# Parents of small children: what are you currently reading your kids? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 26, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-small-children-what-are-you-currently-reading-your-kids/682339 "2014-02-26T18:31:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-small-children-what-are-you-currently-reading-your-kids/682339/21 "2014-02-27T13:39:51Z")
My 3-year-old’s favorites at the moment are “Berenstain Bears & the Bad Dream,” “When Cats Dream,” (she’s very interested in dreams right now), and “Frozen.” ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-small-children-what-are-you-currently-reading-your-kids/682339/22 "2014-02-27T13:53:12Z")
My 8 year old has been on a Geronimo/Thea Stilton kick for the past year or so. It has been a horrible, horrible year. She also really likes Nancy Drew and Magic Tree House books. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-small-children-what-are-you-currently-reading-your-kids/682339/23 "2014-02-27T14:33:50Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > I just finished _The Jungle Book_ with my 7 and 5 year olds. Now were reading _Prince Caspian_. which is a little strange because we didn’t start with the first book. Does anyone else substitute familiar words for ones their kids may not understand so they don’t have to stop and explain so frequently? British words in this case… Definitely, depending on the book. I will leave some of the tricky vocabulary in so that she hears the lovely language, and it’s always a hoot when she drops it into conversation (“Daddy, it IS rather chilly today, wot?”), but too much is just bewildering, so I change it at my whim. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-small-children-what-are-you-currently-reading-your-kids/682339/24 "2014-02-27T14:45:49Z")
My three year old has been making me read “Willy McSquee and the Pirates Who Loved to Clean” every night, mostly because he likes to hear me sing the songs. One-year-old is digging Brown Bear, Brown Bear and anything by Sandra Boynton ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-small-children-what-are-you-currently-reading-your-kids/682339/25 "2014-02-27T16:11:31Z")
Yellowval, my son loves the Berensteinbooks. We started with The Bad Dream, because I read in the Amazon reviews that that book would help understand toddlers that a bad dream is just a story in your head and that it is an interesting puzzle to figure out from what real life experiences all the dream pieces come from. That approach worked like charm. Not only did my four year old stop having nighmares, he adopted the oh so cute habit of telling me his dreams. Then the collectors instinct set in and now he has about 20 Berenstain books. It is no wonder that the Berensteinbooks are in the top twenty of best selling authors, along with JK Rowling and Agatha’s Christie. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-small-children-what-are-you-currently-reading-your-kids/682339/26 "2014-02-27T16:24:09Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > I just finished _The Jungle Book_ with my 7 and 5 year olds. Now were reading _Prince Caspian_. which is a little strange because we didn’t start with the first book. Does anyone else substitute familiar words for ones their kids may not understand so they don’t have to stop and explain so frequently? British words in this case… Not quite this (yet), but I do edit in another situation, and I feel vaguely guilty about it BUT … I edit stories that are about problems my kid doesn’t have. There are A LOT of toddler books that are about being afraid of the dark/not wanting to go to bed, and often this comes up in a story that is otherwise about something else. My kid is a great bed-goer, and has never been afraid of the dark (sometimes if she’s tired, she’ll ask to put the lights out early so she can go to her “bed cave”). It seems really risky to introduce the topic of being afraid of the dark to her, especially because she’s at the age where she likes to mimic the stories in books. She is also a great eater and loves veggies, and I don’t particularly want her to start refusing green beans just because she read about it in some book. Parenting-wise, I’m cool with waiting until we have an actual problem to introduce a story about dealing with that problem, but as a literature lover, I have this nagging feeling that it’s CENSORSHIP. I realize this is a ridiculous conflict to have. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-small-children-what-are-you-currently-reading-your-kids/682339/27 "2014-02-27T16:58:11Z")
I just finished reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid to the Boy (6 years old) and he really liked it. We also have subscriptions to Highlights and Ranger Rick Jr., though I think he’s at the point where he’s outgrown RR Jr. We borrowed The Troll With No Heart in His Body from the library but he wasn’t really very interested in it. I did ready a couple of the stories from it. He is also reading a Scooby Doo chapter book on his own. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-small-children-what-are-you-currently-reading-your-kids/682339/28 "2014-02-27T17:31:41Z")
