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!***
I was just wondering when it would be time to start reading chapter books aloud to my almost 5 and 3 year old. Glad to see this may be the perfect time!! They already love looking at picture books as I read and hearing a story from dad is a necessity before bed, so it seems like this will be a fun new activity for us.
Thanks!
Yay!!! I bet you’ll all enjoy jumping into chapter books.
I started reading Charlotte’s Web to James when he was 4. He just turned 5 and we’ve read countless chapter books since then. Our favourite series is The Magic School Bus – he also loves the animated show. He can tell you all about salmon migration and the food chain. We read a chapter every night before bed. I’m very excited to read the Harry Potter series when he is older.
Great post! I started reading the Magic Tree House series with my daughter when she was four–that’s what started us on chapter books too! We went through the whole series in only a few months. Since then we’ve discovered so many fun books together. I love the time I get to spend reading with my children. We also get chapter books on CD from the library. As much as I love reading with my children sometimes they want to listen more than I have time to read to them ( like all afternoon) so that’s when a book on CD comes in handy.
Little House in the Big
Woods, LauraI Ingles Wilder. My oldest 2 were 4&6 at the time and they loved it.
Hi,
I am a children’s librarian and I would just like to point out that your point in #5 Language — is not completely accurate. Any reading is good reading so I don’t want to dissuade anyone, but beginning chapter books like magic Tree House are written with beginning readers in mind. They use limited vocabulary so that they can be easily read. Non-fiction, folk tales, poems, and long picture books, on the other hand include a larger number of rare vocabulary words and increase a child’s general background knowledge about the world. Both of those things (vocabulary and background knowledge) have been shown by numerous studies to be directly correlated to long-term school success. My opinion – skip the Magic Fairy books or pair them with some non-fiction like Jason Chin or Emily McCully.
Hello, I love all the book idea but I am curious if I am wanting to start too early. My son will turn 3 next month. We have been reading since well truthfully before he was born, I would read out loud to him while I was pregnant and have read to him since the day he was born. I love to read and wanted to pass that on to my child. I was successful. He loves to read and I often have found him in his room being quiet (never a good thing lol) sitting on his bean bag chair “reading” a book or two. He has an amazing imagination and for the past few months or so I read him his bed time story and he in turn “reads” it back to me. Of course it is never verbatim when he reads it but I get a kick out of what he comes up with and what he had retained from the actual story itself. As I am writing this I realize that I think we are ready for chapter books. I am wanting to start out simple at first. Does anyone have a perfect starter chapter book for a young boy?
Love this advice! Reagan is 5 and I have not yet started chapter books. I will now, great summer reading! Headed to your next post to get an idea of what to start with.. Great post!