I’ve always enjoyed reading. As a kid, my mother made it a requirement. I remember getting books from my cousins. There were so many that we ended up turning one of our closets into a mini library.
Anything involving Michael Jackson was my subject of choice. You couldn’t stump me on Jackson trivia. I read so much about the family – I began to feel like one of them. My siblings and I would also take weekly trips to the Brooklyn Public Library to pick out books. My mom would also order books through the mail for us.
I can recall asking her about words I couldn’t pronounce or know the meaning to.
“Look it up in the dictionary” was her usual response. Who would have thought that years later there’d be the internet and a site called Google where we can research any word or anything for that matter.
Now that I’m a mom, I try to teach those same values to my kids. Despite reading a ton of books as a child, I wouldn’t consider myself a strong reader. A part of the reason – getting accustomed to the American way of writing versus the English way.
Even though English is our national language in Jamaica, we adopted many customs from the U.K. Take for I stance the word color. It’s actually spelled c-o-l-o-u-r where I’m from. The first syllable of the word schedule is pronounced with ‘sh’ sound rather than ‘sk.’
With all that said, reading is very important in our household. We’ve been reading to Princess since birth. We’ve also taken on the same tradition with Baby O.
Princess began reading on her own at two-years-old. She is able to identify and write all the letters of the alphabet. She’s also spelling words.
Like I did as child, trips to the library are a must. But most recently I was introduced to Zoobean, a curated library of books and apps for kids of all ages that aim at building literacy and inspire imagination.
I signed princess up for the hardcover plan. Every month she receives a book that’s handpicked by the Zoobean family. Each selection is based on Princess’s age, favorite genres, interest, and reading level.
There’s also digital and paperback plans available. Each selection is accompanied by an expert created Reading Guide or App Companion recommendation, which saves me time from trying to research and hand pick books and apps myself.
When it comes to literature, It’s important for my children to read books that feature families like ours. Princess received her first book, “All the World,” features a biracial family. She was happy that it came personally addressed to her, along with a thank you card from Zoobean. One of this month’s chosen app is Cinderella – one of her favorite Princess’s.
She’s already looking forward to next month’s selections. In the meantime, I’d like to offer a giveaway to a three month hardcover membership to Zoobean. All the information on how you may enter can be found below. Good luck!
How often do you read to your kids? Do you kids enjoy reading?
This post is sponsored by Zoobean. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed reading this blog entry and am so in awe of your daughter’s reading! As a proponent of early literacy, I started reading to my now 3.5 month-old when she was several days old. Like yourself, I immigrated to the US as a child. I had not yet learned how to read AND had to acquire a new language altogether. Any program that ecourages reading is great in my book, pun intended 😉 Also love the fact that you went for hardcopy instead of digital – I’m an old-school reader who enjoys actually turning pages 🙂
Love it! Rohan loves books too. Reading is big in our household and he’s got his alphabet and numbers down. He knows some words by sight but we’re working on phonics now so he can sound things out on his own. He amazes me every day. Looks like Princess was amazing you when she was under 2 too! These kids are just so brilliant if we let them be.
I definitely think kids are smarter these days. I can’t remember recognizing words this early. Ro is super cute. Love the youtube videos.
Really? Where are you from Rai? I know a lot more peeps are going digital. I want her to enjoy turning pages too.
I don’t have my own kids – but my niece and nephews are avid readers and will go through at least a dozen books every day and again before bed. They can’t read yet, but they have all the words memorized and are getting close to reading!
I’m from la Cote d’Ivoire (the Ivory Coast) in West Africa – a French speaking country – and grew up in the Bronx. Sorry I’m not a blogger so you can learn more about me, since I know about you via your blog; that’s the imbalance of the blogger-reader dichotomy 🙁
Digital reading has so many advantages, so I get why some enjoy it; but I think there’s nothing like the tactile experience of a physical book. There was an interesting NY Times article about this, I can send you the link if you’re interested. And shhhoooot, when I was a kid my family also had a closet full of books – a.k.a. the home library, hahaha!
Much respect!
Ha! – just saw the irony in offering to send you a link and in reading your blog :/ For the record: I *DO* read digital – the internet, obviously, hehehe 🙂
This is such a wonderful idea! I can’t believe that I didn’t think of it! Is this like a pandora for books? How well have they assessed Princesses interests this far? And are the apps included in the membership or do you have to pay extra for them?
Love your blog!
I forgot to respond to the blog questions. I have no children yet, but I’m a great aunt! And I read to my niece every chance that I get! I wouldn’t say that she enjoys reading as much as I did as a child, but that’s something that we’re working on. This business can help to increase her interest hopefully, by tailoring books to her specific interests, but also, by having actual mail that’s addressed to her…what child doesn’t enjoy that!
Reading to and with your kids is SO SO important…right on! For my 1st baby shower my guests were asked to bring a book in lieu of a card to help build baby’s library and I regularly take mine to Story time at the public library and of course we read at bedtime! Great post and Zoobean sounds very cool, will check it out!!
Don’t worry she will soon! You are a great Auntie!
That was the exact same question I had. Yea, you do have to pay for them:( It’s totally optional though. But, fun nontheless.
This is so random, but the British spelling for color is colour, not coulour, so that would be unique to Jamaica, if it wasn’t a typo 😉
we read at least once a day and yes they love to read. i am tony l smoaks on rafflecopter.
That’s what I meant to type colour. Ugh. Thanks! Same as favourite. hehe