We used to edit out words like “die” and “dead” before the kids had any concept of what that meant. We knew they’d learn eventually, but felt no need to introduce the idea in an otherwise benign story. It was tricky sometimes, but an awful lot of people “went away” or “left”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-small-children-what-are-you-currently-reading-your-kids/682339/29 "2014-02-27T17:51:12Z")
We love Julia Donaldson around here; I’ll read her books to the Firebug as long as he wants me to read. Here are my ten favorites, not necessarily in that order: T_he Gruffalo_ (of course) _The Gruffalo’s Child Tiddler_ (aka _The Fish Who Cried Wolf_)\* _Room on the Broom Stick-Man Zog A Squash and a Squeeze What the Ladybug/Ladybird_ Heard Tyrannosaurus Drip The Princess and the Wizard\* \*Title depends on whether you’re in the U.K. or the U.S. And of course, the Axel Scheffler illustrations in all but the last three of those books add to the fun. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-small-children-what-are-you-currently-reading-your-kids/682339/30 "2014-02-27T17:59:51Z")
My not-quite-two-year-old gets read lots of different stuff, but most often Julia Donaldson/Axel Schaeffler stuff - _Gruffalo_ and _Gruffalo’s Child_ are perennial favourites. Then there’s Scotton’s _Russel The Sheep_ books and classics like _The Hungry Caterpillar_, _Little Bear_ and _Where The Wild Things Are_. My nine-year-old is being read Harry Potter _(Goblet of Fire_, currently) by her mum, and reads _Beast Wars_ and\* Goosebumps\* books for herself. I think I’ll give her my Stewart/Riddell _Edge Chronicles_ books after she finishes with Rowling. ETA:RTFirefly, no \*Snail and The Whale? \* ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-small-children-what-are-you-currently-reading-your-kids/682339/31 "2014-02-27T18:14:04Z")
Not anymore, but some of our favorites over the years included: > **[Barn Cat: Saul, Carol P., Azarian, Mary: 9780316761130: Amazon.com: Books](https://www.amazon.com/Barn-Cat-Carol-P-Saul/dp/0316761133)** > > Barn Cat \[Saul, Carol P., Azarian, Mary\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Barn Cat > **[Voyage to the Bunny Planet: Wells, Rosemary: 9780670011032: Amazon.com: Books](https://www.amazon.com/Voyage-Bunny-Planet-Rosemary-Wells/dp/0670011037)** > > Voyage to the Bunny Planet \[Wells, Rosemary\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Voyage to the Bunny Planet > **[Amazon.com: A House Is a House for Me: 9780142407738: Hoberman, Mary Ann: Books](https://www.amazon.com/House-Me-Mary-Ann-Hoberman/dp/0142407739)** > > Amazon.com: A House Is a House for Me: 9780142407738: Hoberman, Mary Ann: Books > **[George Did It: Jurmain, Suzanne Tripp, Day, Larry: 9780142408957: Amazon.com:...](https://www.amazon.com/George-Did-Suzanne-Tripp-Jurmain/dp/0142408956)** > > George Did It \[Jurmain, Suzanne Tripp, Day, Larry\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. George Did It > **[The Hobbit: Tolkien, J. R. R.: 9780618002214: Amazon.com: Books](https://www.amazon.com/Hobbit-J-R-Tolkien/dp/B004OP2V8Q)** > > The Hobbit \[Tolkien, J. R. R.\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. The Hobbit ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-small-children-what-are-you-currently-reading-your-kids/682339/32 "2014-02-27T22:01:35Z")
> [@yanceylebeef](#): > > Our two year old is obsessed with Thomas the Tank engine, so we read two or three Thomas stories each night before bed. He is also a fan of most of Sandra Boynton’s oeuvre, so we read a lot of Pajama Time, Perfect Piggies, and Barnyard Dance. “Oooh yes, it’s Pajama Time! Pajammy to the left…” or maybe it’s “Every day Thomas and his coaches puffed along not too fast, not too slow, and stopped at every station.” Anyway, we read a LOT to our 2.5 year old. I have entire books memorized by now. His favorites: Old favorites: the Sandra Boynton books, various Thomas & Friends counting books, Good Night Gorilla, Goodnight Moon, and all sorts of kid informative books on trucks and trains. Current ones: [ul] [li]“Corduroy” and “A Pocket for Corduroy” by Don Freeman[/li][li]“Potty”, “Huggy Kissy” and “Yummy Yucky” by Leslie Patricelli[/li][li]“Good Night, Good Night Construction Site” by Sherry Rinker[/li][li]“I Stink!” by Kate and Jim McMullan (about a garbage truck)[/li][li]Tony Mitton’s Amazing Machines series (“Busy Boats”, “Tough Trucks”, “Dazzling Diggers”, etc…)[/li][li]“Go Dogs Go!” and “Are You My Mother?” by P.D. Eastman[/li][li]A whole raft of potty training and little brother/baby books since we have another one on the way.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-small-children-what-are-you-currently-reading-your-kids/682339/33 "2014-02-28T02:33:54Z")
