end up with. There is such a spectrum between board books and long-ish picture books to explore.
Thank you for the link to your loss, death and grief list! We are not there yet and hopefully won't be for a while, but it's good to have the resources at hand. And thank you for the great suggestions for how to encourage independent "reading."
There is definitely a leap that happens between board books and longer picture books... it can be hard to find ones in that gap. I think the pandemic is making it more challenging, too, because many people (maybe you?) are no longer able to, or willing to, browse the shelves at the library.
Try Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback, Happy in Our Skin by Fran Manushkin, and Mommies Say Shh! by Patricia Polacco (the latter is my all-time most-recommended title for 2yos). (And I have many more recommendations if you need them...)
Since I first responded, I've since thought that perhaps my issue on "Looking Books" might also help you as you think about how to foster that independent, well, looking: https://canweread.substack.com/p/how-can-we-read-looking-books Not saying give a toddler a coffee table book, but there are a ton of great children's books with photographs that hold a toddler's attention. I am thinking of anything by Ann Morris (Shoes, Shoes, Shoes; On the Go; and Hats, Hats, Hats are excellent).
My reading goals for my kids this year is to keep making weekly trips to the library, help my 4 almost 5 year old read through the first two BOB book collections, and get my 6 almost 7 year old reading on his own. Right now he’ll read to me if I sit down with him and he’ll let me read to him (which I plan to continue to do) but he won’t grab a book and read on his own, just flip through looking at pictures. He has discovered a love of audiobooks and using a play away, but again, I’m hoping to find something he enjoys enough to want to read himself.
These are great goals, Kyle! (Good luck with those BOB Books. If I've learned anything from trying to teach my own child to read, it's that maybe parents aren't the best teachers... not saying that to discourage you, just know that it's normal if it's not easy!)
One strategy for getting kids to start reading independently is to read them the first chapter book in a series that really grabs them. Then, when they want more of the story, tell them, "Oh, hey, you can read this next one on your own to see what happens..." We're not quite at that point yet in my house so I haven't tried this myself, but it's something Sarah MacKenzie of Read-Aloud Revival recommends (as does my best friend, a kindergarten teacher with a 7yo she used this strategy with). Let me know if I can help with any recommendations for books that might ignite that spark!
My reading goal for my kids in 2022 is to be more consistent about using our library to bring new books into our lives. I don’t know why this has just occurred to me, but it is so incredibly easy (and exciting) to place holds on books recommended in the newsletter. We just went though our first stack tonight. My kids and I loved reading new books and it’s a habit I think we can keep up.
It's not humanly possible for me to be a bigger fan of libraries (not to mention librarians and library staff), so you're preaching to the choir here... but I love this. And what a worthy goal. Your nearest library is so lovely and has a great children's section. (Though, of course, when you're putting books on hold, you're getting the benefit of the mindblowing South Central Library System catalog -- and I assure you, after having lived in smaller systems, we are super lucky to have such an enormous number of titles available.)
Since we are a household of two adults - and since this adult will be back to commuting a few days a week - I want to be intentional about using my commute time for audiobooks (instead of just podcasts) and this feels very doable :) Thanks for the reminder that audiobooks are here for us, and that they 'count'. Also, I want to more regularly send books to my niecelets across the country...and maybe encourage my grandparents to take them to the library for adventures!
I’d like to return to more regularly reading poetry in the mornings. I vie for breakfast time with the boys’ grandfather, but he’s rarely up in time before the middleschooler leaves for the bus, so that’s one possibility. And I’d like to decrease the amount I read onscreen and increase actual book or magazine reading.
I love this, Tim. (And I'd love to hear what poetry your boys enjoy the most, when you start back up!)
I read Wizard of Oz to my kids a few years ago and maybe they were too young or the movie had too much of an imprint but it was a different experience than I imagined it would be. Still fun, of course, but unsettling in places. I censored some decapitations. I’m curious to hear how it goes in your family.
