Bedtime stories are a prime time for dads to bond with their children.
Here we asked babyworlders what books dads love to read to their
children.
- “He makes them howl with laughter”
- “Anything that rhymes”
- “American children’s classics”
- “Books on his PDA”
- “He reads every word”
- “Anything, as long as it’s not the same one
again!”
“He makes them howl with laughter”
“Geoff loves buying books and reading to the boys! The latest one he
bought is called Poooh was that you? about a boy that farts a lot – he
thinks he is the only one until he discovers everyone does it but they
just blame everyone else (grandma blames the dog!!).
“He reads every night to them – a favourite is the Percy the Park Keeper
series, and they love semi-factual books about wildlife and birds. Another
favourite is a book called My nest is best.
“The one that we all enjoy the most is a book that I bought eight years
ago called Bedtime Bear. Tom can’t find his bear and looks all over the
house for it, is really upset because he can’t find it and then gets to
his room to discover it’s already there. We have read it often to both
boys and we all know the story by heart, and daddy has changed the words
now from ‘Where oh where is bedtime bear?’ to ‘Where oh where is that
flippin bear’ which makes them howl with laughter.” Kaye
“Anything that rhymes”
“Anything that rhymes – Dr Seuss, anything by Julia Donaldson (The
Gruffalo etc), Hairy
Maclary…He loves reading to her, she gets 3 books every night!”
Mel
“American children’s classics”
“Mike just finished reading The
Cat in the Hat with Hannah; they took it in turns to read pages. She’s
just learnt to read so she’s slow but she loves to take her turn. He has
much more patience than I do! Also he read The BFG to her recently but
she lost interest towards the end. And some of the Horrid Henry books,
which she loved. He usually reads her a few poems from The Nation’s Favourite
Children’s Poetry.
“Apart from that they pick pretty much anything from our collection.
Mr Bear Babysits, The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom, Zagazoo,
Mr Magnolia.
“Mike’s sister is American so she sends American classic children’s books
that she had as a child: The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge, and Make Way for Ducklings are two favourites.
“Sometimes they read her school books together too. While they read together
Ellie gets in the bottom bunk with her cup of milk and just listens. Oooh
it warms the cockles of my heart…” Jill
“Books on his PDA”
“My husband likes to read them books on his PDA, so usually Beatrix
Potter as you can download them free. They all love the Story of the
Fierce
Bad Rabbit. Other than that he makes up scary stories.” Sandra
“He reads every word”
“Roger always goes for the ‘Munch
Bunch‘ stories – can you remember the ones written by that little
girl?! He makes me laugh because if the girls choose a long story he reads
every word; he hasn’t twigged yet that if you skip a few sentences they
never realise!” Wendy
“Anything, as long as it’s not the same one again!”
“He doesn’t mind as long as its not the same one again! The kids would
choose to have the same book read and reread if you’d let them. The boys
choose the book (with direction from us) then we each read it to them.
My husband usually reads it to them first, I’ll read it to them a few
months later.” Tass
Where to next?
- Dads – we want to hear from you! Tell us the books you like to read
to your children by emailing us at books@babyworld.co.uk
