Children's Literature: Books, Fairy Tales, and Fables to Read to Your Children

Children love to be read to! When they are young the more they are involved with literature the better. Before they can read they can listen, watch, and interact with literature through the grownups in their lives. There have been many studies to show that children become better readers when they have been read to before they ever enter school. Being read to at a young age will also help children grow a love of literature that could last throughout their lives. Children will learn that books and reading are important because the grownups in their lives have shared them, and because books and stories have always been a part of their lives. Below is a list of books and stories that I think will be a good place to start sharing with the young people in your life:

· Peter Rabbit by Beatrice Potter

· Little Critter by Mercer Mayer

· Little Bear by Elsa Holmelund Minarik

· Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne

· Busy Busy Town by Richard Scarry

· The Princess and the Pea by Hans Christian Anderson

· The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Anderson

· The Elves and the Shoemaker by The Brothers Grimm

· The Boy Who Cried Wolf by Aesop

· The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse by Aesop

· The Tortoise and the Hare by Aesop

· The Ant and the Grasshopper by Aesop

· The Lion and the Mouse by Aesop

· The Town Musicians of Bremen by The Brothers Grimm

· The Pied Piper of Hamelin by The Brothers Grimm

· The Most Incredible Thing by Hans Christian Anderson

· Thumbelina by Hans Christian Anderson

· Jack and the Bean Stalk by Joseph Jacobs

· Molly Whuppie by Joseph Jacobs

· The Three Little Pigs by Joseph Jacobs

These are fun stories that children (and grownups) will enjoy sharing with each other. They won't get boring even if you read the some story over and over. When my son was three years old he could recite the story of Peter Rabbit by Beatrice Potter word for word without missing even the smallest word in the story. I had read it to him so many times till he knew it by heart and even though he knew it by heart he still wanted me to read it to him! I did read lots of other stories and books to him but Peter Rabbit was his favorite. I hope you can share lots of books and stories with your young ones and find their favorites... maybe they will one day recite their favorite book or story to you. There are also some really good children's magazines, which I will explore in another article, that have some good stories and fun activities for young children. Have fun reading to your little ones.

Julie L. Worthington is a writer of fantasy adventure and science-fiction middle-grade and young adult books along with short stories. She is passionate about children's literature both old and new. To find out more or to read some of her work go to http://www.julieworthington.com