There is something special about reading with children. Whether it is bed time or another quiet time during the day, inviting your toddler to enjoy a book with you can strengthen your bond and encourage your toddler’s natural curiosity. There are so many books to choose from, and I have found that there is no easy way to predict which ones will become Dylan’s favorites and which will be read once, or started and not finished because they did not hold his attention.
I have found one author whose books Dylan absolutely adores. Virginia Lee Burton’s classic children’s stories from the 1940’s are just as appealing to him as they were to me when I was a child. Even some of his grandparents remember the books from their own childhoods. We have read two of her books so far, “Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel”, and “Katy and the Big Snow”.
We have had “Mike Mulligan” in our book collection ever since Dylan was about a year old, when I found a copy of it in board book form. He loves the story, and sometimes I even change the words a little and pretend that it is a book about him because he loves to dig. We have read the book many times, and even when Dylan wants me to read it a few times in the same day I do not mind because I enjoy it so much.
Today was Dylan’s birthday. We kept things fairly simple with a trip to town for lunch and a little shopping. One of the stores that we visited was a local book store. As Dylan played with the toys on the floor, I scoped out the titles in the children’s section. I saw a copy of “Katy and the Big Snow” and thought that it might be just the thing for Dylan. When I asked him whether he wanted that book for his birthday or whether he wanted to choose a different one, he chose “Katy and the Big Snow”.
This afternoon, his Auntie came over to visit and she read “Katy and the Big Snow” to Dylan while I did the dishes. He loved it so much that he had her read it twice. Later on, he asked me to read it three times before he went to bed. Virginia Lee Burton’s classic children’s books are as loved by children today as they were when she first wrote them. The simple and inspiring stories illustrate positive values like loyalty, strength, and hard work. The books are also beautifully illustrated, which makes them a treat for children and parents alike. I am excited that there are other books by Virginia Lee Burton that we have not yet read – perhaps we can find them on our next trip to the library or the book store.
Photo courtesy of Amazon.com.