Fall in Love with Reading to Your Child

By Kimberly Bowen

Reading books with your child should be a fun experience for both of you. However, many books are so dull that reading can become a chore that neither of you look forward to. Learn to read software can help your child increase his or her skills with fun games. While this reading software is a good way to improve proficiency, there is no substitute for one-on-one reading time with your child. If you two are reading books that are putting you both to sleep, it's time to find something different you can both enjoy. To help you two have fun reading, we've compiled a list of books and series you and your child can enjoy together.

Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park

The first book in the series that bears her name begins when Junie B. Jones enters kindergarten. Throughout the series, you follow Junie through school and into the first grade at the start of the second series. Her experiences are common among children her age. She interacts with her classmates, rides the school bus, finds new friends and even becomes her own hairdresser. This series speaks to kids on a first grade reading level. Even if your child isn't yet reading at a first grade level, you can still enjoy all of Junie B. Jones' adventures together if you do the reading.

While we haven't found a Junie B. Jones book we didn't enjoy, these are some of our favorites from this series:

The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter

If you've never read about naughty Peter Rabbit running from Mr. McGregor or Squirrel Nutkin taunting the owl Old Brown, it's time to change that. Beatrix Potter was an English author who published these stories back in the early 1900s. There are many classic stories your kids will love to read. In addition to "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" and "The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin," she published 21 other fantastic tales. These are some of her other masterpieces:

The Tale of Benjamin Bunny
The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle
The Tale of Tom Kitten
The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher
The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies

Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish

Amelia Bedelia is a maid who takes everything literally. Instead of pulling the weeds out of the garden when she's asked to weed the garden, she fills the garden with more weeds. When she's asked to dust something, she sprinkles dust on it. To prune the bush, Amelia Bedelia thinks you are supposed to stick prunes on it. This series by Peggy Parish is for audiences four and older. While it may be more for children than adults, you might find it enjoyable to watch your kids laugh at the silly interpretations Amelia takes of the tasks on her lists of things to do.

Below are some books you may want to start with:

Bill Peet

If you're looking for books with great illustrations and quality storylines, Bill Peet won't let you down. He illustrated and wrote the stories for a number of Disney films, including "101 Dalmatians," "The Sword and the Stone," "Cinderella" and "Dumbo." Reading his stories will entertain you and your kids.

Among his collection, you'll find these books:

Taking time to read with your kids will help them be more successful in school. Good books will make this time of learning how to read more enjoyable. Reading fun books will also give you and your kids memories you can remember fondly.

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