why should you read chapter books with young kids?
Reading is important. Reading is so important that you have probably already read many articles, posts, and books on how important reading is. Big M and Little M have been read to since they were old enough to sit in my lap. We’ve drooled (quite literally) over board books, “ohhh”ed and “ahh”ed over picture books and happily jumped into the exciting world of chapter books.
It was a couple of Christmases ago, (Big M was 5 and little M was 3) that my sister handed out the greatest gift our family could have received. Two books from the Magic Tree House series written by Mary Pope Osborne. We sat down and started reading. We tore through book after book as M and M begged for more. They followed Jack and Annie (the fascinating brother-sister duo) throughout history. They expanded their imaginations recreating the scenes as they ran side by side through our backyard. On more than one occasion Big M has sat for over an hour listening as a Magic Tree House book is read from cover to cover. (No small feat for my EXTREMELY active little boy.)
These books were such a hit, I decided to up the ante. We picked up The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo and spent an entire month engaged in the story. The kids and I found ourselves talking about the adventure throughout the day, relating the story to our own daily lives and pining away for the next time we could continue reading. We were hooked. When the book ended I found myself in search of another, eager to begin a new exciting story.
That brings me here… to the reason for this post. As we began the next book I started really thinking about what M and M were gaining from these experiences and how I could expand on them even more…
Chapter books with young kids
1. Chapter books will build on a love for reading.
2. Kids will gain an even greater appreciation for the written word. (There are no pictures to pull you through.)
3. Chapter books force you to practice patience. It would be impossible to read a 300 page book in one sitting. With chapter books you are often forced to press pause on something so exciting. (How many times have you told yourself “just one more page” while reading a nail biting novel?)
4. Visualization is a given. The story unfolds in pictures created in your kids’ imagination instead of an illustrator’s vision.
5. Language, language, language. Chapter books use descriptive words to replace pictures. Imagine the new words your little one will be hearing over and over.
6. Family Connection. Most of the movies and shows that kids are interested in can be pretty boring for adults and vise versa. But reading a carefully selected novel together can be exciting for everyone involved. (Once they can read on their own it may not be quite as easy to join in the journey, so make sure to really enjoy it.)
What age did you start reading chapter books with your kids?
Make sure to visit Quick Reader Chapter Books and Chapter Book Review to find out what we’ve read!
***Make sure to read the comments. There is some really great information left by readers!***
The first chapter book a read to my boys was Charlotte’s Web. I was surprised by how engaged the were. Even though my younger son could not sit still and I would say “I think that is enough for today” they would beg for more. Then I made a terrible mistake. We were just more than half way through when, visiting a friend, my kids saw the movie! The next time we sat down to read all I got was “no thank you, we know how it ends.” So sad. I will be more carefull now.
Hi! I love reading all of your ideas and book suggestions. Goodreads.com also published beautiful list of 560 best books to read aloud to kids. I have a 14 month old and one coming soon, reading in my lap is a way big brother gets to bond with his kicking fetal little brother. I began reading The Boxcar Children series to him at around 4 months old and since then we have read hundreds of books ranging from Roald Dahl to Charles Dickens. Of course throughout the day he brings age appropriate picture books to me he wants read and sits right in my lap, but during independent play and quiet time Mommy is always in the background reading aloud from a chapter book. I do not believe it is ever too early to start reading chapter books to your kids. Any time you take to foster a love for reading in your children will be worth it. My family and friends are astounded in my active little toddlers love for books. Also by starting early you, as the parent, get to see what is out there and what is appropriate for your family and what is not. As parents I think we gravitate to the old books that imprinted a memory on us as kids but there is a lot of new literature out there too to explore so explore it early so you can weed out the good from the bad for you precious littles.
Fantastic point about new literature!
I’m obviously a little late to the party, haha! But I found you after a google search of what age is appropriate for chapter books being read to kids, and I see you recommended everyone come back a few days later for a comprehensive kiddo book list? I can’t find that post however 🙁 Can you please help?
Hi Amanda! I started reading chapter books to my kids when they were 5 and 3. It was the perfect time. Of course the chapter books were an addition to picture books but there is something special about hearing a longer story come together. Here are links to two posts with chapter books we’ve read Chapter Book Review and Quick Reader Chapter Books. I also have a Family Book Club series with discussion questions and activities.
In a age where Kids have a disconnect with parents as they grow up, I think this is a brilliant way to have bonding between kids and family at a young age itself. These are good values and good times we gift to our kids. Besides books are magical, it improves imagination and elicits a sense of wonder in children. They hear about this character, a land and travel places and well, it is just innocence of children that evoke in them a sense of wonder. I can imagine kids listening to stories, showing their enthusiasm which is contagious as the adult story teller will feel the way kids feel, seeing the reaction of kids. I love reading and singing and even enacting scenes from the Hobbit. And the chapter Riddles in Dark is totally captivating – guess what is this –“ Alive without breath ,As cold as death;, Never thirsty, ever drinking,
All in mail never clinking” , its fish. This reading of the Hobbit was such a hit with kids, so reading is one activity that has the power to bind a family and its a fun thing to do at home, rather than watching TV. We say innocence is lost, its always there, read some stories to your kids and sense their beauty of innocence while it still lasts, spend more quality time with kids reading to them stories.