I really appreciate this comment, Kyle. I have definitely heard that the experience of the book is different than expected... but I didn't know about decapitations. One of my children is very sensitive and doesn't do well with anything scary, much less violent, so maybe I need to pre-read this one. Thanks for bringing this up!
I LOVE this thread question! Since I have a young one, all our book reading has been very organic. For instance, my family each reads their own book in our bed as part of our nighttime routine. For my new year goal, I’d like to be more deliberate in how the ways we fit in reading time into our schedules so we keep good practices moving forward
That sounds so cozy and lovely, Olivia!
I started reading to my babies at bedtime when they were each 3 months old (in addition to the organic reading) -- it was and still is something we all look forward to.
Hi Sarah (& community), I'm glad I found your substack, and I feel a jolt of happiness when I see one of your emails in my inbox. My son will be 5 this year and has gotten very into early chapter books, so one of our goals is to find some gems. We have read the whole Zoey and Sassafras series twice, so science and magic clearly work for us. Besides that, just continuing daily reading together is a (tangible) dream for the year.
I cannot think of a better compliment than, "I feel a jolt of happiness when I see one of your emails in my inbox." Thank you so much, Stephanie ❤️
Your goals sound very fun, and 5 is such a great age for reading together. Do you know the Questioneers series? They're chapter books based on the characters from Andrea Beaty's picture books (Rosie Revere, Engineer, etc.) There is no magic but the stories are well-done and entertaining (my kiddos like Ada Twist and The Perilous Pants the best) and I can see them appealing to fans of Zoey and Sassafras.
Also worth checking out is Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon -- it made my 5yo laugh so hard she fell off the couch (and it's a series too, so there's more where that came from).
You're welcome! Thank you for those recs--I just put them on hold at our library.
Awesome! I'd love to hear if they work out for you and your son.
Hi Sarah! I have a few goals when it comes to reading with my two-year-old daughter:
1) Get better at finding books that are the right length—lately I've been grabbing stories that end up being way too long to read aloud repeatedly and keep my sanity (she doesn't mind length, but we sure do). Also, I've found that rhyming books are just easier and more fun to read aloud, so I'd like to find more of those.
2) Find some books to help illustrate big milestones in her life. Specifically: potty training, the arrival of a baby sibling, and the passing of a beloved grandfather with terminal cancer. I feel like I haven't found anything that strikes the right balance of developmentally appropriate, the right length and tone, and well-written and illustrated. Let me know if you have suggestions!
3) Encourage her to look at her books independently. She loves being read to, but maybe I am just TOO fantastic a reader? At what age do kids start really digging looking at their books without an adult narrating them?
Rose, you're doing such a great job -- I can tell just by how thoughtfully and intentionally you approached this prompt.
1) If you can give me a couple examples of books you feel are too long right now, I might be able to suggest some shorter (sanity saving!) ones.
2) I actually have a book list for potty training on my Bookshop.org storefront! I do get a small commission if you use this link to purchase any books but no pressure -- I make these to more easily share lists with people, like now! https://bookshop.org/lists/books-for-potty-training
I also did a Spotlight On edition for Loss, Death, and Grief -- there is an entire section there at the bottom with book suggestions for loss of a loved one. I recommend The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr and Liplap's Wish by Jonathan London for a 2yo. https://canweread.substack.com/p/spotlight-on-loss-death-and-grief
3) I don't think there's a common age when this starts to happen -- it all depends on your particular household, access to books, what else she might be interested in at the moment. There are so many factors. But if this is behavior you'd like to cultivate, I'd set her up for success: give her a small basket of books to look at in the car while you're driving (or bring a few in a bag during public transit). Leave the same sort of small basket at the foot of her bed or in a small comfortable area (I once made a reading nook for my toddler with a bathmat and a pillow propped against the wall -- this does NOT have to be fancy). Even if she has access to bookshelves of her own, in her room or otherwise, pulling a handful of titles and putting them in a special container might pique her interest enough to sit down on her own, and help her focus (seeing a shelf of spines might as well be a blank wall for a lot of kids; heck, even adults, so the point is to narrow her vision, so to speak). I have more ideas if you need them, so please don't hesitate to reach out!
