“Research shows that it is
not until eighth grade that a student's reading level catches up to his
or her listening level. Until that time, most students are capable of
hearing, understanding, and enjoying material that is more complicated
than what they could read.” (Jim Trelease) (via Reading with Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers) It really makes sense once you think about it (my 3 year old still can't read, but she has spent the past 3 years willingly listening to me read books!), but I think we, as parents, often forget this fact - or at least don't take it quite far enough and, instead, stick mainly to board books and shorter picture books.
When Milena was 2.5, we started reading some early readers to her at bedtime like Frog & Toad and Little Bear. These are great because each chapter is a separate story. As her third birthday approached, she began to pull out her Beatrix Potter collection more and more often (which I loved, as I'm a big Beatrix Potter fan!).
Recently, the mama behind In Lieu of Preschool began talking about the chapter books she was reading with her (nearly) 4 year old. They were currently reading The Mouse and the Motorcycle, but had started with The Magic Tree House series. I think I picked our first Magic Tree House book up from the library that same day!
We started with Pirates Past Noon (#4), because that was the earliest book of the series the library had, and I was too excited to wait for #1! My plan was to read one chapter each day before nap time (and possibly another before bed), but one chapter quickly turned into two or three (before nap AND bed), and we finished the book in just two or three days. Luckily, I came across Dinosaurs Before Dark (#1) at the thrift store yesterday (along with four more Magic Tree House books), so we're set for awhile (although we already read three chapters today ..).
The books are simple enough (and the chapters are short enough) that Milena doesn't seem to have trouble following the story. I make sure to stop every so often to help her picture what's happening, and we always talk about what we read the previous day before reading more.
I love this series because it covers so many different topics (dinosaurs, knights, space, weather) that there's a little something for everyone. And it's exciting to think that someday soon Milena will be able to pick these off her shelf and start reading them all by herself!
...
Which books are current bedtime favorites at your house?
Recently, the mama behind In Lieu of Preschool began talking about the chapter books she was reading with her (nearly) 4 year old. They were currently reading The Mouse and the Motorcycle, but had started with The Magic Tree House series. I think I picked our first Magic Tree House book up from the library that same day!
We started with Pirates Past Noon (#4), because that was the earliest book of the series the library had, and I was too excited to wait for #1! My plan was to read one chapter each day before nap time (and possibly another before bed), but one chapter quickly turned into two or three (before nap AND bed), and we finished the book in just two or three days. Luckily, I came across Dinosaurs Before Dark (#1) at the thrift store yesterday (along with four more Magic Tree House books), so we're set for awhile (although we already read three chapters today ..).
The books are simple enough (and the chapters are short enough) that Milena doesn't seem to have trouble following the story. I make sure to stop every so often to help her picture what's happening, and we always talk about what we read the previous day before reading more.
I love this series because it covers so many different topics (dinosaurs, knights, space, weather) that there's a little something for everyone. And it's exciting to think that someday soon Milena will be able to pick these off her shelf and start reading them all by herself!
...
Which books are current bedtime favorites at your house?
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