All About Grooming & Encouraging Good Reading Habits

[buds]

While many have a natural joy of reading & are simply dazzled by books in

immersions of all the whirlwind adventures of imagination (from vivid
descriptions of the authors), i have a different way of learning to
appreciate those thick books... Think Wizard of Oz... Think Narnia, the
lion the witch and the wardrobe... Harry Potter... (etc). There are those
thick books that i will only pick up if, i watch it on the big screen first.
.... and find it interesting (enough). :lol:

For example, as a child i remember a few good shows that i've watched...
some in movie versions... some in long cartoon version. There is this one
movie in fact, an old movie that i remember watching AND enjoying back
then....... enough to pick up the book in similar title..... to indulge myself
to read it and reliving the magic i captured on-screen.

It's this movie - The Wizard of Oz.


http://www.postimage.org/


Back then when parents were both busy working, it took long for us kids
to find answers to the doubts that we had ourselves. Having parents who
are not English educated can also contribute to the lack of understanding
of difficult phrases, words and idioms. So when it came to The Wizard of
Oz.... as a very young child, it was not easy to picture the EMERALD city
per se... at least not until i watched the movie. Pictures paint a
thousand words so they say.


http://www.postimage.org/


After watching the show together with my girls which they both sat down
all through the entire show... (some sections of the show were in black &
white) they both talked fondly about it. Reminiscing the magic of the show.

As my girls were still rather young then, i love to purchase fun books for
them to read. But how can a classic like The Wizard of Oz be fun to a
kid? IT CAN... At least with these kinda books in the market.


http://www.postimage.org/


http://www.postimage.org/


http://www.postimage.org/


http://www.postimage.org/


http://www.postimage.org/

I recently bought a cheap Wizard of Oz pop-up book which was
a simpler and shorter version... the pictures were a little too
cartoonish for my liking. In fact, i've given that one away recently.

I've since scoured for one and found this commemorative pop-up
edition on Amazon and would most likely get it... together with the
very classic one that tamarind has.

For now, i'm contented that my girls are ever so willing to read this
mummy (me lah!) this bedtime story. The Ladybird version. :hug:


http://www.postimage.org/

[buds]

Here is the link if anyone else is interested in getting the Wizard of Oz Pop Up book.


<a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0689817517?ie=UTF8&tag=kiaspare-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0689817517%22%3EAmazon : The Wonderful Wizard of Oz : A Commemorative Pop Up by L.Frank Baum, Robert Sabuda Books</a>


There are also other pop up books available on Amazon.
Like Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, The Jungle Book,
Peter Pan, Narnia.... (etc).

[tamarind]

buds,

Thanks for sharing those wonderful pictures !

I also let my kids watch the old movie Wizard of Oz last year. At the same time, my girl was reading the original, unabridged version of the book :

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_w1nyHWTEh94/SavnZ81AXiI/AAAAAAAAA5M/p5jsrMHFCn4/s400/wizardofoz.JPG\">

She was captivated by the original book and refused to continue to watch the movie. The original book is full of very interesting details, and is quite to easy to read, even though there are many words. The movie is highly simplified compared to the book, though it is a very enjoyable movie with lovely music and dance sequences. But my girl would rather read the book which is full of exciting adventures.

I actually thought of getting the wonderful pop up book you recommended in order to get her interested in reading the original text. Fortunately, the original text easily kept her fascinated. I was also thinking of buying the Alice in Wonderland pop-up. But she also finished reading the original unabridged Alice in Wonderland without the need for the pop up book. I highly recommend this copy illustrated by Helen Oxenbury :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1406316237/ref=s9_qpick_gw_tr05?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-3&pf_rd_r=1TME48SETFBJRSBRZ26J&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128473&pf_rd_i=468294

This book has very nice illustrations which kept my girl interested in reading the original text of Alice in Wonderland, which is I feel is quite difficult to read. It is probably more suitable for kids who are 9 years old and above.

