A while back I wrote a post about how I was a little frustrated by my two-year-old twins’ reading habits, and how they simply weren’t conforming to Mamma’s dreamy-snuggly version of what story time should be.
I’m happy to report that now, several months later…not so much has changed. Why happy? Because their little personalities are really beginning to emerge, and it’s been fun to see how their interests diverge and meet.
While reorganizing their books recently, it dawned on me that I could chart their reading progress in terms of ages, like in prehistory or something.
First, there was the Book-Eaters Age. Archeological exploration revealed fossils of half-chewed board books and coverless specimens held together by the decaying remains of transparent packing tape.
Then came the Classics Age, marked by the twins’ complete refusal to have anything whatsoever to do with classic books I was led to understand that every child in every corner of the earth would ask for every night of their lives from birth until I wanted to hurl said books from the nearest cliff. Nope. These books are in pristine condition, with nary a tiny fingerprint or spot of drool to mar them.
Next came the popular Gotta Have a Gimmick Age, which, judging by the state of the relics uncovered, enjoyed more success than previous ages. These specimens had noise buttons for quacking and snoring, tabs to push and pull, sparkly raised insects to touch, puzzle pieces to arrange, and even music that played at the touch of a button…
…even if it seems early inhabitants might have taken the phrase “lift the flap” a bit too literally.
And finally there was the All the Rage Age, marked by a parent’s willy-nilly desire to build a library of all the most popular contemporary picture books. These are all gorgeous and wonderful and rich and funny…and to date have been read by only one person, who happens to be taller than a two-year-old.
Every night, when the boys point to this lovely stack of books, I hold up new titles with a lilt in my voice and a hopeful look in my eyes.
Ooh, you want to read about the sad fish?
Son 1: No. Muh, muh…
Son 2: No. Shebbah dado ohhhh…
Oh, the kitty and birdie!
Son 1: No! Muh muh muh muh….
Son 2: Noooo…ooo….shebbah dadooooo…
Look, it’s a bear with a hat!
Son 1: No, no, Mamma, muh muh…!
Son 2: Mamma! Shebbah dadooooo…ohhhhh….!
Sigh.
It’s Moon and Sheep once more; to each his own. We are smack dab in the middle of Again and Again Age, when Moon will lose his shoe every single night and Sheep will not be able to sleep ever, ever again. (At least their reading choices are from the beautiful books in the crossover All the Rage Age!)
During this age, which I suspect will last a good long while, I will continue to exclaim enthusiastically about every detail of every page in two books simultaneously, showing how to turn pages with the least amount of mangling, keeping vigilance over the drool factor to minimize water damage.
Of course, I am glad the boys know their own minds and have their favorites. But still I wonder when we will enter the New Horizons Age, when we can leave old friends behind now and then and make new ones from among the fish and owls and cows, and yes even boys and girls, who are waiting patiently in my beloved pile of picture books.
What about you? What “Reading Age” are your children in? Do you follow your kids’ leads on reading material, or do you require that they read certain books…or do you manage a combination of both?
About Renée LaTulippe
I would love to win $100 gift certificate. I love your program!!!
My daughter really hasn’t gone through phases with books. She has always loved books about animals – first board book and now kid books. She also enjoys books about the weather.
Thanks for the giveaway. We love All About Spelling. I even learn things using this program!
We have gone through all of those phases! Its so fun to look back!
I love the description of theses early stages of reading! We have our share of nibbled board books!
My soon gets stuck on books as well. I usually try to wait until the right moment to try a new one.
I’m relieved to say my 18 month old has finally stopped eating books and now is sort of in the next stage you described….She’s also in a stage where she picks a book and acts like she wants me to read it (for maybe 1 minute) and then she’s suddenly uninterested or moves on to bringing me another book.
Oh my goodness, how adorable! I remember the book eating phase all-too-well….though I don’t think my youngest (girl) ever went through it. My boy DEFINITELY did! He also went through the stuck-on-one-book-over-and-over phase! He’s 6 now and likes having chapter books read to him…..it’s a good change (most of the time).
My 3-year-old likes new and different books…..at bedtime she’ll sometimes go for a favorite, but for the most part she’s up for something new. They love coming to the library with me and picking out their own books….maybe that will help the boys to try something new? =)
I miss the ‘book eating’ stage now that I am well out of it. But love all the stages and love that my girls love books!
Opposite problem here – my daughter is 7 and wants to read books like Anne of Green Gables. Then she gets frustrated that she can’t, which turns her off to reading. She’s not one of those “early reader” kids who reads Shakespeare at age 5 (haha); she actually struggles to a degree. So I’m trying to find readers that are on her level, that she can enjoy.
I just found a series of classics at Barnes and Noble called classic starts that might solve your problem. They are abridged versions for kids, if you want to try that route so your child does not get discouraged.
I do pick most of the books from the library, and my kids invariably will select some Barbie or Dora books, which I will read once and quickly return! When I realized they were not ready to listen to novels such as The Little House series, I tried books on CD and they were hooked! I don’t know why sitting on the couch listening to me read from a chapter book is not as appealing as listening in the car, maybe less distractions? Makes for much more enjoyable car trips and we are listening to wonderful classics. My favorite kind of book is the picture book, and they really don’t get as much attention as they deserve. So many people jump from board books to readers to beginner chapter books while completely skipping some wonderfully rich stories and gorgeous artwork in picture books.
I’m a picture book fanatic, Michelle, so I know what you mean! I just love them, and consider them an investment in a wonderfully varied and rich art collection as well.
My oldest daughter, now 9, has always loved books. She did not care what they were as long as you would read to her for hours. My youngest daughter, now 4, has just stared enjoying story time. She however loves all the older sisters books. So all our younger kids books sit unloved in perfect condition while my older daughter gets angry at her sister for removing her bookmarks.
Haha! Love this post. My 2yo has just branched out into reading more books (as long as they are on the subjects of trains, planes and other forms of transportation). It’s nice to have a bigger selection from which to choose.
I think my favorite stage is the “LOOK, Mom, I can read it!” stage that my younger son has just reached. And my favorite books for that are the “I Can Read Book” classics like Frog and Toad, Little Bear’s Kiss, etc. Because we live overseas with no local English library, they follow my lead on many books (I have to order them). Once we spot an interest in a particular author or topic, though, it’s fun to search out new titles that fit those themes. I really enjoy whetting their literary appetites with the loveliest books I can find. Although I allow in some okay books that don’t meet my full criteria, I definitely try to steer the ship . . . and I find that the more the kids hear GOOD books, the more they choose good books.
Excellent point, Anne, about exposing kids to good books. We live overseas, too, so I have to buy all the books — which means, like you, I am very picky about what I spend the book budget on.
I can’t wait for the I Can Read Age!
We were stuck in that phase reading a book about bedtime prayers every night at bedtime with one, and a book about numbers with the other two. Though still stuck in this phase with the two we are moving out. Trips to the library where they get to pick out their own books is helping :-)
Love how you broke down the reading phases :) They’ll get there!
This is hilarious, Renee! I’ve been there! We’re in 3 stages. My 9 yr old daughter is in the older chapter book stage, almost MG stage, and my 6 yr old has entered the early chapter book stage like Cam Jansen and Nate the Great, but I am still stuck in the picture book stage, unwilling to leave. hehe
Your twins are so cute!
Thanks, Tina! I’m afraid I will be always stuck in the PB stage, while the boys fly off to other pursuits!
haha! I never thought of the “stages” like that, but so true :) My kids are way beyond chewing books now, but maybe I’ll see if our puppy will take to books the same way? ;)
Oh, how I can relate! Your comment gave me a good chuckle this morning – thanks!
I have 5 children from almost 7 to 7 months and they are in every one of those phases! I love the eating the book phase, I just know I’ve got a budding reader on my hands if they eat books every day! :)
Surely books are part of a healthy diet, Tami!
Oh, can totally relate to your post. My girl used to chomp her books and for a period of time, I could not get books with flaps in them as she would tear them away when she had them to herself. Thankfully she has passed those stages! Like others here, I bring her with me to the library so that she can choose what she wants to read. That has helped widen the variety of books she is willing to read otherwise it’s always the same few books that she wants read.
Hahaha! I love this post! I have 5, 3 and 7 month old boys…so I have a book eater, a Gotta Have a Gimmick and my 5 yo is starting to enjoy almost anything we read together.
My favorite part of the “over and over” stage is when my kids latched onto books that *I* loved during my own “over and over” stage – well, that and having literate older ones who can read with my toddler too!
We *love* books in this house! One daughter read the entire “Left Behind” series and the other daughter read the entire “Phantom Stallion” series and is begging for more. LOL My son has devoured the Encyclopedia Brown series…although he requires a little “reminder” when it is “Quiet Time” at our house.
The AAS series has been a God-send here as my youngest is not a natural speller. Please keep up the excellent work… :)
My 3yr old dd is now revisiting the Book-Eaters Age. *sigh*. I was really hoping we were done with that one. But she is also in the Again and Again Age. It’s been Chicka Chicka Boom Boom for quite awhile here. (And interestingly enough she hasn’t tried to eat that one….yet).
!Nikki
You mean they can time travel back to past ages?? Nooooo! :)
I pick most of the books we read. Thankfully, both of my daughters love to be read to. They do pick some Dora, Elmo and other character books, but I just read them and move on. I figure if I were to say that we couldn’t read those books, they would become “forbidden fruit” and the girls would want them more!
This is one reason (after the book-eating stage!) we heavily use the library since book tastes vary so much. When they’re old enough to point they can start choosing their books, and then sometimes they don’t get to choose and I just start reading something. (“I’ll choose this one and you can choose the next one.”) Or I’ll hide the book in a not-so-conspicuous place so they feel like they discovered it. Another tactic that works in our house is I start reading a book in some corner of the house where the child can see me (the one who I want to read that book). When they see me reading, he or she comes over to either try to stop me or take the book over. Once they see the pictures in the middle, curiosity sets in. This even works with my 9-yr old who EVERY TIME will not read a book if I suggest it. (I’ve had to resort to making her try one chapter of the book before she can read what she wants. And more often than not she’s pouring over the rest of the book.)
Instilling a love of reading is worth every effort! Keep trying!
I love all these tricks — thank you!!
Love the reading stages :)
We would love to win the $100 to purchase All About Spelling! :) Thanks!
I don’t know that we hit all of those phases with my oldets. Definitely the book eating and “gimmick” phases. We did have a long stint with the Very Hungry Caterpillar and Good Night Moon, though.
My younger two (aside from book eating and gimmicks) haven’t followed any of the other categories. They love to be read to by their sister (anything that she reads) and anything with a cartoon character they love will do!
This is really funny – I totally see that.
I remember the Again & Again stage. I could even read Chugga Chugga Choo Choo while driving the car because I had memorized the poem and could recite it while he turned pages in the back seat.