I got "Extra Yarn" from the library and really lost stream halfway through. I think maybe the problem is that I'm mostly placing holds at the library without seeing the books in person first, so I'm not really gauging the length. But, it's also kind of fun to be surprised with whatever I end up with. There is such a spectrum between board books and long-ish picture books to explore.
Thank you for the link to your loss, death and grief list! We are not there yet and hopefully won't be for a while, but it's good to have the resources at hand. And thank you for the great suggestions for how to encourage independent "reading."
There is definitely a leap that happens between board books and longer picture books... it can be hard to find ones in that gap. I think the pandemic is making it more challenging, too, because many people (maybe you?) are no longer able to, or willing to, browse the shelves at the library.
Try Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback, Happy in Our Skin by Fran Manushkin, and Mommies Say Shh! by Patricia Polacco (the latter is my all-time most-recommended title for 2yos). (And I have many more recommendations if you need them...)
Since I first responded, I've since thought that perhaps my issue on "Looking Books" might also help you as you think about how to foster that independent, well, looking: https://canweread.substack.com/p/how-can-we-read-looking-books Not saying give a toddler a coffee table book, but there are a ton of great children's books with photographs that hold a toddler's attention. I am thinking of anything by Ann Morris (Shoes, Shoes, Shoes; On the Go; and Hats, Hats, Hats are excellent).
My reading goals for my kids this year is to keep making weekly trips to the library, help my 4 almost 5 year old read through the first two BOB book collections, and get my 6 almost 7 year old reading on his own. Right now he’ll read to me if I sit down with him and he’ll let me read to him (which I plan to continue to do) but he won’t grab a book and read on his own, just flip through looking at pictures. He has discovered a love of audiobooks and using a play away, but again, I’m hoping to find something he enjoys enough to want to read himself.
These are great goals, Kyle! (Good luck with those BOB Books. If I've learned anything from trying to teach my own child to read, it's that maybe parents aren't the best teachers... not saying that to discourage you, just know that it's normal if it's not easy!)
One strategy for getting kids to start reading independently is to read them the first chapter book in a series that really grabs them. Then, when they want more of the story, tell them, "Oh, hey, you can read this next one on your own to see what happens..." We're not quite at that point yet in my house so I haven't tried this myself, but it's something Sarah MacKenzie of Read-Aloud Revival recommends (as does my best friend, a kindergarten teacher with a 7yo she used this strategy with). Let me know if I can help with any recommendations for books that might ignite that spark!
My reading goal for my kids in 2022 is to be more consistent about using our library to bring new books into our lives. I don’t know why this has just occurred to me, but it is so incredibly easy (and exciting) to place holds on books recommended in the newsletter. We just went though our first stack tonight. My kids and I loved reading new books and it’s a habit I think we can keep up.
It's not humanly possible for me to be a bigger fan of libraries (not to mention librarians and library staff), so you're preaching to the choir here... but I love this. And what a worthy goal. Your nearest library is so lovely and has a great children's section. (Though, of course, when you're putting books on hold, you're getting the benefit of the mindblowing South Central Library System catalog -- and I assure you, after having lived in smaller systems, we are super lucky to have such an enormous number of titles available.)
Since we are a household of two adults - and since this adult will be back to commuting a few days a week - I want to be intentional about using my commute time for audiobooks (instead of just podcasts) and this feels very doable :) Thanks for the reminder that audiobooks are here for us, and that they 'count'. Also, I want to more regularly send books to my niecelets across the country...and maybe encourage my grandparents to take them to the library for adventures!
Love this! Worthy goals, all around.