All About Grooming & Encouraging Good Reading Habits

[mummy of 2]

hquek:

ha. i'm just incorrigible.

Me too, when it comes to buying children books :hi5:

[hquek]

mummy of 2:

hquek:

ha. i'm just incorrigible.

Me too, when it comes to buying children books :hi5:

:boogie: :boogie:

[Musings]

Serendipity:

Any idea how much MPH is selling the Usborne readers at?

I believe each book is about $5.14 including GST. I usually wait for their sales which happens every other month. Children's day is coming so likely there will be 20-25% discount which makes it less than S$4 per book. I find it a very worthwhile investment because the books are hardcover (the non fiction titles tend to come in soft cover) and beautifully illustrated and can pass on to DS2. The MPH at Raffles City has many (though not all) titles...For the titles which they don't have stock, can also place order with MPH.

And because the books are slim, portable, DS1 brings them to kindy daily to read and share with friends - kindy has a practice of getting the kids to bring books to read and after lunch the teacher will also read to them.

Some sellers on forums like SMH also sell the Usborne readers - prices about the same as MPH during sale.

[Musings]

To encourage young readers, I also found the Usborne Young Puzzle Adventure books useful especially for boys who can't sit still.


http://www.usborne.com/catalogue/catalogue.aspx?cat=1&area=PZ&subcat=PBYPA

The books have a puzzle to solve on each page which is in line with the story line, like look for the pirate's bird so it engages the child and the child is encouraged to read on to complete the adventure.

Not that many words on each page but it is a start to get young children started on reading.

[Serendipity]

Musings:

I believe each book is about $5.14 including GST. I usually wait for their sales which happens every other month. Children's day is coming so likely there will be 20-25% discount which makes it less than S$4 per book. I find it a very worthwhile investment because the books are hardcover (the non fiction titles tend to come in soft cover) and beautifully illustrated and can pass on to DS2. The MPH at Raffles City has many (though not all) titles...For the titles which they don't have stock, can also place order with MPH.

And because the books are slim, portable, DS1 brings them to kindy daily to read and share with friends - kindy has a practice of getting the kids to bring books to read and after lunch the teacher will also read to them.

Some sellers on forums like SMH also sell the Usborne readers - prices about the same as MPH during sale.

Thanks Musings! I've been searching online for alternative sources other than MPH.

Did you get the Young Reading series too?

[Serendipity]

hquek:

Then you better avoid the bookfairs thread like mad.... I think I helped lead mummy of 2 onto the path of no return after all that recommendation on books. :nunchuk:

Eh... :idea: where's the bookfairs thread? :rubhands:

[Musings]

Serendipity:

Musings:

I believe each book is about $5.14 including GST. I usually wait for their sales which happens every other month. Children's day is coming so likely there will be 20-25% discount which makes it less than S$4 per book. I find it a very worthwhile investment because the books are hardcover (the non fiction titles tend to come in soft cover) and beautifully illustrated and can pass on to DS2. The MPH at Raffles City has many (though not all) titles...For the titles which they don't have stock, can also place order with MPH.

And because the books are slim, portable, DS1 brings them to kindy daily to read and share with friends - kindy has a practice of getting the kids to bring books to read and after lunch the teacher will also read to them.

Some sellers on forums like SMH also sell the Usborne readers - prices about the same as MPH during sale.

Thanks Musings! I've been searching online for alternative sources other than MPH.

Did you get the Young Reading series too?

Hi I have more than 20 titles from the Young Reading series. Usborne comes up with new titles for the Young Reading series regularly as well.

I haven't been able to find an alternative source online other than from some sellers on SMH but they usually have limited titles. MPH is still the best bet. If you do find an alternative source, please share with me!

I also buy books regularly from Bookdepository which has free shipping to Singapore but for some reason their prices for the Usborne readers are way above MPH's normal retail price. Their prices for other Usborne books are quite cheap though. So have to shop and compare around.

Borders carry Usborne readers as well but well it won't be around anymore... :sad:

I have seen a rather huge collection of Usborne books at the Popular annual Bookfest (but not sure whether they have the Usborne Readers) so waiting for the Bookfest in Nov. But Popular bookstores don't carry Usborne books.

[jedamum]

Musings:

But Popular bookstores don't carry Usborne books.

for books that you are interested in but that Popular does not carry, you can try to email their HQ to see if they can check with their book suppliers. if their suppliers have sources, popular people will let you know the price and then you can confirm if you want to purchase a not (can arrange to collect at nearest outlet).
works if you buy in quantities.

[sunset_dae]

Hi


My son is 4 years old and can read Peter and Jane 4b, for Usborne early reader series, can i skip level one and purchase level 2 series instead?

[Musings]

sunset_dae:

Hi


My son is 4 years old and can read Peter and Jane 4b, for Usborne early reader series, can i skip level one and purchase level 2 series instead?

Hi, it depends which series you are referring. Usborne has Very First Reading, First Reading and then Young Reading Series.

Within each series, there are a few levels. You could check out sample pages of the books in each level to guage which level is comfortable for your son.

I recall at about 4 plus, my DS jumped to First Reading Level 4 after Peter and Jane 4b. (He was bored with Peter and Jane and didn't continue with the series. But he like the Usborne readers.) After a short while and after he became more confident, he was able to read fluently Young Reading Series Level 1 which if you compare with First Reading, is one notch higher. Font size is smaller, more complex vocabulary and story line.

Young Reading Series Level 2 is again more advanced than Level 1.

He hasn't moved on to Level 3 yet primarily because I find the content (mainly non fiction titles about Adolf Hitler, Anne Frank etc) beyond his comprehension though he is able to read the words.