Great idea! I have to start memorizing some books…
i would love to win this gift certificate!!! thanks for offering it!
Memories, memories……
That sounds just like my two littles but now are past those stages. We have branched out on book choices but my 4 year old still likes to read books many times in a row. Have fun with them.
Well, I have had three children and I can honestly say that we haven’t necessarily hit any of those stages. Instead, I had three different kinds of book readers…my oldest, the boy who would sit and listen to me read anything we could get our hands on, sometimes 12 or more books a day, whose first word was “a book” at 9 months of age as he shoved yet another story my direction, but who grew up reading very little himself. Then I had the daughter, who from an early age would NOT sit and look at books with me EVER. She would always grab the book away from me with me having only read the first page or two and not let me finish. I figured if reading to your children was the first step to their success, then this child was doomed from the start. However, around age 4, she just started reading on her own. I didn’t teach her. Nobody taught her. She just figured it out on her own, came to us if she got stuck on a word, and hasn’t looked back. This is the girl who was reading well-beyond her grade level and is now in honour’s classes at high school. Being a “mommy-come-lately”, I now have a new book lover…our three year-old. Like the first two, he has been surrounded by books his entire life. He is my take it or leave it kid. If someone wants to read to him, he is game to sit and listen to any book, however, he is rarely the one to initiate a reading session. He likes his bedtime stories and almost always just waits to see what I bring in to read, but he does enjoy books, so I figure that is at least a start.
Wow, three completely different readers. I find it fascinating to see how each child develops…
LOLOLOL….this article made me laugh.
My children are now at the Again and Again Age. I LOVE that they are in this stage.
I know sometimes it’s tedious to read the SAME story over and over, but they benefit greatly from it! They memorize the words and then retell the story to me and I thoroughly enjoy it!!! I know this stage will pass so quickly, so I want to cherish these moments.
Recently I did a clean out and saw much of the same thing. Now my twins are 4 and it is still a few favorites over and over.
Too funny. My daughter won’t sit down and read with me unless she’s holding a book and I’m holding a book. Basically she needs me to be reading my book but will pay no attention to it since she is reading her own.
Our kids have also gone through these stages! We use Sonlight for our homeschool and it has introduced them to many other books and even now the older kids (3rd and 2nd grade) have chapter books that they like to read or have read aloud again and again. We are creatures of habit!! :)
I think we skipped the Gotta Have a Gimmick stage. I always hated those kinds of books, and I guess that rubbed off on my kids.
My first child never chewed on or tore her books, so I was shocked when my second daughter went through the “Book Eaters Age.” Some of our favorites are now very well-worn!
My oldest children (12 and 13) still get read to every day. They get upset if I don’t have time and if for busyness sake we get off for awhile they keep reminding me! So now we have readers that have been through all the stages and some in the earlier stages and a new reader hopefully to join us any day!!! :)
I have never had a child only want one book, they have had their favorites, but I’ve been able to read a variety of books including their favorites at every sitting.
I love this post! It is so true! Take heart, soon your children will love your shiny new books too. Bear Snores On is a favorite in our house, I even notice my 8 year old hovering near when I read it to her younger siblings.
The language and rhyme in Bear Snores On is just perfection, isn’t it? So well done!
We have been through some of the stages.
We’re definitely at the “again and again” stage! The same books over and over. Now that my older ones are, well, older I look back so fondly on the “again and again” stage, as I can recall some of their favorites!
We are in the Again and Again (and Again) stage. Your post was so funny and so true – we have visited all these stages! However, the benefit of the Again and Again stage is that I don’t even need to read anymore – I know it by heart and all the littles fill in the blanks!!!
My children have all gone through this stage at ages 2 & 3. By the time they turn 4 they have usually outgrown it and are happy to read any book. However, I have developed a strategy that works like clockwork. The favourite books I hide. For an indeterminate amount of time (usually until I can stand reading them again, which may be 3 months, 1 year or until the next child is of the right age) and then I pick a new book to read. They don’t like it the first time and don’t want to sit near, but in the absence of any other book to choose, usually end up slowly coming near, slightly interested. The second time I bring it out to read it, they drag their feet but come. By the fourth time usually it is their newest favourite. I also try to read at least 2 books at a sitting. One that is one their ‘favourites’ list and another I choose, so that the next time I ‘lose’ a book as I’m sick of it, there are other contenders to quickly take its place.
It has been great to read the various family dynamics and differences in the comments to this post.
I have 3 children in various stages of the AAR and AAS program and they all ask for their lessons and really enjoy them. Thank-you.
Ha! I love your strategies! And I agree, the comments are such an eye-opener, and so fun to glimpse into all the family dynamics.
I think I have one at each stage. My 4 are 6 and under and at various reading stages. They all walk around (even the 1 year old) with books in their hands. The pediatrician thinks it’s funny that they show up for appointments with books in their hands and ask for certain exam rooms based on the book selection.
Wonderful book choices!
Our oldest is 4, and we have gone through these stages as well. We visit the library often, and I insist on new books, but they ALWAYS insist on the same favorites they have checked out multiple times. We get both and try to read both. I am thrilled, though, that they ALWAYS insist on reading their Bible story each night. Hopefully that enthusiasm continues through the years!
We are currently in the pull all the books off the bookshelf stage with my 17 mo son! And read all day every day with my 4 yo daughter! Such a difference!
My daughter is nearly 7 and we have never really experienced any of the stages you described. She rarely chewed on books, she loved (and still loves) the classics, gimmicks were never necessary but are, and were fun, and she’s never done the again and again even though we enjoy reading some stories many times.
We are now reading series books and I suppose she is in a broadening her horizons stage. She wants to try reading new thing. She will find an author she enjoys and want to read everything she can find by that author, but the authors and topics she brings home are so varied. I love it, but the library can barely keep up with our requests!
All three of my children love books! My oldest, 8, will read anything and everything she can get her hands on and has been that way since she was a little baby. My second oldest, 5, will let me read anything and everything to him, but it takes prodding to get him to read to me. As a toddler, he was too busy to sit and listen to a story. And my youngest, 3, also loves to be read to and has learned to read some of the stories in the Run, Bug, Run book. He wants to read those to me over and over again.
I had to giggle when I read each of the stages and remembered all of the chewed corners & ripped flaps of books that we reluctantly pitched when moving on to the next reading stage. At 10, 8, & 7 my kids still have their favorites that they never tire of no matter the reading stage.
Love your program and look forward to AAR Level 2!
Oh the memories! I remember all those ages with my daughters when they were younger….enjoy them while you can. Now that my girls are older, I still have little choice on what they read, but they love to read!
LOVE THIS POST! I love seeing kiddos reading! There’s nothing better than snuggling on the couch with my kiddos with a book.
I agree! I love how they flip through the pages and point at stuff. So cute!
I can definitely see the same reading stages in our house! I tend to follow the boys’ lead as far as what books they are interested in (even if it’s the SAME book for weeks!) – I’ve learned that their interests in books changes as quickly as the weather does, so there’s always time for a variety of literature =).
This is so funny and too true! I have 5 kids and my oldest is 8, so I’ve lived through these stages a few times. But no one got stuck on a book as much as my first. I must have read PJ funny bunny 78904 times! But that taught me a lesson! When you seen an obsession emerging, distraction is key! I do enjoy a familiar book, but the temper tantrum inducing obsession over one favorite, isn’t good for anyone ;)
my daughter is 5 and son 3, so they are in different stages. Sometimes I will read here a chapter book and my son will start out listening and then shortly looks for another book to look at by himself. What are some good chapter books that a boy might be more interested in? thanks
Fun post to read. My children have always likes a wide variety.
Hey Renee,
From my experience New Horizons Age comes about 6-24 months after read-this-over-and-over age so somewhere between ages 3 and 5. I can still recite certain books (Owl Moon for my oldest, The Going to Bed Book for my youngest) by heart. My oldest was a very advanced listener. By 18 months old he was bored with picture books and listening to Winnie the Pooh, Beatrix Potter, and The Wind in the Willows. I was (clearly) a great mom. :-)
Imagine my surprise, when my second child preferred eating books to reading them. He wasn’t interested in picture books until almost 3.
Hi Katya – so we meet again! Reading all the comments is like a little parenting course — and so comforting to see the vast range of experiences and types of readers. My boys are 26 months and love to look at books, but the listening part hasn’t come yet. I don’t actually read them — we just look at all the pictures and point at things.
I hope they let me start reading soon! And yes, you are CLEARLY a superior mom!! :)
sometimes we have to split up reading and I read to one of our girls and daddy reads to the other when they aren’t agreeing on books or taking turns.
It’s fun to watch the progression of my children’s reading choices. They mostly read what interests them, although once in a while I will require them to read a certain book.
I have never noticed the 5 stages of reading before, but I am glad you pointed it out. My dd is 14 and special needs and is having trouble reading. I am wanting to buy the all about reading program for her. She is now stuck on reading comic books. I know it’s not one particular book, but it’s her style of book right now. :)
Oh and I’m registering to win the $100 off. It would certainly be a help buying the curriculum. :)
Well, these aren’t “official” ages of reading — just periods I noticed that my boys have gone through! It’s easy to tell from the comments that the “ages” are different for every child.
Love this article! Just wanted to share that my 2 yo is in the Again and Again age with “Goodnight, Gorila.” What’s so funny is that he is my fourth child to go through this book, and I am still finding new details to enjoy!
I guess I am lucky, all my children (ages 2-9) are solidly in the classics age. I think it has to do with my unwillingness to participate in the Gotta Have a Gimmick age and the All the Rage age.
The classics issue could have to do with me — while I love Dr. Seuss, I don’t actually care for Hungry Caterpillar or Goodnight, Moon…so maybe that rubbed off on the boys. The gimmicks are fun for motor skills (especially the puzzle book, which one son figured out immediately). As for the All the Rage books, those really are beautiful books (lots of Caldecott winners in there), but perhaps the stories are for slightly older kids, say from 4 years old.
I feel very lucky because as long as I am excited to read a new book, my kids are most likely to follow suit. Of course they each have their favorites, one of which is certainly not a favorite of mine! I also find that if they have a hand in picking new books at the library then they are very eager to read them.
We went through several of these stages. The chewing stage left my books in MUCH worse shape them yours, after three little ones. Most of them have been thrown away. :) The gimmick stage leg to more tossing- anything with a toy, anything that is ‘branded’ or has a ‘character’- out they go. I cannot stand them long enough to read through them one time, so why keep them???
Now my kids (7,5,3) will happily sit and listen to almost any story. They love chapter books and even the three year old sometimes listens to them. We read all the best books, because, if I am the one who has to read it (over and over and over…) I am going to enjoy it! ;)
This post brought back memories of my oldest two. Right now, my youngest likes any book he can look at or have read to him, but he does have a few favorites.
I don’t remember my eldest son ever preferring one book to the exclusion of all others, but my little one…he definitely has his strong favorites!