We just read _Jacob Two Two Meets the Hooded Fang_ to our six year old. And this book about rats he’s fixated on. The history and biology of rats. He’s reading parts of it to himself. I applaud his curiosity but I’m tired of the book. My two year old twin girls love anything with babies, and Sandra Boyton, and the four year old wants _Goodnight Moon_ or iI Want My Hat Back\* or the stories that _Rise of the Guardians_ is based on. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2014, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-small-children-what-are-you-currently-reading-your-kids/682339/34 "2014-02-28T05:27:29Z")
Tonight, it was “Tes Chausettes sentent la Moufette” by Robert Munsch. The Cub particularly liked when the beavers came to live with Tina’s grandfather. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2014, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-small-children-what-are-you-currently-reading-your-kids/682339/35 "2014-02-28T13:29:08Z")
_Goodnight Moon_ fans who get a little older will get a kick out of _Goodnight iPad_. I’m scared now… does every little boy like Thomas the Train? because I really don’t, and thankfully my girls didn’t much, but the boy will likely be exposed to it soon… shudder… ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2014, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-small-children-what-are-you-currently-reading-your-kids/682339/36 "2014-02-28T13:37:24Z")
My oldest boy liked Thomas for a short time when he was 4 or so. My middle boy was _ **obsessed** _ with Thomas from 4 - 6. Luckily my youngest was never that interested. Beats the hell out of _Caillou_ though… ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2014, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-small-children-what-are-you-currently-reading-your-kids/682339/37 "2014-02-28T13:38:35Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > Yellowval, my son loves the Berensteinbooks. We started with The Bad Dream, because I read in the Amazon reviews that that book would help understand toddlers that a bad dream is just a story in your head and that it is an interesting puzzle to figure out from what real life experiences all the dream pieces come from. That approach worked like charm. Not only did my four year old stop having nighmares, he adopted the oh so cute habit of telling me his dreams. > > Then the collectors instinct set in and now he has about 20 Berenstain books. It is no wonder that the Berensteinbooks are in the top twenty of best selling authors, along with JK Rowling and Agatha’s Christie. We keep checking out the ebook of “Bad Dream” from our library. I need to just pony up the $5 and buy it. It’s been very helpful for my daughter when it comes to understanding dreams as well. She used to panic almost every night because she didn’t want to have a dream. Now we just hear “I had the weirdest dream!” a lot. 🙂 We have probably around 10 Berenstain Bears books, but I’d definitely like to get more. I actually kind of enjoy reading them aloud and the plots are much better than a lot of children’s books. ---
**Author:** ![Wednesday\_Evening](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Wednesday\_Evening](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wednesday_Evening)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2014, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-small-children-what-are-you-currently-reading-your-kids/682339/38 "2014-02-28T20:06:02Z")
> [@Cyros](#): > > My 8 year old has been on a Geronimo/Thea Stilton kick for the past year or so. It has been a horrible, horrible year. Hey, it could be worse - she could be reading the Rainbow Fairy books. I read one aloud to my son a few years ago and refused to read any more because they were so badly written. My 7-year-old is now reading them - sometimes I miss the whole reading-aloud thing but in this case I am thankful she is reading independently! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2014, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-small-children-what-are-you-currently-reading-your-kids/682339/39 "2014-02-28T21:06:21Z")
Each of our three sons went through varying degrees of obsessiveness with Thomas the Tank Engine. We still joke now and then about calling an indignation meeting for something that’s annoying us, or say “Cinders and ashes!” or “Oh, my rods and couplings!” when we don’t want to use stronger language. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-small-children-what-are-you-currently-reading-your-kids/682339/40 "2014-03-01T07:48:41Z")
> [@gonzoron](#): > > _Goodnight Moon_ fans who get a little older will get a kick out of _Goodnight iPad_. The SF fans might get more of a kick out of [Goodnight, Dune](http://goodnightdune.com/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-small-children-what-are-you-currently-reading-your-kids/682339.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-small-children-what-are-you-currently-reading-your-kids/682339.md?page=3)