A Little About My Baby / Toddler and Myself
I am an elementary school teacher, an author, and most importantly, a mom. My daughter, Katie May, recently turned three years old; she loves to be read to and to "read" aloud to herself.
What I Did:
I read to her from the time she was a baby as a cuddle / calm time. We'd sit in a rocking chair and get cozy together to enjoy a rhyming story that quickly became familiar.
How I Did It:
Katie loves books that have a simple story and some rhyme. Her first favourite was, Counting Kisses by Karen Katz. She likes all the old classics like Good Night Moon and Good Dog Carl (almost wordless, but such a great story to tell). Another favourite is Sometimes I Like To Curl Up In A Ball, and a great before bed book that always leaves me yawning is Tumble Bumble.
When I noticed Katie doing and saying amusing things, I decided that I should write some books about her in a style that I would enjoy reading. So I did, and I published them! Katie Loves Mommy Takes Away, which I wrote first...but she's heard it enough she's ready to move on! Now she's into Grandma Loves and also Daddy Sneaks (which are both still in the publishing process so we have stapled versions to read).
Lessons Learned
- Reading the same book repeatedly is great! When she's ready for a different story, it's obvious, but let her enjoy the ones she wants whenever she wants them.
- Rhyme and repetition are soothing.
- Short and sweet are great for toddlers, especially at bedtime.
- We have special places in the house for reading...little book nooks.
- Great stories don't need a lesson or a moral.
- Reading can be just for fun.
- Don't take it too seriously.