My sons are in the Gotta Have a Gimmick Age. My youngest just follows what his big brother wants.
My kids are 8 and 10 yo. I keep wondering when they are going to be interested in all those “classic” books that are considered a must for literature. I’m now leaning toward exploring some of those books, but allowing my kids to read what interests them instead. Apparently Greek mythology is a must, but that was never covered in my high school. I think my life has been fine without it.
My girls, at 11 and 12, are so very different when it comes to reading! My oldest has never met a book she didn’t like. She is constantly reading, and if the book can involve horses, it’s nearly impossible to drag her away. My 11 year old, however, has never been much into reading for pleasure. She will read her school work, and thankfully, because we are using Ambleside Online and the Charlotte Mason approach, she reads lots of high-quality, living books for school, even if she won’t pick anything up on her own just for fun. She did, however, choose the first book in a new series I hadn’t seen before – “Pandora Gets Jealous” by Carolyn Hennesy. I was so thrilled that she *wanted* to read a book of her own choosing that I let her get it. In researching more about it, I just learned that Ms. Hennesy is an actress on a soap opera. I don’t have high hopes for the series and will have to pre-read the book now. Gah. I should know better….
My son, however, is 4 and just loves to have someone read a book to him. He will choose books, usually about something to do with vehicles – any kind, preferrably construction equipment. Thankfully two of his favorites are Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, and Katy and the Big Snow. He will also let me choose what to read, and I have been working hard to get rid of the “twaddle” so that what we have in the house is quality stuff. Thank GOD he is not into Barbie or Dora – he would probable like Bob the Builder and we do have some Thomas books, but he loves anything. I’m really excited to teach him to read soon!
Beth -
Fear not re: “Pandora” because my DD wanted that book too! But from there I coaxed her easily into the “Goddess Girls” series by Joan Holub, and then we read lots of fiction/nonfiction about Greek and Roman gods and goddesses, ancient civilizations, etc. It can be a good lead in !
- Cathy
My #4 is entering the “again and again” stage that has wreaked havoc on some of our favorite copies. Tho other night, I surprised myself when I was able to recite from memory the words from missing pages in “Goodnight Moon” and Dr. Seuss’ “ABCs” even though it’s been years!
The “eat the books” phase made me laugh…we have quite a stash of board books that have had some serious gnawing.
My almost-4-year-old and almost-3-year-old both love to read. We’ve had a bit of the again-again phase but mostly they just eat up any book they find. It’s clear which ones they prefer, and thankfully it’s usually the ones my husband and I prefer, too.
I’m starting to think about programs for teaching my son to read and AAR looks so great!
My boys will listen to anything, they love to be read to and it doesn’t really matter what it is. They have their favorites and right now they are into super heroes and comic books. I find comic books hard to read aloud so I when I do read them I also add in a great Picture book or chapter book so we are all happy.
I love that there are so many good choices of books at that age. Now we are at the age where I have to diligently search for good books for my son who is 11. He is different from my other kids in that he needs lots of adventure and action, but likes it modern.
Mine are a little further along! We are at the devouring chapter books (like Magic Tree House) stage AND the speed-reading anything she can get her hands on stage! I think the older one only has about one more stage to go (at least I hope!) She needs to get to the devouring the classics (not classic children’s books but real literature–not there, yet!)
Cute! We have one at the “gimmick” age (3), one at the “take it all in” age (6), and one at “longer is better/classics” age (8)! It’s both challenging and fun to come up with new books for each of them!
I loved your article! Brings back memories of my dd (now 7) and her book-eating phase! LOL! She’s reading chapter books now, but likes to read boardbooks or short picture books to her 4 yo brother.
Thanks for the giveaway!
OMGosh, that makes me laugh! SO true!!!! My boys love to read with me, we have some that pop up night after night, Thump, Thump, Thump and The Grouchy Lady Bug are two. Also both my boys ages 8 and 4 have been totally obsessed with Tuesday, basically a picture book for well over a year now, it is getting difficult to come up with new ideas for funny stuff to say while flipping the pages. My husband and I are thankful for the nights when they obsess about books with pre printed words!
I’ve heard such wonderful things about TUESDAY and other wordless picture books, but I’ve held off from buying them. Since my boys are so crazy about pointing things out, maybe I should give them a try!
I remember the Book-Eaters stage so well. Makes me a little sad because my oldest is reading chapter books now!
The book eating phase cracked me up. I have a paperback book with a perfect bite out of it. I chuckled to myself when I saw it.
We are in the read it again and again stage still. (ages 4 and 2) However, most of the books are from the library and I make them disappear eventually. So, the book of choice is usually changing except for some of their favorites from our own stash.
I love this! It’s so true! Right now we’re in the Repetition Age… Same books over and over and over. Sometimes that’s hard for me, but I know it’s good for them developmentally. At least they love to read!
Cute! My now 5 yr old was one of those “lift the flap too early/mangle the pop up book” little boys. We are just now moving into a bit longer books, and have even tried some read alouds from older aged books while he and my 2 yr old daughter play. My 2 yr old takes many of her cues from her big brother, but has a definite mind of her own when it comes to what she wants to read. She loves to pick up any book and “read” it out loud for herself. Unfortunately, she likes to do so while I’m reading aloud to my son! :) I estimate the chaos will subside one day…. until the one now forming in the womb gets his/her say in on the matter! :)
So true! I have a 4 year old and a 6 year old and we definitely hit a lot of those stages.
I so identify! I’m just celebrating because my 3yr old (3rd child) will FINALLY let me read a book to her! Up until now she has insisted on reading her stories herself. It’s a joy to finally be able to take all our favourite books off the shelves or out of the library and read them properly. Now the only problem is stopping at book 3,4,5 or 6 each night! By the way, I found she’s more ready to try new books if they come from the library rather than off our shelves. And I choose all but one or 2 of the library books we get.
I never thought we’d have an enormous library of kids books – and didn’t really start reading to my twins until they were about 2 (I know, what a shame! Don’t judge – I was just surviving. :) ) But now we have a two shelf bookcase PACKED TO THE BRIM of picture books – and my husband (who puts them to bed) has started to get REALLY BORED with the picture books. (My twins are in the Again & Again Age you referred to above…) So we just started reading chapter books to them also – the Magic Treehouse books. They LOVE them and we end up reading about 3-4 chapters every night.
On another note – we’ve been using AAR Pre-1 for the past month – and my boys are so enamored with Ziggy – and everything that Ziggy does. They absolutely love the program – and we are definitely getting the next level as soon as we are ready!! Great product – and great company!!
When my daughter was little she had her favorite book that she would have me read over and over. After a year we both had it memorized and still do
4 girls, 4 paths….my oldest was reading young, and now is in a sci-fi kick at age 10
Looks like somebody has some bilingual toddlers, by the looks of some of those books!
My oldest two have passed through all those stages, so yours can’t be too far behind! My 3-year-old likes to read certain books with some frequency, but nowhere near every night. She tends to like a lot more variety than that. And my 5-year-old enjoys listening to chapter books with few to no pictures as well, which really means we have a lot of variety available, which is nice. My 1-year-old isn’t quite following your 5 ages accurately, though. :) She likes to sit and be read to, but she also sometimes likes to scribble in a book or try to eat it. And she doesn’t seem to have favorites yet.
Soon enough you will have the boys playing ‘bookstore’ or ‘library’ and acting out scenes from “Where The Wild Things Are.”
And then they will want their own e-readers. Twins, so you must buy TWO!
What is a barbapapa in the garden?
Hi Cathy! Ha, I hope they act out the books! I’m not preparing a costume trunk for nothing! And we’re already used to buying two of everything…
The Barbapapa’ are cartoon characters from the 1970s that my boys are suddenly obsessed with. They are a family of blobs that can transform into any kind of object or animal. Go figure — but playing those videos on YouTube is the only way I can get the boys dressed in the morning. Otherwise, it’s like a greased pig race.
I love your stages! Yep, we’ve been through all of them. I’ve always wondered how those classic books became classics. We’ve had plenty of pristine picture books that I loved to look through that the kids never chose for themselves. I think we’ve reached a happy medium where I choose some books and the kids choose some during reading time. But a lot of the most beloved ones surprise me. Right now, we’re loving The Little Engine That Could. A classic for sure, but it still surprises me that my four and two year olds love it enough to listen/look every day.
I had forgotten how much my third liked to “consume” books until I recently pulled them out for our newly home from China girly who, much to this Mama’s delight, is quite the book lover. That boy of mine also tore off every last flap from every lift the flap book we own. So happy he’s (sort of) out the destructive phase.
My 6 year old skipped from board books to Alice in Wonderland and Little House at around 18 months. Now he loves all the different types, usually at the same time. Lol!
There is a light at the end of the tunnel. My kids (4&6) are at the chapter book stage. They are enjoying right now daily readings from “James and the Giant Peach”.
I remember those stages so well. Thank goodness my oldest is long past and now in the “always has her nose stuck in a book” stage. The one I dislike the most is reading books over and over and over. Oh, that drives me crazy!
What a great and interesting blog! I remember those stages so clearly and the desire I had/have for my children to love and value books. Thanks for sharing!
Hey, I have twin two year old boys, too! And its fun to read to them even though they can be very squiggly. One of my great delights is when I see my 7 y.o. daughter sit them down to read to them. I think they might actually be more still and quiet for her:) I agree completely, though, about stages.
Squiggly indeed! But do your boys actually let you read the words? Mine don’t – too busy pointing at stuff!
I start teaching phonics when they are four so they are reading by four years old.
I have read Peter Rabbit until I thought I might go crazy. Then Dr. Seuss. Then Racer Dogs. Over and over, one book at a time. I force my little guy to listen to others books, just one or two, but then it’s back to that favorite until there’s not one word I don’t know. And at some point he’s ready to move on, but I never know when.
For my third grader, I – well to be honest, Sonlight- pick most of the books he reads, and he LOVES to read what I give him. I love that he loves reading and that I know he is gaining a better historical perspective from most of what he reads.
I hadn’t really thought about stages consciously. My older girl is 8 now and she has graduated to reading books on her own and accepting my recommendations. At the library, she tends to choose the thickest books. Hence, she has read the Tales of Uncle Remus on her own. She has also started reading Anne McCaffrey and her tales of Pern. It is true that the youngest (age 2+) no longer eats books.
I remember being in the repeat story time myself. Later in life, my grandmother fessed up to hiding Harold and the Purple Crayon.
Enjoy all periods of reading they are going through. I just purged our home bookshelves for books to donate to our school library….talk about a trip down memory lane. (sniff)
This blog post was so cute! And I enjoyed reading the replies from other parents, too. It is interesting to see the comments that show other parents might have gone through what I’m going through with my kids and learn some tips from other parents, too.
We are in a series phase. We read all of Henry & Mudge and moved on to Nate the Great. Now, we’re reading Flat Stanley.
