Reading can take your kids to all the places and have different sort of adventures, all without moving from the comfort of your home. It practices their imagination, and it is most essential to learn for when they start attending school. Even simple storybooks for kids could help them go a long way.
While your child’s reading journey usually starts from your storytelling during bedtime, eventually they can become inclined to reading their favourite storybooks all on their own. But with seemingly endless choices of storybooks for kids, how do you choose?
Here are a few classics and crowd favourite children’s books that your child will enjoy to practice their reading skills.
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Bee-Bim Bop! by Mrs Linda Sue Park
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Learn how to make bee-bim bop with this fun bouncy rhyming story of a family preparing their favourite meal. Bi bim bap is a traditional Korean rice bowl that many families enjoy, especially the one in this charming storybook. For kids who are always eager to help with cooking alongside their parents, this book will be a real treat for them. It even includes a complete recipe for the dish so you can start making some bee-bim bop of your own!
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Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Eric Carle
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This bestselling board book is great for your child to flip through with its rhythmic writing and wonderful artwork with vibrant colours that are sure to catch your kid’s interest. Its simple sentence structure that repeats for each animal that Brown Bear sees makes it easy for younger kids to read on their own, maybe even over and over.
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The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
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There’s no better book to teach your kids the gift of love than this heartwarming fable about a boy and a tree that loved him. In fact, the tree loved the boy so much that she would give him anything he asked for even if it meant losing all her leaves, branches and trunk. This beautifully written classic story has touched hearts for generations and is a great read not only for kids but for all ages.
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Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Seuss
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All the works of Dr Seuss are worth mentioning when talking about the greatest storybooks for kids, most especially his classic Green Eggs and Ham. Follow the witty and funny story of Sam, who declares he hates green eggs and ham, and would absolutely not eat them here or there for he does not like them ANYWHERE! After reading with your child, you might find yourself rhyming all day yourself.
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Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crocket Johnson
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Unleash your child’s imagination with Harold and his magical giant purple crayon as he creates his own adventure by drawing the woods, the moon, a big dragon and more before finally going off to bed after his long journey. The storybook and its creative illustrations can show kids just how far their imagination can take them.
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How To Catch A Mermaid by Adam Wallace
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Adam Wallace’s How To Catch series has garnered a lot of popularity among kids, especially this volume about mermaids. Any child would want to get someday the chance to catch a magical creature. For mermaids, you’re going to need mirrors, crowns and pearls galore otherwise your quest will last forever! The book’s witty rhymes and colourful illustrations will surely spike your child’s interest and excitement of one day catching their very own mermaid.
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The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
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When Unhei transfers to an American school after moving from Korea, she worries that her new classmates might not be able to pronounce her name. Therefore, instead of introducing herself, she decides to take on a new name, and the class makes a name jar where she can pick different choices of names from Suzy, Laura to Amanda. But when one of her friends discovers her real name and its special meaning, everyone in class becomes encouraged to learn how to pronounce it. It’s a beautiful story that can teach kids to accept themselves, even something as important as their own name.
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Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel
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Do you know anyone who has fallen down a well? Read about the story of Tiki Tiki Tembo-no-sa Rembo-chari Bari Ruchi-pip Peri Pembo and his insanely long name which becomes the root of his problems the day he fell down a well while playing with his little brother. After much effort of his brother informing their family and friends, Tiki Tiki Tembo is eventually saved by an Old Man with a ladder. A classic Asian tale that tells of how Chinese parents would give their firstborn sons long names.
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
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The crowd favourite caterpillar and his bountiful journey into becoming a beautiful butterfly. Kids will love its colourful illustrations, and its simple writing makes it easy for them to read all on their own eventually. The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a great educational book to breeze through with your child as it teaches the concept of metamorphosis in such a simple yet fun way.
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Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
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A must-have for any bookshelf and winner of the 1964 Caldecott Medal for the Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year due to its beautiful illustrations and immersive story of a mischievous little boy called Max who finds his room transforming into the Land of the Wild Things. This classic remains a favourite even until now and engages kids to become absorbed with the story and its art.
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