Mumsnet users share with Scottish Friendly their favourite books to read to their children

[EllieMumsnet]

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Reading to your DCs can be a great source of not only downtime and bonding but it can also help your children learn and develop. Many of our most nostalgic memories contain at least one recollection of our parents reading our favourite book to us, therefore Scottish Friendly would love to know which your favourite books are to read to your children and why? Plus what are your favourite childhood books?

Do you love reading the classic Winnie the Pooh because you get to do all the voices? Perhaps your DC loves adventure books and you’re not one to shy away from acting out the scenes? Or do you love a books that your child can read along with you? Maybe you and your DC love to get all cosy with some pillows and blankets and read their favourite Roald Dahl book together?

Here’s what Scottish Friendly have to say: “With just two weeks left of summer, perhaps it’s getting to that time when you’re looking for new ideas to keep your little darlings amused. Even if it’s just to give yourself the chance of a well-deserved cuppa and to put your feet up for longer than 5 minutes!

Scottish Friendly is celebrating 20 years of supporting children’s literacy with a game your kids can play called ‘Letterfall’. It’s fun and educational too, and to celebrate this milestone anniversary we’ve added an extra twist! Now kids all over the UK can play to try to beat the current high score for a chance to win a fantastic prize for their school – an iPad Pro, iPad and an iPad Mini are all up for grabs! Visit the site to play (terms apply, more details on the website.)”

Whatever your favourite book to read to your child is and why, share it on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

We're about halfway through all the Harry Potter books - not JUST for my own sake...honestly...!!

Octopants is our favourite at the moment. We like stories that are funny, rhyming and have bright pictures

We're Going On A Bear Hunt.... complete with OTT actions.

The Roald Dahls are always great as they have such interesting chararcters for doing voices etc. I also really enjoy the Nudie Dudie books

Illustrated Winnie the Pooh books were a favourite, but as DS is a bit older now, we are loving David Walliams books.

The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton. It was my favourite book growing up and I love getting immersed in it as I re tell it to my children

When they were tiny, it was "Guess how much I love you" Noddy stories and the Ahlbergs' "The Jolly Postman". Then onto "A Series of Unfortunate Events" and the Harry Potter series.

I read to my kids until they were in secondary school (the eldest ones would snuggle up, pretending to help the little one, but secretly loving it themselves).

My niece had got to the point where she reads to me now - last week we were on Miranda Hart and it was really good - her reading has expression now and she is getting so confident.

the wonkey donkey. hard to read it through without fits of giggles which is great with the wee one.

All the classics, Peter Rabbit, When We Were Young, Now We We Are Six, I love Wynken Blynken and Nod! What the Ladybird Heard is one of the newer ones and Dr Seuss; Oh The Places You'll Go and Mulberry Street.

Julia Donaldson is our favourite

Any Roald Dahl , The Witches and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are just a few of them!

My kids are too old to be "read to" now, but when they were very little they loved funny short story books such as The Avocado Baby, The Queen's Knickers, and things like the Gruffalo, Kipper, etc.
When they got to about 5-6 years old they preferred to listen to actual story books with chapters so we moved on to things like The Wishing Chair, Faraway Tree, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, etc.
My eldest son was a real bookworm and was reading those sorts of books to himself by the time he was 6. My younger two were more reluctant readers, and although they enjoyed hearing those stories, sadly they weren't that interested in reading them, so their books of choice became stuff like Wimpy Kid, Middle School etc.
When I was little I was much more like my eldest. I absolutely loved reading, and it helped that my mum had saved all my older brothers' Enid Blyton books - when I say all, I almost literally mean all, pretty much every book she ever wrote - so I had a constant supply. During the holidays I'd often read a book a day. It saddens me that my younger boys don't have that love of reading, but I don't believe in forcing the issue.

The Cat In The Hat is my fave :)

Always Roald Dahl because they're so much fun and my kids love them :)

I read the Ladybird books (Gingerbread Boy, Billy Goats Gruff etc )to my children and now grandchildren from when they were just a few weeks old. At first it was just the rhythm of the words that captivated them but until they started school the stories themselves became their favourites especially when we dressed up and did role play with them. I introduced them to many other books both fiction and non-fiction of which Emergency was a strong favourite. Such a great way of spending time with the family (no matter how many times you read and re-read the same book. All my family are now avid readers (just like me!)

My favour book to read to my kids is "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstien. It really hits the nail on the head about a mother's love for her children.

Beatrix Potter, Enid Blyton & Dahl.

My daughter loves the Mr Men and Little Miss books and they are great fun to read to her as you can really put expression into your voice.

I've always loved the hungry caterpillar

I love Julia Donaldson books for their lovely rhymes. They always have a good story too. My absolute favourite is The Paper Dolls.

I really enjoy reliving books from my childhood with the kids too, in particular The Enchanted Wood. I can't wait until they're ready for The Famous Five!

We're reading the How to train your Dragon series at the moment to my 1 year old at bedtime

loved readin the gruffalo

We are currently going old school with lots of Enid Blyton and some of Beverley cleary’s Ramona books which have been a surprising success. Stories about everyday life are going down particularly well at the moment and DC seems to love that they are not set in the present day.

Congratulations to arolam for winning the £300 voucher