I have 2 year old twins, boy/girl! And we have been through most of those same stages. My son wants to hear We’re going on a Bear Hunt and Wheels on the Bus over and over and over….My daughter likes more variety :)
Have you seen Michael Rosen’s video of Going on a Bear Hunt? It’s wonderful! Just look up his website – it would be fun to see if your son enjoys the video.
My girls love reading new books right now. Going to the library every week to pick out new ones is their favorite thing! :)
Oh, we went through the same thing with our kids! Too funny!! But don’t think it ends when they get older – mine are 11, 10 and 7 and they still pull the same old books off the shelves to read to each other!
:)
When I wanted my children to listen to something new, I would get the book on CD and start playing it in the car…then they would want to listen at home as well!
Love it! I can especially relate to the Classics and Gotta have a Gimmick age.
Oh oh! I can so relate! When my daughter is now in the again and again stage. I wasn’t worried about her pretty well beaten board books. But now that her sister has come along and defying the traditions of her sister, she is a “it all goes in my mouth now!” kind of baby… I’m a little worried about those frayed edges, it seems she might actually be able to bite of that board book corner or suck on the paper enough to really get a taste of the fiction. hmm…
Those books with the little flaps are the worst! They are so expensive and the first thing the kids do is rip those little flaps right out of them. It drives me nuts!
My kids love reading time!!
we are in the Classics stages. We don’t like the new books, except for my daughter, it has to be Barbie or Princess for her.
We have 6 children ranging from 5 to 17. Yes, this post brings back such memories! I remember the days of “read it again, Mommy!” Strangely, though, some of those books that Mommy couldn’t stand to read one more time, for whatever reason, got “lost” every once in awhile. ;) They would always prefer me to read SOMETHING, than nothing. And I would sometimes expose them to a book they didn’t think they wanted to hear before reading the current favorite. And sometimes it would expand their horizon to enjoy other books.
Thankfully, all my children love reading and being read to. Even the “late” readers, “slower” learners, and less academically inclined. It’s just hard to turn down a well-written, interesting or exciting story. Everybody wants to know – “What’s gonna happen next?”
Love this post! My youngest (1) is in the book eating stage. My next one (7) is learning to read and I would say is in the again and again stage. He grabs a book, latches on, and that’s the one he really wants all the time. The latch on time is short sometimes, thankfully because they are often library books and you can only check them out so often. My next, (9), is into comic type books, especially about Ninjas. The next one (10) is an avid reader and devours everything! The next one (18) is into mysteries and is also an avid reader although it was a struggle in her early years and I never thought I would see her choosing to read!!
I am using AAS and AAR with my granddaughter. She is loving the program and learning so much. Thanks for the wonderful scope and sequence. It makes it easy for me to show up and teach without an preparation. She loves reading the books you’ve written.
So true ! Loved reading this – and love your products!!
My preschool daughter will get so hung up on a book that she’ll memorize it and recite them to herself. My 5-year-old once told me, “You don’t need to teach her to read, she already knows how!”
The kids get stuck sometimes on just fun books like mo Willems but I always feel insecure and try to get them into “classic” type books! Is that bad?
Mo Willems is wonderful, so I say “Read on!” These are the new classics that will still be read decades from now. I am completely in love with all the wonderful new picture books that come out every year with rich stories and incredible art. If you want great reading for little ones, take a look at the Caldecott honor books – they are so beautiful and every bit as worthy as the “classics.”
Other than Dr. Seuss (who will always be relevant and fabulous IMHO), I have tried only two or three “classics,” and frankly, they bored me. I just don’t see what’s so great about Goodnight, Moon. Instead, we read the more contemporary “I Took the Moon for a Walk,” with its gorgeous, soothing verse and masterful art. I think if you read what *you* love, your kids will love it too, and that’s what matters.
Too funny! As my children range from age 3 to age 20 I’m in all the stages and have lived through them more then once. I’m not sure about all of the children but I’m in the “thin the herd” stage. Now that I’ve got a few children through the picture book years I realize which books actually stand the test of time and which ones don’t. Some of the books I accumulated when the older ones were little have made a quiet exit from our home to make room for the books I know they will love.
So true!
So true! We’ve been through these stages (and our books show it!) and now are able to enjoy new gems along with the tried and true. Hang in there!
LOL So true!!!
I think the Again and Again stage lasts a LONG time, even once they can read themselves! Now we have the follow up to Again and Again, they have it memorized, so want to read aloud to others…even though they can’t actually read!
Love the post!
Love this program. My bookworm 10 year old daughter will still reread favorite books. Can’t wait for DS8 to get our passion for reading. AAS is certainly helping him get there!
When my daughter was in preschool and first grade I couldn’t resist the Scholastic flyers that came home each month. Our shelves were stuffed. Luckily, my daughter loved reading all of them with her father and me at bedtime. She’s had favorites along the way, but they don’t usually last longer than a month or so. Now she’s 7 and we’ve stocked the shelves with A to Z Mysteries and the numerous Fairy series, which she reads both for enjoyment and to earn Accelerated Reading points at school. My purchases have slowed down and the local libraries have benefitted from my earlier binges.
I have an older child that devours books. I have one that manages to sit through about half a book and then wants to either go play or find another book. I have another who is beginning to read, but finds great pleasure in looking that pictures and making up her own stories and my youngest is still a book eater. :-) My hope is that they will all be avid readers so I keep my home and bookshelves full of fun books.
My kids love the All About Reading readers.
I have 6 kids ages 12-2. I have some lovers of books and some that do it because I tell them to. BUt, reading is becoming more and more important to us so my hope is they all will love it!
My two older kids never really went through phases with books. They just wanted us to read to them and now they read a lot on their own. My 5 year old son has always had his own ideas and has been through a number of phases (some even about books). He is now into superheros so anything about that he’s all over but he also still likes the Dr. Seuss books. His funniest phases were wanting pockets in everything he wore (no pj’s for a year) and keys. He was a monster about having keys that worked for a long time.
My son is great because he’s always willing to try new books. He’s three so of course he has the ones he loves to read over and over, but anytime I suggest a new one, he’ll listen. I love that I have also been able to get him to love the classics as well.
We love All About Spelling! It has helped all of my children, with different learning styles, become great spellers. I can’t wait to get my hands on All About Reading! I also just love reading your blog. The topics you right about are so relevant and helpful to homeschoolers, or at least me (and those I tell about your program.)
I have always tried to allow my children, especially my sons, choose what they would like to read. We would go to the library and talk about choosing books. I do like to read books that I choose to them, but they love reading aloud so much its not much of fight. My boys are finishing third grade and they still love Dr. Seuss and other picture books that we’ve been reading since they were in preschool. It is so awesome!
Thanks!
Andrea
Holey moley! It took me an hour to scroll down through all the comments. Renee, I don’t have little ones, so I can’t respond to your question. But I can say that I am amazed by all that you accomplish with 2 year -old twins in your life. Wow! You are a dynamo- and we are all very happy about it (obviously) :-)
Aw, thanks, Iza! When the boys are a bit older, we’ll be devouring your two dozen picture books too!
I love kid’s books too! We’re reading through “Honey for a Child’s Heart” so that I can always have some really good books in the midst of the ones that kids pick out. My 2 year old just discovered she can “read” by herself. She’s happy with most any book. My 4 year old definitely is getting some favorites. My 7-year old really likes non-fiction learning books and we’re enjoying some really good Read Alouds together. We just finished the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe series.
My sons love the interactive books. The ones that either have a puppet or finger hole or lifting tab, or the ones that make noises and light up. The problem I run into is that they are really hard on books, especially when they get excited.
My mother-in-law is a reading teacher, so she loves to gift my little ones books for every occasion and holiday. I think this is great, I just wish she would pick more age appropriate books. For a while there she was slowly getting us the Peter Rabbit books which are great but very very wordy! All of them had lots of pages that my boys were not kind to. We have lots of those kind of books.
Recently I wanted to start a small chapter book with my 5 year old, the Magic Tree House. I was so excited, I asked him “Do you want to ready this book with me tonight? Its about a magic tree house and dinosaurs?” He said “No mom! The picture don’t have any color! But I bet these other boys will like it.” Yeah, so he only wanted color pictures, but at least he was thinking of others and wanted to give.
My children are in the Again and Again stage with my youngest teetering back and forth from Book-Eaters (mainly “accidentally” ripping pages or writing on pages). This was a great article.
My kids haven’t gone through all of these stages but this post rang true for some like the “again and again” stage. Right now my daughter, 7, is in the bookworm stage where she always has her nose in one of the Little House books or My America books. My son, 5, gets excited about books he can read or that appeal to his interest in sports or animals. And my youngest, 10 months, is in the “how many books can I pull down off of the shelf?” stage.
Can’t wait for AAR 2 to come out!!
We have definitely been through all of that… and some. We keep board books in bins in the playroom and then keep the bigger kid books in the bedrooms where the tiny tot can’t rip them to pieces yet. We have a 4 yr., 3 yr. old, and 16 months and are expecting number four this September… so it seems like we have had one in each stage this whole time. I pick books that are different and just start reading a lot of times…. but at bed time they get to choose whatever their heart desires… even if it is the same old thing. I just love that they love reading! Cute post!
My kids are past toddler ages, but my 6yo daughter still likes to read the same princess stories over and over. My (almost) 8 yo son has graduated to chapter books and is picking his own as well as what I assign. We do classics mostly as a family, beyond that I want them to enjoy reading so they can choose their own with our help. This post was very funny! We are expecting our third in october so I’ll be going through these stages In a couple of years:)
very fun descriptions! we somehow manage a combination of both. sometimes if i force my girls to sit and listen to the first part of a book, i find them sneaking it away later to read it on their own!
my son developed his LOVE of books the year he was two and we would read fairy tales and act them out. He still adds many of them into his daily play (at the park pretending the bridge is the one from Three Billy Goats Gruff, etc.)
My oldest is in the stage where she will literally read anything put in front of her. The other day in daddy’s car, it happened to be a Popular Mechanics magazine! My 4 year old will read anything you read with him. They both just like books but they usually only read library books and not the ones we own. I don’t know why…
Oh my, have I been through this. We’re at the “I only read Diary of a Wimpy Kid books” stage, which is quite similar to your current stage. It’s all cyclical=p A totally “butting in” suggestion for your classics; “Caps for Sale”, “Marvin K Mooney Will you Please GO NOW?!”, and “There’s a Monster at the End of This Book.” ( I know, the last two never make the classics lists, but they are fun!) Then read them with tons of yelling and acting out. Those books captured, and retained, my sons interest for years. He even took them to Kindergarten and first grade to read aloud. It was a hoot to watch him yell and scream for his classmates. I think that’s the main reason he’s decided to be the “class clown” =p
Thanks for the suggestions, Leah! I try to avoid “character” or branded books, but I do like the interactive nature for the Sesame Street Monster book. Along those lines is the marvelous Herve Tullet interactive book PRESS HERE – a brilliant idea!
