What is one book you'd want to make sure to read to your children?
By Phyrre
@phyrre (2317)
United States
March 12, 2010 7:40am CST
I always thought this was an interesting question. My friends and I had a conversation just the other day of our favorite childhood books and it's funny how many books we had read in common and everything! One of my friends is still obsessed with Where The Wild Things Are and I know he'll read it to his children since he has a ton of memorabilia and everything!
For me, I think the book I would want to make sure to read to my children is Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. I would want to read them the original French version because it's so beautiful and I think there's a lot lost with the English translation and I think it's definitely worth reading and learning from.
So how about you? What books do you want to make sure to read to your children or have you made sure you read to your children?
3 people like this
13 responses
@purplealabaster (22094)
• United States
12 Mar 10
"I would want to make sure to read to my children is Le Petit Prince ... the original French version - You are such a dork!
Read to my children? Why would I want to waste my time reading to my children when I can just sit them in front of the television and have an "automatic babysitter"?
Read to my children? Why would I want to waste my time reading to my children when I can just sit them in front of the television and have an "automatic babysitter"? 1 person likes this
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
12 Mar 10
Maybe I am a dork, but at least I have VALUES unlike some people.
To be fair, I don't think your children would sit in front of a television for too long. Those short attention spans, you know. Then again, reading tends to require a decent attention span, too, so maybe you're in trouble all around. xD
To be fair, I don't think your children would sit in front of a television for too long. Those short attention spans, you know. Then again, reading tends to require a decent attention span, too, so maybe you're in trouble all around. xD1 person likes this
@purplealabaster (22094)
• United States
12 Mar 10
I think it is funny that even with the short attention spans, both of my girls really like(d) reading with me. I could sit for hours with both of them reading, and they would love it and ask for more. Most other things, though, neither of them has the patience to sit for very long with, and unfortunately I am afraid that they get that from me.
1 person likes this
@mesuaky (397)
• Singapore
12 Mar 10
To me it would be the Bible, it is the all time book for all ages. I would start with the the parables by Jesus this perfectly fits the young kids simple yet meaningful story. I would love to raise my children as God fearing people. I hope lots of people would too.
1 person likes this
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
12 Mar 10
I honestly would never read my children the Bible. To me, I think it's something they should experience for themselves when they're old enough. Then again, I don't believe in the Bible, so that's got a big part in it, too, but I think it's nice that you want to share that part of your life with your children. :)
@rmuxagirl (7548)
• United States
12 Mar 10
There are so many books that I want to read to my children that it is too hard to pick just one. Anything by Dr. Suess is good, I have a ton of books in my closet that I want to give to my children to read and hopefully we will be able to pass it down to each generation. Something like a family tradition.
1 person likes this
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
13 Mar 10
That sounds like a really neat idea! I think passing down books would be a great family tradition. We've got some books in our family that have been passed down for a couple generations (not necessarily the same book, but having read the book and maybe buying a new one for the next generation). I've got my grandfather's Mother Goose stories that were read to him when he was a little boy. ^_^
@edu4625 (188)
• United States
13 Mar 10
There's a wonderful book called "A Wrinkle in Time" that I think is imaginative and creative for a young person to read.
It is a book that is very timely for what we are experiencing in this world today.
The author has also written other books but this book received a writing award. It was originally written about 40-50 years ago.
If I had children I definitely would have this in their library.
1 person likes this
@Biomechanoid (2923)
• Estonia
12 Mar 10
Damn, you've just hit the bullseye! I liked Le Petit Prince very much too! I am really not into reading, but that was the book that touched me. The whole story and the way it is served is just so amazing, this book (unlike many modern ones) has a special message inside too. I really liked that book and I would surely read it to my children.
1 person likes this
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
13 Mar 10
I'm glad someone else enjoys the same book. 
Most people I know have never read it and if they have it's the English version and they didn't like it anyway.
I think Saint-Exupery's an amazing author. I've read some of his other work, too, and it always fascinates me how he writes. I especially like the fact that Le Petit Prince is a great child's book, but it's also really good for adults and many adults could take something away from it if they took the time to read it and actually pay attention.
Most people I know have never read it and if they have it's the English version and they didn't like it anyway.
I think Saint-Exupery's an amazing author. I've read some of his other work, too, and it always fascinates me how he writes. I especially like the fact that Le Petit Prince is a great child's book, but it's also really good for adults and many adults could take something away from it if they took the time to read it and actually pay attention.
@chrystaltears (3392)
• United States
13 Mar 10
I especially would think 'the book of Matthew', which is the Story of Christmas.
My mom had a gigantic Grimm's fairy tale book, that all the good children's stories were in.
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
13 Mar 10
I've got Grimm's fairy tales as well, but I don't think that's anything I would read to my children. At least, not when they're little. Maybe when they were more towards ten or something due to many of the stories being pretty graphic and violent and bizarre. It is a really good book, though, and I did really enjoy reading it just the same.
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
12 Mar 10
I love Dr. Seuss. They're books that I think almost every child should have! They're really fun and something a little bit more light-hearted and everything and I know a lot of kids really enjoy them. Plus, some of the movies and such are really cute to go along with the books. ^_^
@geniustiger (1694)
• Philippines
13 Mar 10
Snow white and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, Sleeping beauty
and most of all Bible story. I like these books because my
children are both girls. I really love the story and its main
idea and content. It is a good example for my two daughters.
So nice to talk with it and relate.
1 person likes this
@bluehibiscus (702)
• United States
12 Mar 10
Stellaluna, I read it to my niece and I found the bats oddly cute.
1 person likes this
@phoenix8606 (4942)
•
12 Mar 10
hell0!well, i don't have children, but when I get some, I will definitely read them the Bible for children, which is really very good book, and also the many of the folklore tales and fables so that they can life with the consciousness that they are Bulgarians and belong to one great nation of poets and writers!
1 person likes this
@dreamsharmin (2281)
• China
21 Mar 11
One book that is Holly Quran i want to ensure that my child will must read it and with the meaning of every line of this Holly. Then they can learn everything for leading their successful and happier life. And if they follow it then they will not do any mistake in their life.
So i really want that my child will read it.
Good luck!
@optomyst (47)
• Denmark
12 Mar 10
I have read 'I'll Love You Forever' to all of my children.
I tear up every time I read the final page and the boy tells his
mother 'I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always...'.
THAT has got to be the absolute best children's book ever written and every
parent should read it to their children.
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
12 Mar 10
Aww...I've never read that before! I'm definitely going to look for it, though, because it sounds like a really beautiful story and it sounds like something that would be worth reading to my sister (and eventually my children).
I did find a book that I think is called "Reading with my father" and it's a really beautiful story. It always makes me cry. xD but it's really something worth reading, too.
