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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be secretly pleased that DD was hiding a book under her covers?

55 replies

MmeLindt · 22/03/2011 20:04

... just like I used to do.

Am so pleased that she is enjoying reading. Must buy her some new books, at the moment she is reading mainly in French. What would be suitable for beginner reader of almost 9yo.

She is not so good in English as she has learned to read in French. A lot of the new reader books I have looked at are too basic, boring stories.

OP posts:

mmsmum · 22/03/2011 20:07

What about getting her something in both languages so she can try the English but have a French one for translation?

Original poster

MmeLindt · 22/03/2011 20:24

She understands English - it is her strongest language - but reading is different to hearing and speaking. She doesn't really need the translation.

OP posts:

mmsmum · 22/03/2011 20:26

I thought you meant she doesn't read as well in English as you said she learned in French and then you mentioned basic reader books and asked about beginners books

Now I'm confused, what are you asking?

DeWe · 22/03/2011 20:28

LOL. My girls do this. The 7yo to extremes though, occasionally we've found her after midnight reading her third or fourth book.
Amuses me as I used to do it too.

Original poster

MmeLindt · 22/03/2011 20:32

Sorry, should have explained.

She is almost 9yo and trilingual English/German - native languages and French - she goes to a French speaking school.

Her strongest language is English, as most of her friends are English speaking, but she is learning to read and write in French.

She is reading the Martine books which are great for her.

Problem I have is that the "first readers" in English are geared towards 5-6yo and so she finds them boring - she has a few nursery rhyme ones from M&S.

Books aimed at 9yo English readers are generally too difficult for her.

Does that make more sense?

OP posts:

Alambil · 22/03/2011 20:38

so you want simple (beginner), enjoyable stories for a 9yo in English?

I'll give it some thought...

Original poster

MmeLindt · 22/03/2011 20:41

Yes. And I want everyone to say how lovely it is that she is enjoying reading.

I was a bookworm

OP posts:

Alambil · 22/03/2011 20:44

it's great she's enjoying reading so much - especially with her linguistic skills!

How about some of the traditional fairy tales? Sleeping beauty et al from Ladybird were quite simple (lots of pictures, half page text etc) iirc

sungirltan · 22/03/2011 20:46

yanbu. i read until all hours as a child. i hope my dd does too

lostinafrica · 22/03/2011 20:46

Would she like the Magic Tree House series? My eldest is 7, so I'm not sure what a 9yo would be into, but those are the best that she's read, most of the others are fairies and stuff.

They're about two kids, Jack and Annie, who explore the world and history in (you guessed it) a magic tree house. They go to Australia, the time of the dinosaurs, Ancient Egypt - everywhere and everywhen. There's another story about the owner of the tree house which only becomes clear over the course of a few books. I liked the couple I read to her before she started reading them all herself...

ByTheSea · 22/03/2011 20:47

It is lovely. :)

DH and I were both bookworms (still are) and we are delighted that both our daughters love to read as well. As he and I both remember sneak-reading as kids, we allow the girls to read as they'd like and don't insist on a lights off time.

coastgirl · 22/03/2011 20:48

There are series specifically for this, such as these High-interest, low reading age books. They're under special needs because they're for children whose reading age doesn't match their comprehension, so that might give you a starting point to search for.

trumpton · 22/03/2011 20:49

Lovely that she is a bookworm....tell her not to read whilst riding her bike....I crashed....Walking along the street.....I walked into lampost........Walking through pedestrian precinct.....I fell into workmans hole..... ( I was 6 months pregnant at time ). Dont know who was more frightened me or workmen !

Ok to read whilst washing up or vacuumning.

Original poster

MmeLindt · 22/03/2011 20:51

Magic Tree sounds good, will look into them.

CoastGirl
Those are great, might be something for DS there too.

Lewis
She has some of the Ladybird books but they are too babyish for her.

Wonder if I should just go for comics. Do you still get the Bunty?

OP posts:

Original poster

MmeLindt · 22/03/2011 20:52

lol Trumpton. And ouch. Hope you were ok.

I used to do that too. Now have discovered audible books, which are great for those situations.

OP posts:

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 22/03/2011 20:54

I know exactly what you mean. :)

DS is only a toddler and obviously cannot actually read - but the other day the house was v.quiet and I feared that some mischief was afoot. I came upstairs looking for him, and found him in the chair in his room with a book on his knee 'reading' himself the story, ie. remembering chunks of it from DH and I reading to him. I was like this

mmsmum · 22/03/2011 20:54

Trumpton I've walked into a lamppost while reading too, so painful and explaining the bruises was fun lol

Mmelindt that's why I suggested having a translation, to help her with the more difficult bits. I don't speak another language though but thought this might a good way of getting into a good book in English, or is that daft?

stripeywoollenhat · 22/03/2011 20:55

fabulous. i look forward to dd doing this (She's 2) so that i can be outwardly cross/secretly pleased. though of course, if she hates reading, i'll cope...

Original poster

MmeLindt · 22/03/2011 20:58

Alibaba
Aw, that brought a tear to my eye.

MmsMum
Not sure, I find bilingual books irritating, as my concentration is disturbed so have not considered them for DD. The temptation would be great to just read in French, I guess, since it is easier.

OP posts:

DarkSkies · 22/03/2011 21:28

Oh- the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary are great for 9yo
Does she like Pippi Longstocking? Lotta book sby same author are quite simply written.
Or Moomins
Narnia books

plupedantic · 22/03/2011 21:34

Sorry, I can't remember what I was reading at that age (although it was possibly Mallory Towers and so on.... ), but I do agree that this is a brilliant discovery.

My mother felt the same about me, so I was allowed to read under the covers, while she saved face by pretending not to know....

pointythings · 22/03/2011 21:36

My DDs love books - did from a very early age. I caught DD1 reading after her bedtime (in summer, it was still light outside so she had just opened her curtains). First I blew my top (she so needs her sleep) then realised I had overreacted and put in place the institution of reading time as part of the bedtime routine for both of them.

I still think fondly back to the days when they would recite the whole of 'Room on the Broom' or 'The Gruffalo' to me before they could read - but knew which bit of story went with which pictures. Love of books is a wonderful thing (but then we have several thousand in our house .

turnipvontrapp · 22/03/2011 21:44

You are right to be secretly pleased!

We were in whsmith yesterday, we were walking past and DS1 was desperate to go in. When we were in there, he said " I wish my bedroom was like this, with all these books, I just love books so much". My heart leaped!

He is a great influence on DS2 who now thinks its cool to read books and is trying his hardest to read the same books as his brother.

And ds3 loves books too, sits telling a story from what he can see in the pictures - love it, love it, love it!!

themothershipcalling · 22/03/2011 21:51

Oh this would make me so proud - however I'm just happy that yesterday DD (3) got in a strop and stormed off with her book to her room! So me!

PatriciaHolm · 22/03/2011 21:59

It's lovely! I used to do it to, now DD (6.5) does it and DS (almost 5 and not actually reading yet ;-)) do it and i haven't the heart to stop them.

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