LOL, I remember these stages fondly! I think they just aren’t old enough yet for the joys of “Wocket in my Pocket” (although my personal Seuss fave is Fox in Socks! I even picked up a new copy a year or two ago for my daughter–probably 11 at the time, who loves it!)
When my oldest was in the 3-5 yo range (again and again stage!), we had a deal. He picked a book and mom picked a book. He always had me re-read a story, and I always read something new. Well, ok, sometimes I reread my own childhood favorites (if you ever have a chance to get Solomon Shag….sigh, love that book!). Ok, I admit it…I’m still in the “again” stage, that’s why we have children, right? To re-read our favorite childhood books?
My kids are in the…I’m skeptical but I’ve learned to trust you even if the first chapter is boring stage. They are 13 and 15 and I still read aloud to them, though they read plenty on their own, too. My son hated the first chapter of To Kill A Mockingbird, but did a full turnaround and can hardly put the book down now.
Their interests really can grow and change! They won’t forever want to read about the moon losing it’s shoe (but now I might have to, as I’ve never read that one…)
You must read that moon book, it is soooo lovely: “I Took the Moon for a Walk” by Carolyn Curtis and art by the amazing Alison Jay.
So glad your son stuck with Mockingbird – what a book!
I could NEVER force my kids to read anything….what’s the point of making them hate reading. Even with the older kids, we try to work through the book by looking at the parts that are good. Sometimes though, the book just doesn’t “speak” to them right now. We put it aside for later. My 11 year old is entering a new phase of reading….and her older sisters are barraging her with “You HAVE to read…” It’s exciting to see the contagious effect books can have!
Totally reminds me of my boys!!
I love Dr. Suess books.
Those all look like really great books! I’m sure my kids would love to have such a great stash as this!
We’re in lots of phases right now :) – we have six kids. But mostly the audio book phase. We love listening in the car!
I have one child in the chew a book phase (or drool all over and soak the book). I have another child in the “must have a gimmick” phase or puppy dog or kitty cat or pwincess. And my oldest child is into Berenstain bear books or his Sesame Street alphabet series books. He will sit and read Berenstain bears for hours. I try and switch up the books on our main bookshelf every couple months to allow the books in the library to come out and breathe.
LOL! The eating stage is TOTALLY where DS2 is. He’s even ruined some of my books from when I was a kid. I respect books very very much so this really hurt me. DS1 never ate books but shredded a few board books. DS2 pretty much never went through the other stages-he’s always loved to be read to and begged me to start teaching him how to read at 2.5-he wasn’t quite ready but we worked on getting him ready and by 3 we started when he begged again. He was reading pretty well within a few weeks and a year later can even read (not comprehend) newspaper articles on Daddy’s iPad. We love to read here.
My 7 year old son is in the “anything LEGO” stage and my 6 year old daughter loves any chapter books she can get her hands on :)
I love this categorizing ages of reading… lol. So true! My 4 yr. old son is in a anything reptile (non-fiction) or counting book phase right now. Seems my son has always enjoyed non-fiction books over stories… we started reading them at age 2 or so and he just doesn’t stay interested in any fiction book for more than just a few pages. Not sure what this means…. hoping it’s ok developmentally.
I love your post. My oldest enjoys reading, but my youngest thinks that it’s worse than death. Which makes me sad :/ But we recently started the Level 1 Reading from AALP so hopefully that will change soon! I’ve always allowed the boys to take the lead with reading; allowing them to pick the books, turn the pages, and ask lots and lots of questions. Maybe in time they will both be exceptional readers and love it as I do.
I’d say my 16 month old is pretty much in the Book Eaters. Hoping to emerge soon!
Hah! I can understand these phases! We’re definitely into repeating books over and over (and over and over) again, but my son also seems to like many classics and a few new ones. He especially likes books where we can act out something within the book, like hugs, tickles, jumps, etc.
I have children ages 5, 4, and 2 (boy, girl, girl). My son’s personal favorites are weather books about tornadoes and I encourage him in his interests. My daughter likes anything princess-y or ballerina-y. My youngest loves the “Smile” and “Peekaboo” by and far. She just loves babies. As a group, their two all-time favorites are Chicka-Chicka Boom Boom! (I make it really fun) and Jesus Loves Me from the “I Can Read!” song series. It has such beautiful and colorful artwork. So, they like classics, I encourage them with variety by changing it up each night with at least one different one and combine with their favorites.
With my children ages almost-13, 11, 9, and 7, we’re well past all of the above. #1 lingered long in Again and Again – only it was several books that he had memorized. #2 lingered long in Book Eaters. Highly visual rather than verbal like #1, it wasn’t until he met Eric Carl’s Caterpillar that he would sit through a story. All four embraced the Classics. Now I’d say we’re in the Specialized Interest Age (#1 and #2), Devour-Every-Book-In-Site Age (#3), and I’m-So-Excited-I-Can-Read-These-Myself-Now age (#4).
My kids have loved some of the “classics” for a very long time so I’m happy to read them over and over – we never tire of good literature!
My son is in the “read the same book 400 times in a row” phase. I find that this phase usually coinsides with the “mommy wants to scream into a pillow” phase. :0)
HA! I keep an extra fluffy one nearby just for that purpose!
After hearing that repetition is a very necessary part of development, I have much more patience for it. And I’d still love to win the giveaway :-)
Oh, Renee, you had me laughing! What a great way to catalogue the ages. If your boys are anything like my son, at about 4.5 they will pass from the “Again and Again” age to the “Never Again” age. I swear, my son got to a point where he would absolutely refuse to read a book if we had read it even one time. This from the child who read Caps for Sale every day for a year. Unfortunately, very little fossil record of the “Never Again” age exists — most of the evidence is housed at the library. ;-)
Oh no! The “Never Again Age” is bad news for someone who buys all the books (no English-language library in the vicinity). We need to get plenty of mileage out of those babies!
My older boys definitely went through the various stages you mentioned — I remember during the “read-again” stage we constantly read: The Goodnight Moon and The Quiet and Noisy Book. My younger boys have not gone quite through the same stages as they follow and listen to whatever we are reading as a read-aloud. I kinda miss reading some of the books during the “younger” stages!! :(
We are currently in the 3 beginning phases of reading, with 2, 3, 5, 5 year olds. It is interesting how the little one almost jumps a phase of reading (disregarding the board books) much earlier than the others simply because he sees what they are reading and wants to be just like them. They are so close in age it is quite nice because they all like the same books. My girls are about to jump into the pre-reading and early reader phase as they begin Kindergarten next year with me. We are planning to use AAR level 1 and can’t wait!! I’ve been entering every giveaway possibly in hopes to win this amazing curriculum. What a blessing that would be to our family. Thank you!!!!:):)
Shelly
With several kids aged 6-22, we have been through all of these stages and more many times. Currently the 6 year old is enjoying Amelia Bedelia, The mixed up Grandma Treasury, Barbie books (yuk!) as well as just about anything that anyone is willing to read to her. We went through the entire Little House series this winter, shivering as we read the Long Winter, and now she has taken to calling me “Ma.”
She is also familiar with classics like Peter Pan, and is even familiar with parts of The Lord of the Rings series, thanks to several older brothers and sisters. The great thing with having many children, is there is almost always someone who is available to read to someone else, and as the kids get older they enjoy discussing their favorite stories with one another.
I’ve never had much trouble getting our kids to read a variety of books. Our shelves are well stocked, and there is always something new for them to discover. I will usually only make suggestions if they ask for one, but I do pick out titles for them for birthdays and Christmas.
Books on tape are great, too. We have traveled many miles listening to wonderful tales together on family vacations. Sometimes the kids are so enthralled, they wait for the end of the chapter when we stop for potty breaks! Once we listened to Where the Red Fern Grows. When we got home we rented the movie, and the kids couldn’t believe how much of the story was left out. I think that it is a real shame that so many families rely on dvds and gameboys to entertain their kids when they travel.
The kids even like to listen to books on trips with Grandma and Grandpa, who have developed a love for some of the kids favorites as well, especially The Winged Watchman. Now Grandma and Grandpa bring their own audio books to listen to on their own travels!
We have always had a little earlier bed time in our household, even with the teen-agers, with the understanding that the kids are more than welcome to stay up in bed and read for a while. It has been my experience that the most important thing in raising readers is having good books available any time, any where, and encouraging everyone to use them. I am always amazed at what they choose.
Thanks for all these wonderful thoughts! I really need to look into audio books as an option…
So funny that your daughter calls you “Ma” now! I read those books over and over and over when I was a girl, so I understand the obsession.
We are at all of these stages right now! Our kiddos are 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, and 4 mos. My 8 and 10 year olds devour books in a different way. I can’t keep enough good books in the house for them. :)
I am a little caught off guard as your post (well, picture to be more specific) just left me teary eyed. I want to snuggle with a chubby fingered child in a sleeper, with language only a Mom can fully translate. Those years go by waaaay too quickly. Sigh. We read lots of stuff I would rather not here too- except Pout-Pout Fish is a favorite. We LOVE that silly story. Homeschooling has meant less book time before bed for our family, we are all usually fried by bedtime. I should really work on changing that.
Aw, didn’t mean to make you teary-eyed! But hey, I get teary at that picture, too, even if the real thing is right in front of me. I love ALL the books I’ve bought so far and that are in the picture above (and Pout-Pout is one of my faves, too) – it’s just that the boys aren’t quite ready for them yet.
Book time is tough for us, too, but I’m trying to squeeze in at least 15 minutes. Hopefully we’ll get more when I start them on All About Reading Pre-1 in a year or two!
I can’t say that I’ve really noticed stages. My son never mouthed or cared much for flap books. We’ve always read a lot of books to him and he’s always sat still until about the 5th or 6th story. Now, at age four, we have story time about 3 or 4 times a day and rarely asks for the same book more than once a day. Fortunately for us, we have an amazing library so I don’t have to purchase them all! Love AAS would love to get into AAR!
Love your post. It is so funny. Yes my girls went through some of those stages, they are 4 and 6.
I think you forgot the TV-tie-in stage. Boy did I dread that phase. For us this included Thomas, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Dora. I usually do arrange bedtime reading where each girl gets to pick one PB book and then I get to pick a new PB to read. There were stretches, months, where that approach and didn’t work and we only read what they picked. Yes we did have the again and again phase. I think the most important thing is to just go with the flow. This past fall my older daughter absolutely refused to read to me or let me read to her (went on for about 2-3 months), I was starting to worry what if “our reading days” are over. Thankfully, I backed off and would periodically try to read to her. Eventually things did turn around and we are back to reading again. I once heard somewhere the most important thing is keeping reading fun.
