Book Worm Fridays - Why read to your little ones?

As I waited for my little one's turn for his 3 month vaccination at one of the NHS centres, I saw a few mums carrying a neat cloth bag, with a lovely picture of a Mommy Bear reading to her cub. 'Bookstart' was written under it.

Image from here

Bookstart is an initiative to instil the love of books and reading into little ones - as early as possible. They encourage parents to read to their little ones - not only does it give them an early start into reading, its a wonderful bonding activity as well.

Pretty soon, I had this lovely bag hanging off my little one's pram. I started reading these books to him that very night. He held his gaze at the brightly coloured pages - and I would like to believe that he was hooked to books from that day! I myself enjoy books immensely, so was more than glad to see this new development.
He is 4 yrs old now, and reading books is his favourite pastime and bedtime routine. He has a good collection of books - and growing!
Our time and attention is the best gift we can give to our little ones. Reading to them is one way of doing it.
I would like to share reviews of a few books I have read to my little one over these years.

One of the earliest books I have read to him is 'Happy Dog Sad Dog', by Sam Lloyd.

Image from here

Its a board book with 16 pages, with just large pictures of different kinds of simple dog cartoons.
Each page has just 2 words - like 'Happy Dog - Sad Dog', 'Big Dog - Small Dog', 'Clean Dog - Dirty Dog' etc.
The colors are bright and catchy, the images simple and bold.
Very small kids (below 6 mnths) enjoy the colors and pictures, where as kids older than 6 mnths can do hand gestures ( big and small)  and facial expressions (happy, sad). The concept of opposites can also be introduced through the book.

You will be amazed at how much you can get out of such a simple book !

Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Came across this story in one of the regional news papers. No idea who the author really is.

A young girl was tired - tired of fighting her everyday fights - she was depressed not just about her future, but her present as well. She found no joy, no hope in her existence. Each day was just a new struggle, new fight .
Feeling utterly rotten, she visited her mother.
She spoke about her situation till she had nothing more to add. Mum listened patiently, a knowing smile on her face.

Then , once the girl had exhausted herself - Mum asked her into the kitchen.
She took 3 identical vessels, and filled each with same amount of water. Then placed each on a stove top, to boil. Once the water came to a rolling boil, she dropped a carrot in one, an egg in second and some coffee beans in the third. She watched silently along with her confused daughter for sometime.

Then she spooned out the carrot , the egg and the coffee beans.
"See dear, all three were subjected to same trying conditions - boiling water. The carrot went in hard and sweet, but came out all soft n soggy. The egg, was brittle, fragile before being boiled - its shell is still the same, but from inside, its hardened up. And the coffee beans? They just sat in the boiling water first - but then rose to the top, and as the water boiled, they released their taste, their aroma, their colour in the water. The water is not water any more, its coffee. So tell me - which one are you? A carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
Because the quality of your life, your future, depends on what you would choose to be . You can either give up, and lose your self in the struggle, or come out of it stronger than you were. Or fight such that it does not remain a fight at all. Make it yours, give it all you have!! "