However, I totally agree with you that pop up books can make reading very interesting for kids. I already have the Moby Dick pop up for my kids :

<a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1402745281?ie=UTF8&tag=kiaspare-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1402745281%22%3Ehttp://www.amazon.com/Moby-Dick-Pop-Up-Book-Sam-Ita/dp/1402745281/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256771972&sr=1-1%3C/a>


Hopefully one day they will be interested to read this great literary classic.

[tamarind]

Dear all,

The original book of Wizard of Oz, with the original illustrations by W.W. Denslow, can be found at the National Library.

http://www.nlb.gov.sg/

Search for
Author : Denslow
Keyword : Wizard of Oz

Note : Parents should first read the chapter about how the tin woodman came to be. Some may find it too scary for young kids (especially those who watch only Disney cartoons) But I think it is fine for kids who can tell the difference between real and imaginary. The rest of the book is very safe.

The Alice in Wonderland illustrated by Helen Oxenbury is not available at the library, I am going to recommend this book to them But there are many other copies by other illustrators.

[apple79]

wow buds,


the pop up book is fantastic! Even me , an adult is fascinated by it!

[buds]

Yah, i became kinda excited looking at it too,

being a resource and book hoarder myself.

[Busymom]

DD recently started reading Adventures of the Little Wooden Horse by Ursula Moray Williams. DD loves it and would keep asking me to do a chapter with her every night (I refused to let her read without my supervision)! Even though we have not finished the book, I would highly recommend it based on what I have read so far.


On the other hand, I would like to ask the more experienced mummies here, is it advisable for children to read adapted classics when they are still young? Or wait till they are older to read the original version? I wonder as I am not sure if having read the story or know how the story ends would cause them to lose interest in reading the original version in future. Am in a dilemma whether to let DD read a few classics (adapted versions) that DH bought recently (like Around The World in 80 Days, The Hunchback of Notre Dame) and we also have some of the Ladybird classics (like Black Beauty, Oliver Twist, Alice in Wonderland,etc).

[cafelatte]

I personally prefer the unabridged originals. The adapted versions just do not have the 'flavour'...my personal opinion. If it is too difficult, we'll read alound together.


We have the unabridged Wizard of Oz and the pop-up book as well.
Robert Sabuda has other amazing pop-up books - The Dinosaurs and Sea Creatures are fascinating for boys. If you have friends/relatives in US, get them to buy there and bring back for you - much cheaper.

The other good classic book I would like to add is :
Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi.
Not the Disney or adapted versions but the creative Edition :

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/618n4H1j-mL._SL500_AA240_.jpg\">

[chuaeil]

Hi,

any mommy can advice me?
My dd is only 14 months and i am trying very hard to read her a story book.
Myself not a book lover since young cos dont have that kind of habbit but i dont mind to start reading again for my dd but no matter how i read to her she will want to hold the book and keep turning the pages and aft that she will just put the book on the floor and do her things so i try to read to her during her sleep time when she is drinking her milk and that will keep her still. Is this Normal for a 14 month old girl? Pls advice what should i do. Thank you very much.

Cheers
Eileen

[Charmaine_chong]

Hi Eileen,


It is normal. My baby girl 16th months does that too.

I read lots of books to her daily. We point the words while reading. Sometimes she would just sit on my lap and concentrate, sometimes she wouldn't want to look at it but playing instead. Sometimes she would take the book to me ask me to read out. She would even ask me to sing song that she likes.

If she turn on pages she likes, i just read and elaborate on that particular page, no need to rush turning to another page. Give her ample time.

Eventhough she is running or playing while your are reading. Don't worry, they are learning. They learn in different way.

Aside of books, i expose her to nursery rhymes, chinese poems and story through cd. She also watch educational dvd daily.

You can try wo hui du from library. It is quite costly if you buy. It separates from picture. A page of sentence and the next page is picture.

My girl just like it. If she doesnt show interested i change to next one. No forcing.

I used to flash to her but she didn't like it.

Hope this helps.