Hi Darshana! Yes, the TV-Tie-In Age — good one! We don’t have much of that because we don’t watch much TV yet…that is until the last two weeks. Now the boys are suddenly obsessed with Barbapapa’ (there are two Italian Barbapapa’ books in the photos above). I was not familiar with these blobby characters when the books were given as gifts, but I sure know who they are now! (Still, it’s better than Barbie – I couldn’t handle that!)
Love the pictures. Believe it or not, I sometimes get a little sad when they don’t want to read one of the previous favorites, like Goodnight Moon.
My son went through all those stages. I thought the Again and Again stage would never end! He is 9 now and is in the Graphic Novel stage (“It counts as a real book, mom, honest!”). But he still likes me to read to him at night and it must be done with interesting voices and accents. I think I may have a future in Books on Tape.
What a cute post! I have never seen cut and dry stages, but mine have all gone through similar ones. (they are 6yo, 4yo, 3yo and 10 months) the current 3 yo will pick a favorite that has to be read every. single. naptime. until I think I will scream if I read it one more time, this usually goes on for about 1-2 months then *poof* no longer the favorite, on to the new favorite, and then I actually start to miss the old ones :-)
Having littles in the house, we have hit the again and again stage! I think I can recite Green Eggs and Ham in my sleep!
My 3 year old son listened to a CD recording of Mike Mulligan for 4 weeks straight at least 3 times a day. He has since moved on to “reading” the book. :)
Our three year old usually picks out her own stuff for us to read to her. My 7 year old has required reading and then free time reading. I tend to guide his free time reading by allowing him to choose a fun chapter book, and then he can read whatever else he wants.
My son is starting to hit the age where he likes to sound out some words, and generally just look at the pictures. It’s nice when I can finally see things clicking into place for him.
Great phases! My kids have absolutely gone through these phases, and we just go right along with them. However, one difference is, my kids could not get enough of Goodnight moon!
This is a good reminder that it’s always a just a stage! No matter what, this too shall pass :)
My 4 yo kiddos are definitely in the “gimmick” stage, as well as being repetitive with the same books… i need to be better about rotating them out in a regular basis!
I have a 2 and 4 year old and we have hit all of those stages! Especially the one where we have no flaps left on any of the flap books!!
That’s the worst – and trust me, no amount of transparent packing tape will fix the flap books!
Fun stories. I have a 10 month old, 2 1/2 year old, and 4 1/2 year old, so we’re a little bit in all the stages…. and revert back to previous stages often!
I have a 18 month old, 3 1/2 year old and a 5 year old, they all love books and i can certainly relate to the stages mentioned above!
I wish these were around when my son was learning how to read. He’s 12 years old now and working with AAS is his favorite part of his homeschooling day.
Oh my gosh! The book eating phase, I can so relate.
My 5-year-old has begun reading independently. We still read to her all the time, some books that we choose, and some that she chooses. She particularly likes Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Wilems, The tales of Winni-the-Pooh, or her Usborne science books and sciency magazines like Big Backyard. My 2.5-year old likes to hear the same book over and over again, and then a week later he has a different one he wants to hear repeatedly. I don’t mind that so much, as his desire to “read” a different book to himself, while I read aloud from his first choice. What is up with that?
What a great post! I remember “book eating” and have the tattered Sandra Boyntons to prove it. We’ve done the “gimmicks” and periodically return to that stage. Honestly, I treat books the way I treat food. I give them lots of healthy options and let the boys choose how much they take in. When we go to the library, they get to pick their own books, but I pick books that are “good for them” too (and because I want to read them). However, what gets read from the giant stacks of books once we are home is up to them. And sometimes there are picture books that only Mommy gets to read because no one else is interested.
Hi Kirsten! I love the comparison of books to food, and the idea that there are “healthy options!” But of course – a healthy reading diet is just the thing to grow well-rounded kids. :)
I love seeing your photos of some of our favorites. How many times have I read Take the Moon for a Walk with my son. He has his favorites, but always liked a lot of variety to keep him interested. My daughter was just like your sons. She wanted to read the same books over and over and over. Now she is 8 and last night as I went to shut off her lamp at 11:00, she was still up and reading one of the books she got for her birthday last week. I don’t know if she’ll read and reread them over and over again, but I know she loves books and I love that!
Interesting to read the many comments. Coming from the perspective of a mother of 3, a grandmother and a teacher who loves to assist the struggler to read this has been great to read. any memories: our eldest child who loved “The BIg Ball of String” so much he could recall the whole 60 pages!! I.’ recently attended a conference where we were reminded of the importance of repetition and rhyme on the development of language skills underpinning successful reading. Keep reading and enjoying, the results seen personally and professionally are invaluable!!
I guess I’m lucky that my kids really haven’t gone through book phases at this point. They choose a good variety most of the time, although there are times when I will suggest one that I think has been neglected for a while.
We are well into the New Horizons. Our twins eat everything up! Of course, now the books I read to them take hours instead of minutes. Would love to win the $100! Thanks for the drawing!
All 3 of my kiddos love picture books — I must admit so do I…
We have a house full of readers and pre-readers here. All of my kids have always loved books. I hope they all continue to love books as much as I do.
I am looking forward to trying All About Spelling.
Thanks!
Great post!
You asked do I require a certain type or follow her lead, or both…well, when she was younger (she’s now almost 10) I would offer the so called ‘in’ books most kids loved. She never really went for those. She didn’t get into Dr. Seuss or Eric Carle. Although she did like ‘Chicka-chicka boom-boom :)
Later, I so wanted to do unit studies on Laura Ingalls and read all the books…wouldn’t have it. I got one or two in but not anymore. I thought the American Girl series was great as I love history…didn’t happen but once. So forget ‘My America Series’ and other neat ones I’d love to read! So, I’ve finally come around to accepting it just won’t happen and I’m embracing her own choices, her own ‘this looks so cool!’ choices and really enjoying her little self come out and grow up. :)
Currently her choice is the series ‘Sisters Eight’ which I had never heard of before. And her choice of protagonists? Orphans. Very different girls from herself. Like the S.E. series has the parents out gone somewhere so they have to fend for themselves. Oh, and she does like the independent girls of the Penderwick series. I do, too!
Thanks for asking! Made me really think about the whole reading choice thing and how I enjoy her independent spirit!!!
The New Horizons phase.
I have one literal book eater and two I can hardly keep in books they go through so many!
I have an almost 11-year-old who is never without at least two books under his arm… and he’s always been like this. Books are his friends. As a toddler, pushed them in a stroller; as a preschooler he slept with no fewer than 10 Magic Tree House books, and now he’s a voracious reader.
I have an 8yo who struggles with reading, but loves to be read to, but that wasn’t always the case. As an infant and toddler, I chased him around the house with books, saying, “Don’t you want to hear this story?” But he didn’t. As a preschooler, he’d sit for very, very short books – Freight Train, by Donald Crews was a favorite. I attribute Books on CD in the car with pushing him past his need to run from books and turning him into a story lover. He loves the Little House on the Prairie books, the Magic Tree House stories, and anything with animals: Black Beauty, Old Yeller, Shiloh – all great stories I hope he’ll be able to read on his own one day (with the help of AAS and AAR).
And, now we have a 5 month old… and yes, we’re already reading to him… and the lucky little guy has a mom, a dad, two big brothers, and one extra-special cousin who all LOVE to read to him!
My kiddos were crazy about “Go Dog Go” and wanted it read over and over. There are a few of the books I have memorized. I remember that stage well. I love the AAS and AAR programs and readers. Thank you!!
I too believe our children go through phases in reading. Lets as parents never starve them for good quality reading nor stress them out over reading. There is so much to be learned about the world around us past, present and future as well as what can be imagined when we allow them to love the story within the pages.
Wise words! :)
I never look at the reading level of the books my kids are reading… I don’t believe in “reading leveled” books… just let the kids pick a book and read!
Thankfully my kids seem to be at the Discovery stage where I can get away with reading new books. Oh that read it 20 million times one was such a hard age. I think I had Grouchy Ladybug memorized.
I seem to have kids in all kinds of stages right now! Most exciting is my 6 year old who is just reading some independently and my 4 year old who is starting to discover that he want to learn to actually read the words (as opposed to making up his own!!). We will be using AAR1 soon and am sooo excited!
And yes!! Who wouldn’t love to win $100? :)
My 3 year old has always been the read it again kid! As much as I try to introduce new it just doesn’t seem to work. Usually it’s the gimmick books that I have to read over and over again.
My 2-year-old daughter hovers somewhere between “all the rage age” and “gotta have a gimmick.” She loves Fancy Nancy (or fancy fancy as she calls it). I was surprised that her short 26 month old attention span will sit through a whole book of Fancy Nancy but she looooves them, then there’s books like Matthew Van Fleet’s books “Heads” “Tails” and “Moo” which are some of her favorites. I am thankful that she does enjoy books and being read to but it is ALWAYS on her terms of course. :)
I just wish I could get my 5-year-old son interested in any books. We have a house full of books, and we go to the library all the time, but it’s so hard to find one he’s interested in. When he does find a book he likes, we do have to read it over and over again!
I have read about AAS but have never been able to purchase….hope to win and try it out w my 9 yr old daughter who could use better spelling skills.
My son has recently gotten into books more and is JUST beginning to try read/spell some simple words. It is SO exciting and I never realized just how much fun it is to watch your child do this!
LOL – This is a great post. We love all of those books at our house and it is a sad day when you don’t have any littles left to chew on the board books.
We are in the Chicka-Chicka Boom Boom over and over and over stage with one of my kids–but it is so fun to hear him sing it! For the olders, I follow their lead – lately anything Titanic!
I have gone through those stages too. Even more so with my oldest. There was a time when she wouldn’t even pick up a book. Then one day when she was about 6yrs old new stories seemed more interesting to her. Now with my 4th child we are in the I want a certain book stage, she is 5. But I know there will come the time when other stories are interesting. Now my 14yr old reads just about anything and enjoys it. Like everything in life, this too shall pass.
We have ( and still are!) going through these stages with our kids too! I always wonder when is too much packing tape? Is it possible to add more or is it time to just toss the book? :)
You can never have too much packing tape! Haha. I just hate to throw away any book, partly because it’s a book and partly because of the memories attached to it. Sigh. I know I’ll have to weed them out eventually, but for now…more tape. :)
one of my favorite things in the world is to go to the library and see the books my 6 year old twin girls gravitate towards. It’s fascinating. I let them go through the stacks and pick out as many a I can carry. They are not really partial to anything at the moment- just nothing too scary! We’ve read books about nearly every kid friendly subject, culture, time period, and animal. The Again and Again Age is still around though. I think it makes them feel comforted.
My oldest daughter has always loved books. She has her favorites, but just loves any book you read to her. My two youngest just want to carry them around. Hopefully they will love books too some day.
I didnt know you had a blog!!
