Can I share a parenting joy? I just read my first chapter book to DS - oh, the relief. Finally a child centered activity I enjoy.

[worriermum]

It was Roald Dahl's "George's Marvellous Medicine". He lapped it up and insisted I start the book again as we finished. I am so delighted. He is an only DC and I feel perpetually guilty for not doing more snakes and ladders/hide and seek/pretending...the tedium. But I am a bookaholic and I loved reading this to him. Plus, there is the hope that his enjoyment of this book means he will share my love of reading (experienced parents please don't disillusion me!)

Any MNers out there who understand my elation? Please tell me you're not all thinking "Oh dear Worriermum REALLY needs to get out more" as you scroll on down..

oh, thanks worriermum - ds is 4.5 too, so maybe we should give it a go
No concerns about his concentration (I read him 4 Just So stories back to back last Sunday), but am not sure about his ability to understand 'one chapter'
We got Flat Stanley out of the library, and I stuggled with the fact there were no chapters so he was quite clear it was one story

Sorry yes we are reading The Faraway Tree, Enchanted Forest is where it is - oops!

didn't know there were aidio books to be had fillyjonk! I did dip in and out of that thread but I daren't go onto some of those sites as I'll end spending a fortune!

Me too, Worriermum. Isn't it lovely to finally feel good about something you enjoy? Dd is 11 and I'm still reading to her! She says when she leaves home to go to uni, she'll call me every night so she can have her story....

I do hope my DS will still enjoy being read to once he can read. Thanks, those are all excellent tips.

MillieC I was passionate about the picture books too. But I remember the joy of graduating to "Each Peach..." after those point-and-say-"ICEcream" books, and now suddenly chapter books seem a whole new liberation. But yes, the picture books are and were a delight too.

I think all children enjoy being read to, whatever age. Ds is 9 and a very advanced reader but we still read together at bedtimes. Not every night but we enjoy it when we can.

lol tommy

they are around £12 each incl postage.

It is not often I rave about a product but these are SOOO fabulous. They have pa's fiddle songs, and the person reading it is just perfect for kids.

I started ds on the magic faraway tree and we are now just about to finish Lion Witch and the wardrobe which he is loving!

Message withdrawn

fillyjonk - do you have a link? DS1 would love to hear the tunes - I have to make them up or just say them like a poem

I agree - reaching the chapter book stage was one my my parenting highlights too. I have been loving re-reading old favourite and discovering new children's literature.

And an even bigger highlight is when they start reading chapter books to themeselves, for pleasure.

We've just recently started reading Roald Dahl too and we all love it! So nice not to be reading yet another Thomas the Tank Engine or Mr Men book. I'm amazed that my ds actually listens enthralled with the story despite there being hardly any pictures, doesn't put him off at all. We usually read a couple of chapters a night and I get quite into doing the funny voices (although yesterday was told not to and to talk normally ).

My ds faves so far have been George's Marvellous Medicine and the Twits! Most amusingly he walked up to his grandma and quoted a line straight from George - "Grandma's got a face like a dog's bottom" !!!LOL (she found it funny!)

Oh yes, I sympathise. We read DS Fantastic Mr Fox a couple of weeks ago, and he lapped it up, so we went down to the bookshop to choose some more chapter books (basically anything with a lion or a dragon on the cover). We're now five chapters into The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, with a healthy pipeline of books lined up after that.