Tell Me What You're Reading #9: Childrens Books . . . Follow-up to Youngna Park Discussion

Tell Me What You're Reading #9: Childrens Books . . . Follow-up to Youngna Park Discussion

I enjoyed so much talking with Youngna Park of The New York Times in episode #8 and, to my own surprise, i enjoyed talking about children’s books with Youngna. I believe that my enjoyment was derived from Youngna’s enthusiasm, and her depth and insights, also from nostalgia on my on part for the books Carol and I read many years ago to Melanie, Dave and Ben, and finally, my enjoyment for a discussion of children’s books probably derives from the recent announcement of Melanie’s pregnancy.

So . . . I decided to do a follow up to the Youngna podcast by talking to some friends and colleagues who have young children. I asked each of these parents , as I ask all of my guests, to tell me what they’re reading. No surprise, they’re reading books to their kids, with hardly any time to read anything else.

I spoke by phone with a number of friends and colleagues.  

Many of the books read to the children of these parents, and the themes of reading to and with kids, are the same as those mentioned in our last episode with Youngna. Many are different as well.

Most notable I think is that many of these parents started reading to their kids shortly after there was a sign of cognition. Also, many of their kids have bookcases in their rooms. Lots of parents create a robust reading environment. Parents generally, but not always, read to their kids at bedtime to wind down the day. As kids get a bit older, many are now reading graphic novels, and some parents see this as a transition to novels themselves. And, no surprise, siblings who grow up in identical circumstances will not necessarily learn and read in identical ways.

I had fun talking to my friends and colleagues and I hope you will enjoy the virtual Roundtable discussion as well.  

What These Parents Are Reading to and With Their Children

Piggy and Elephant, Mo Willems  

Buy on Amazon

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Mo Willems

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Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, Mo Willems

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Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity, Mo Willems

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Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed, Mo Willems

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Review Scholastic

Mo Willems

 Pat the Bunny, Dorothy Kunhardt   

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Review The New York Times

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A Quiet Night In, Jill Murphy

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A Piece of Cake, Jill Murphy

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All In One Piece, Jill Murphy

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Mr, Large In Charge, Jill Murphy

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Five Minutes' Peace, Jill Murphy

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Amelia Bedelia, Parish

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Wikipedia

Wacky Wednesdays, Dr. Seuss

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Strega Nona, Tomie dePaola

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Review Kirkus

Little Blue Truck, Alice Schertle

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https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/alice-schertle/little-blue-truck/

The Big Red Barn, Margaret Wise Brown

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The Little Red Hen, Florence White Williams

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 Dragons Love Tacos, Adam Rubin

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Review The New York Times

Niko Draws a Feeling, Bob Raczka

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Review Kirkus

 Jimmy Jet and His TV Set, Shel Silverstein

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Poem

Where the Sidewalk Ends, Shel Silverstein

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 Rex, Simon James

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https://www.gutenberg.org/files/18735/18735-h/18735-h.htm

 Ivy and Bean, Annie Barrows

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 The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson

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 We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, Michael Rosen

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 The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Judith Kerr

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Wikipedia

 When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, Judith Kerr

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Review The Guardian

 Smile, Raina Telgemeier

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Drama, Raina Telgemeier

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Wikipedia

 Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Rick Riordan

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Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Rick Riordan

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 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K. Rowling

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling

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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling

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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling

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 Pippi Longstocking, Astrid Lindgren

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The Brothers Lionheart, Astrid Lindgren

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Babar the Elephant, Jean de Brunhof

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Madeline, Ludwig Bemelmans
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Review Scholastic

Asterix - French comic series

Amulet – Graphic Novel

 Girls Can be Anything, Norma Klein

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 True Legend, Mike Lupica

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Review Kirkus

Betty Before X, Ilyasah Shabazz

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Review Kirkus

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeffrey Patrick Kinney

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 Whose Knees Are These, Jabari Asim

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Sleep Well, Saba and Saba, Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl

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Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, Eric Litwin

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Corduroy, Don Freeman

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 No, David! David Shannon

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Please, Puppy, Please, Spike Lee and Tonya Lee

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Review Kirkus

Tell Me What You’re Reading #10: Joe Polizzotto discusses the novels of Elizabeth Strout and other great novelists

Tell Me What You’re Reading #10: Joe Polizzotto discusses the novels of Elizabeth Strout and other great novelists

Tell Me What You're Reading #8: Conversation with Youngna Park, Executive Director of Parenting at The New York Times - Children's Books; what to read to your kids!

Tell Me What You're Reading #8: Conversation with Youngna Park, Executive Director of Parenting at The New York Times - Children's Books; what to read to your kids!