My daughter’s favorite books around 18 months were the ones which gave her actions to complete. “Clap your hands. Stomp your feet. Shake your arms. Now take a seat…” We must have read those to her 100x! Now at 3.5, she is more interested in books with pictures of princesses with long hair =)
The “book-eaters age” made me laugh! Very true!
I have 4 kids. The older 2 are 5 and 6. They want to read everything. We are making our way through the Narnia series. They have loved Charlotte’s Web and Pippi Longstocking the best. Next on our reading list is The Black Stallion. My 19 month old is still a Book Eater. He loves Gimmicks. But he also likes a lot of variety. I think his love of reading has come from watching me read to his two older sisters for hours a day. The youngest is in the “nursing while mom reads everyone else’s books” stage.
I totally get this! The book eater stage… definitely! Now one of my daughters loves Dora books and will read them like crazy (despite VERY limited shows in the house!) and the other loves the Rainbow Fairies chapter books. She will read a whole chapter book in one sitting. I am not fond of either of these choices, BUT I read them anyway and try to present other choices too. Above all, I want them to love to read!
Oh, the “gimmick” age. It’s my least favorite; it’s just so depressing. My youngest is in the “book eaters” age, and my oldest is in the, “again and again” age. I love your categories!
While I do allow my children to have their favorites, we also read aloud many different books during our schooling time. I check out many (too many according to my husband) books from the library every month that go along with our theme. I try to mix it up, nonfiction with fiction, etc.
I like your explanation of the different stages. :-)
My daughter is in first grade and has started to read this year. It’s exciting to see her progress since the beginning of the year! We really enjoy the Dr. Seuss books and she has just gotten into reading the beginning books all by herself to her little brother. She still needs some help with some words but the progress is so great when you think of the beginning of the year until now. Thanks for the chance to WIN! I’m new on this website/blog.
Wow! I had forgotten about the eating the books stage. :) Our kids are a bit older now and at 8 and 6 get a bit obsessed with certain subjects. Right now a favorite for read aloud time is the Lego history book. I know! A Lego history book?! But they are obsessed with following the progress of legos, and want to know which sets their mom and dad had as kids. And if I NEVER read another book on astronomy it will not be long enough. 2 years and still any astronomy book is a favorite!
It is so true how kids go through different stages of interest with books. And true that they like to read the same ones over and over and over. I try to suggest different books sometimes, and sometimes they take the bait, sometimes they don’t. I also try to mix up which books we have out and on which bookshelves from time to time to mix up what we read a little more.
We went through some of those stages! I remember reading Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See? and Goodnight Moon over & over & over again…..numerous times a day in fact! I loved every moment. There is something magical about reading to babies & children even when it’s on their terms :) Thank you for the drawing & the chance to win. We LOVE AAS :)
Love your products and hope to win the $100 GC so I can start our families collection!
Great article. Thanks for sharing.
Haha. We struggle with this. If it was up to my son, we would read only about fire trucks :)
To help with this, at night I read two books. He chooses one and I choose the other. During the day, we do the same sort of thing… rotate whose choice it is. I think it is important to let them choose, but I also want him to be exposed to different things :)
As a Children’s librarian, I can attest to the truth of this story. We get back chewed-on books, lift-the-flaps with the flaps ripped off, and books kids “should” love coming back in pristine condition (as in: the child didn’t touch it).
My son is finally through the eating books stage and thankfully, both my kids like being read to. I usually let them pick their books, unless its part of a curriculum.
Loved this post. My kids never cared for Eric Carl, either. The pictures were too abstract for them. My 21 month old loves this cloth book and brings it to me every day, several times a day. She would probably love a picture dictionary as she just wants to have me call out a word and she’ll point to the picture.
Oh, we have a couple of those cloth books, and one son in particular loves to point at stuff as I say the words. Those are actually great for us, because our boys will be bilingual – we just call out the word in English or Italian, and they point.
Just wanted to let you know Renee that my youngest daughter (18 yo) STILL enjoys her picture books from childhood!! Her favorites are The Berenstain Bears and she has a great big collection of them. She also enjoyed the Amelia Bedelia stories. If I sneak up on her sometimes in her room, I can find her perusing the pics, even giggling to herself now and then … makes me giggle too!
I completely understood these stages! My two year old likes to read and reread the same exact books every single day and night. She has memorized them now. But my four year old is at an age where he will pick out different books, although he likes to stick to books about animals because animals are his favorite. I remember when the kids were really little about being paranoid with the “pull tab” sorts of books because I didn’t want them destroying the nice books. Some were lost in battle, but several made it through! And have heard such wonderful things about your program and have been discussing it with my husband as we are talking about homeschooling our oldest in the near future!
A trip to the library usually gets us “unstuck” if we’re reading the same things over and over…
My youngest (4) is in the New Horizons stage finally and it’s wonderful! I see her picking up books to explore on her own all the time and she is learning to sit still to read! I often find books tucked between the sheets in her bed and even under her mattress!
This is hilarious, but so true! My daughter is in the again and again stage. My son, not so sure, he kinda goes all over, but it is sure fun to watch them!
I can relate to this post. The half-eaten board books and favorites held together with mailing tape line our shelves. I have a few girls in the Read EVERYTHING in the Same Genre/Author stage.
My 5 yrs old read Green Eggs and Ham all by herself for the first time. I realized it was a moment that can only be lived once! I am so glad that all of my children have a love of books and look forward to them passing that love on to their children. Great post!
Haha. I love all these hilarious stages.
This made me smile! We are in the Gotta Have A Gimmick stage right now…especially flaps. Although, I’ve had to get new flap books because after three other kids, there are no flaps left for number four to flip. And you can imagine the state of our Book Eater’s stage books are after four sets of chompers. lol!
I am happy to say that we are far past the Book-eaters age! I am the only one still in the Classics age. Our 2 youngest children, 4 & 6 yr old, are in the Again & Again age (Dr. Suess and Thomas the Tank Engine). While our 2 older daughters, 8 & 9 yr olds, are in the New Horizons Age.
We are in several stages with a pre-reader, an emerging reader & a chapter book reader but they all probably fit the New Horizons Age. We read lots of books for school and fun. Some they choose, some I choose. We love reading picture books that go along with whatever we are studying and my older two love to listen to me read a good chapter book out loud as well. It’s always so fun when we have a good book we are reading and I get begged to read “just one more chapter!” I’m always on the look out for a good read aloud!
My kids want new books every time. I have never had one of them ask for the same book. They probably take after me in that I am not a re-reader either.
I can’t put my 2 kids in one stage, we jump throug several and go back… but we love reading time, bed time, and now my 3 years old desire learn by herself! We have a lot of books and enjoy reading it!
With 4 kids ranging from 11-2 months we are all over the board on reading likes. My oldest loves mystery novels, my next hates to read but im getting him into Cam Johnson, my yougest is just realizing letters make up words and loves Ladybug Girl, and Mercer Mayer! I just ordered the reading program for my 4 yo we are both excited to get started!
Both of my boys have always sat and listened to whatever I picked out. They do request some books over and over too. Their current favorite is Zoomer. I enjoy reading this one too since both the pictures and story are so funny. We notice something else funny every time we read it.
I can remember…not so long ago…sitting in the rocking chair “reading” the same book each night with my eyes closed! :) They didn’t see my face, so they had no idea! Now, both boys (5 & 7) are reading “Frog and Toad Together”, but still need a push to pick up a book on their own.
Again and Again .. and I’m not sure she’ll ever move on from this stage :) She’ll be 5 next month. But, I am glad that she enjoys them so much. One good thing about it is that her Again and Again books are in the Classic category! She is definitely a Dr. Seuss fan :)
Thanks Renee,
Your blog made me remember all those wonderful stages. My kids loved “Horace and Morris but mostly Delores”, “The Big Pets” and “Bugs” the most. I still read them sometimes, when the kids are at school. They make me smile.
Col
I have certain books scheduled for my K – 5th grader throughout their school year, but I also let them pick books that they would like for me to read or they read from the library.
We are at the Mommy picks her favorite books so tough luck stage ;) We love to read all sorts. I have the classics mixed in with lots of new favorites!
Ooh, I like that stage!!
My son (7) has been through the Classics, Gimmicks and Again & Again Ages. He seemed to skip past the Book-Eater stage, but my daughter (17 mo) literally devours her books if we aren’t watching closely. It’s unbelievable! She seems to be entering the Classics Age, and I’m excited to share them with her!
I can totally relate to the reality not meeting your expectations :0) Oh , how I long for snuggly reading with ANY of my kids !
When my oldest was born, I went in search of good quality books to read to him. He wasn’t interested in any of them. Now, 9 years later I let him read some books for fun and some books I assign to him.
We’re in the again and again stage. Specifically, my 2 year old repeatedly requests all 4 Mercy Watson books we own to be read to him in a row, in one sitting!
My kiddos must have been weird. They didn’t go through most of these stages. They have actually loved being read to since day one. No eating books phases or anything. (Unless you think wow, she must have really easy kids – just remember – all kiddos have issues – mine are just elsewhere…)
I have one in the stuck in theme age, no matter what he will only read star wars books. I combat this by reading other interesting books very loudly to his sisters. I’m sure he is still listening even if he acts uninterested!
I have an age spread, but most read more on their own now. I miss bedtime stories that they all piled in for, although I still usually have a few curled up around me whatever the book we are eating our way through. :)
Love the book eating stage. Most of our children’s books have teeth marks…..
Great article! We have totally worn out our board books!! I think we are in the classic stage…my kids love the artwork & the stories are timeless. :)
Love this post! I have one in the Book Eating stage at the moment and the older two love to tell him how to use books the right way and get very frustrated when the little one just keep shoving them in his mouth! We tend to have a problem with any books with book jackets. The book covers only last about one reading. I’ve taken a few of our favorites and trimmed the front covers out and placed a few in one of those frames for posters and hung it above their bookshelf. It’s great art work and the kids still have the books to read!
We never did the “Gotta Have a Gimmick Age” much around here, maybe because mama doesn’t do gimmicks much so we have always had so few of these. I do know whole portions of Go, Dog, Go and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by heart, without even seeing the pictures.
My eldest (4) is in the Neverending Story(time) stage. He can have me read to him for hours esp at bedtime. I’m such a pushover for “just one more story, we’re up to 10 pm reading. LOL. I thought that reading just a couple of picture books then moving to chapter books with minimal pictures and dimming the lights would help him go to sleep. But now it’s “just one more chapter.”
So fun! It’s always good to be able to laugh about our troubles! We are in a mixture of phases with 4 kids.
I always enjoy reading your blog, it’s so well written.
My daughter is still in the Book-Eater Age. Being a teacher myself, I’m really looking forward to the other ‘Ages’ :-)
So funny! My baby is in a “grunt and point happily if it’s a picture of Elmo” stage. He also loves feeling soft and fuzzy fabrics in books. Great post!
