The Tribune

By BIANCA CARTER

When I was a child I had a several favourite books, and now well into my 30s, and with my own children, I still remember those books.

If you are a lover of books, an avid and enthusiastic reader, I’m sure you’ll agree that reading is the gateway to imagination. Books paint a vivid picture in our minds of every detail and word that is written on their pages. The beauty and imagery that plays itself out in the reader’s mind is different for everyone. The way the characters look, their facial expressions, and movements are unique in our minds. We all get to be directors for the scripts laid out in the pages of magnificent books.

Children get so much from reading. It jump-starts their imaginations, and fuels their life-long desire for learning; they develop their language, and like adults, reading allows their creative imaginations to run wild. Imagination is what fuels creativity, new concepts, ideas, and inventions – all which stem from our ability to imagine great things in life.

Some of my favourite books still resonate vividly in my mind. One of my favourite children’s book authors was Shel Silverstein. Every now and again, I run the words of the poem “Sick” through my head: “I cannot go to school today, said little Peggy Ann McKay,” or the likes of, “Ickle me, Pickle me, Tickle me too,” but my kid’s favourite has got to be “The Crocodile’s Toothache.” It’s really amazing being able to share a bit of your childhood with your kids.

If you looking for some really great books, here are a few that I would suggest:

• “Where the Sidewalk Ends” by Shel Silverstein

• “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak

• “The Frog & Toad” by Arnold Lobel

• “The BFG” by Roald Dahl

• “Amelia Bedelia” by Herman Parish

• “Superfudge” by Judy Blume

• “Love you Forever” by Robert Munsch

• “The Lorax” by Dr Seuss

• “Madeline” by Ludwig Bemelmans

• “The Magic School Bus” by Joanna Cole

• “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” by Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault

• “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” by Beatrix Potter

What are some of your favourite children’s books? Happy reading!

Love and hugs!

• Bianca Carter is a certified lactation counsellor and founder of Bun in the Oven.

For more information, e-mail her at info@babybunintheoven.com. Follow BITO on Facebook at babybunintheoven, and check out the BITO Blog every Monday and Thursday at http://babybunintheoven.com.