What a sweet photo of your two little readers! I have 3 boys who are all avid readers, and I have read to them all every night of their lives. Our over and over again books were usually truck books, but our all time favorite is I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More–it is a fun read aloud. My boys still request it!
Thanks, Anne! I will look into that book – sounds like fun!
My son is at the again and again age. If I have to read that Thomas book one more time. . . :-)
Ah yes, the book eating phase. I can’t imagine they taste all that good either. Oooo, just think if they made flavored books that talk about food!
I learned the hard way about those lift-the-flap books. I’m pretty sure most of ours have now been mutilated beyond repair.
We really like the repetitious books that are easy to memorize. Makes it easy to “read” along once these books have been read several times in the again and again phase!
Did you ever notice how the Gottta Have a Gimmick age is often fueled by family members? We always get the most loud, obnoxious books from aunts, uncles, and grandparents.
Yup! I know I haven’t bought any of them…they just keep showing up in gifts, haha! Luckily, they have mostly been quiet, save for the odd quacking button…
I love how you divided the books into these different categories. I can so relate!
This is too funny!! My son is going through these stages but my daughter never did. She has always loved books and still does. I have never required them to read certain books, what they read and what we read together has always been their choice.
My kids have been through all of those phases. And every once in a while, we go through that phase of reading the same story repeatedly for many days again!
I’m anxious to purchase your program for my special education students at school!
I am in the “Praise God! He can read!” stage… after day after day practicing letters, sounds, combining, learning special sounds…. it is finally becoming natural…. YES! Soon… I’ll be in the “chapter book” – “Can we go to the library?” stage!!! Can’t wait for Level 2. Level 1 helped so much!
I loved this article! I have 4 boys age 6 down to almost 1 and we are in all of the phases you listed.
We go to the library probably twice a month and get several books. We do library book time at our house. I usually let my oldest 3 pick a book they want to read and mommy picks one too. That way they get to read the one they want (sometimes the same the entire week) but with mommy’s choice it gives new exposure! All of my children love books. My 2 year old wont sit for all 4 books but he does for his! The problem I have are all my childhood favorites are a little girly and they could care less! I know they will have their memories of their favorite books though and that’s all the matters.
I feel like I am in the midst of many of those stages all at once. I’ve got 2 readers who love to read as much as I do. A wee one just beginning to love board books and 2 middle guys, 1 that thinks he’d like to learn to read soon and the other who just wants to already know how…not learn how. :)
My two kiddos have always loved books, but my 4 year-old is definitely in the Gimmick stage with anything Disney Cars or superhero-related, and my 1st grader devours anything about princesses or animals. As much as I wish the “classics” were enjoyed more in our house, I’m just happy that they both have a love of literature at a young age!
We are definitely at the ‘again and again’ age! I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old. While he rented a ‘chapter’ book from the library and was SO very excited about reading it every night. There was still a few of the nightly books in the pile to read before bedtime. I really do not care what stage they are in right now as much as I care that they love to sit and read!! I am very very excited to start All About Reading this summer!! Can NOT wait :)
I have one that devours books figuratively and another one who does it literally because he is teething!
So true! Great article.
Thanks so much,
Caterina
Yep, after raising 4 children and now a grandson, I’ve seen all of those stages. I think I love the again and again stage the most. They memorize the book and you cannot get away with the slightest mistake or you are instantly corrected!
Haha! Oh my gosh! I remember this with my (now 5 and LOVES story time!) daughter! How funny!
Yes! My kids have done this! They’ve both gone through the book-eating stage and right now we’re stuck in the again and again stage.
My early books look like the ones in your photo! It’s always nice to see well-loved books! :)
Thanks for posting.
We went through all of these stages as well! My 3 year old loves to read the same stories over and over again. She can tell most of the stories perfectly by looking at the pictures. It’s really exciting to see her love for books!
This post cracked me up :). We’ve been through these stages of reading with every child so far!
My kids love to read. I can’t keep up with their appetites. Luckily we have the library.
We have 4 kiddos- the oldest 3 have always loved books. Number 4 is a different story though. This made me smile. Guess I need to continue to enjoy the stage she is in. She’ll get there someday!
This had be in hysterical laughter. I relate to many of these! We have book sleeves in the living room and in our oldest’s (she’ll be a 3 year old in 11 days, sniff) bedroom and a bookshelf. We rotate the books in the sleeves. She chooses which books we read. If I notice a book hasn’t been read in a long time I tend to pick it up and read it to her. I’m lucky, she LOVES books and rarely isn’t interested in a book. I’d say every book in our house has been read to the 3 year old a minimum of 10 times. We read quite a bit though. I do wish she’d prefer some of the ‘classics’ more, although she loves ‘Go Dog Go’ which is my least favorite Seuss. I did finally donate the books based on movies/TV shows because I couldn’t stand reading them anymore.
This is so funny! My 3.5 year old is definitely in the “again and again” stage! And I totally try to trick them into picking the new books that never get read!
I can so relate to the phases of book reading. I have 4 kids. My favorite phase is the “make believe” story that my daughter uses when reading. She just looks at the pics and makes up a story as she goes along. She is a great story teller.
This brought back memories of those early years of reading! Loved the book eating stage! I am so glad we are beyond the ‘need a gimmick’ stage. I dislike any book that has flips and flaps and sounds. Those books drove me crazy.
I love reading out loud to my kids. They are all at different levels so we read a lot of books. But it’s fun to see the younger ones start to be interested in what the older ones are listening to.
I love how you named the stages. We’ve been through all of them and it gave me a chuckle when I realized I wasn’t alone and we all go through them.
The again and again stage. And of course, you can’t “skip” some of it because they know….and oh boy do they let you know!
Interesting take on the phases of reading. I never thought of it that way before, but it’s true!
I have a 7 and 5 year old. I will read them almost anything they ask. For a long time they would want me to reader early reader books to them — they really love some of those books. Now that they are reading on their own, they read them or I split some of the story with them. I truly think one of the best things we can do for our kids is to instill a love of stories. My oldest loves stories, and even though she doesn’t love reading to herself yet, I can encourage her to practice her budding skills by reminding her that soon she’ll be able to read Boxcar Children or Little House books on her own. Then I see a fire in her eye to keep at it — and I love it.
Well said…I keep trying to ‘push’ my childhood favorites on my kids, but I have figured out that they are learning to love reading despite their choices. If I could just figure out how to have the ideal ‘snuggle story time’ with 4, then I’d be set!
I love reading, but sometimes I miss the younger stages of looking through books and not only reading the story but pointing to the pictures to tell my daughter what it is, we are working on reading so I do get to do a fair amount of the reading still but I am sure I will love when she completly reads to me. Thank you for this article.
Oh I loved reading this post! My 18 month old vacillates between the tearing the flaps off and gently and intently reading them. My 6 and 4 year old consume books when they are in the mood. Fortunately they are always ready for me to read them a new story.
We have gone through all of these phases with our 4 kids! So many good memories!!
too cute! I have a couple of these stages, even a book eater!
We’re in the “labeling” stage with my youngest. She doesn’t want to hear me drone on with the story; she just wants to point to pictures and me tell her what it is (hat, dog, baby…). If only she liked the books designed for this… Big brother’s books are way cooler!
My daughter is in two stages at once. One part is “Bring the designated reader a huge pile of books and expect them to read them all.” The other part is the labeling stage, but that only really happens at grandma’s house, because grandma bought a bunch of gimmicky word books where each page has word and a picture card slides out from under each word.
I do enjoy watching them go through the stages of reading!
My oldest has been in New Horizons stage for a while. My youngest has gotten over her obsession with The Big Red Barn and is now a big fan of Green Eggs and Ham.
This was wonderful to read. What a horrible failure I felt with my first as i sat with a writhing 1 year old trying to read to him because that was what i was supposed to do to get him to love reading. Now he loves to listen to stories, he was just to active to sit at that point. And at 4 now, he loves to sit and read and also listen to The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Wind in the Willows, a and even some John Piper deep thinking books. What a great opportunity to try for the $100 gift certificate as we prepare to start homeschooling. Thanks for the chance!
I love Bear Snores On! That should be in the classics list imo.
I let my 6 year old pick her own books for the most part. She has been amazing me with her ability to pick up new vocabulary at a fairly quick pace. When she is not with me I will grab a few library books that I hope she finds interesting, but she is always more willing to read her own selections.
Usually it is both ways, Sometimes we choose books based on their interest but I also choose classics for them to read :D
My 3 year old is all about reading the same book again and again for quite a while. Luckily, my six year old likes to mix it up! We just received a new batch of books for our upcoming school year and she is ready to jump in. I am, too!
I also laughed and enjoyed this article. I love the staging. I have one in the chew stage, one in the again and again stage (a potty book no less, I thought we got to leave that behind once we were potty trained), one who LOVES all the picture books and one that goes through novels faster than we can afford to buy them (no libraries where we live).
I remember the book-eater stage well! We have an orange board book that is missing most of the spine because my daughter loved to chew on it so much!
We are at the level of pick what interests you…But, also have one who is just really taking off reading and flourishing like crazy…
I am at three different reading stages …
1. My 4.5 year old has discovered the excitement of chapter books and thankfully is very happy to let me introduce him to some of my early favorites – Henry Huggins, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Laura Ingalls Wilder books.
2. My 2.5 year old is slowly starting to let me read to him, but it’s on his terms :)
3. My 5 month old is happy to be read to, but is quickly moving into the “I want to chew my book” phase that you mentioned.
Such fun times!!
I have twin 2 year olds in the Again and Again age, and a 6 year old in the New Horizons, so I have hope the younger ones will eventually get there too!
What a great timeline! I am an archaeologist and I love your analogy! My daughter has and is going through these stages and I never even really thought about it until you wrote this blog! I think I won’t stress about the ‘wonderful’ books that mommy picks out that she groans about and just let her enjoy what she wants to read/listen too. Is that what we all want anyway? ;)
Loved this post! Had so much fun picturing my kids in the different stages. :-)
My eight year old is in the chapter book series stage where he wants to finish every book in a given series. He’s currently reading his way through the A to Z Mysteries, at a pace of about three books a day.
Great Post! I have a 2 and 3 year old and they are so totally different with books…The 3 year old is all about books and the 3 year old could care less.
I think we read Sandra Boynton’s books non-stop for a year. I can still recite many of them 4 years later. Thank goodness they were fun to read and made us giggle!
I can relate to this!
We never went through the chew stage or the all the new books. We have used the classics.
I have a 14 month old and a 10 year old and it is so easy to forget all those different stages when I have a competent reader and a “Book Eater” on my hands. Thank you for the reminder of all the stages I have forgotten about in between. The joy of raising a child who loves to read is worth the “Again and Again” stage! It brings joy to my heart when I catch my 10 year old reading under her covers at night with a flashlight after lights out time. She gets in trouble, of course, but its wonderful to see her LOVE to read!