Today is Family Literacy Day! Family Literacy Day was created by ABC Life Literacy Canada in 1999, it takes place every January 27th. The goal of Family Literacy Day is to bring attention to how vital it is to read as a family. When you take time out as a family to read every day it can help to develop a child’s literacy and language skills significantly.
Here at Little Lotus Yoga we believe it is important to foster an environment where children enjoy reading and what better way to do than reading with a loved one! Here are some of our instructors favourite family reads.
“My husband and I love to read to our 4 month old Hunter before bed. He looks at the pictures and is quite intrigued by the flipping pages! My personal favourite is “Oh! J’ai Perdu Mon Nom!” (I read in French, my husband reads in English). It is a beautifully written and personalized story that carries you through a wonderful adventure. It is a great marriage between learning opportunities and just plain entertainment! I almost wish we had it in English too!” –Sara White
“Here’s a few of my favourites:
“Guess How Much I Love You”, by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram. This is such a sweet story about a little hare and his dad. The illustrations are beautiful, and really bring the story to life. I especially love how they snuggle down to sleep together.
“Scaredy Squirrel” by Melanie Watt. Scaredy Squirrel is afraid of EVERYTHING, and lives a quiet life in his but tree to avoid life. Once he ventures a little out of his comfort zone he discovers amazing things.
“Matilda” by Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake. This is one of my all time favourite books from my own childhood. A brilliant young girl with a terrible family finds out she has special powers. She uses them to rescue her favourite teacher from an evil headmistress and lives happily ever after.” –Sara Simon
“Xavier’s favourite book is “Goodnight World”. He loved the illustrations of the animals and the colours. His favourite part is the last page that has wolves because we howl (like wolves) to the moon.
“Where the Wild Things Are”, my daughter has loved this book since she was very tiny. She likes scaring herself and still pretends to be scared by the “wild things”. We’ve read the story so many times that she knows it off by heart and is now trying to teach herself the words!” –Jemile Amador
“My kids think “The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales” is hilarious. A very funny twist on traditional fairy tales that we can all enjoy together.” -Heather Logan
“As a young child, one of my favourite books was the “Berenstains’ B Book.” I used to love the build-up to the ‘bump’ and ‘BAM’ part, and wondered how Big Brown Bear, Blue Bull and Beautiful Baboon were able to stay on their bike. Though I loved the excitement of the story, in the end, I always felt bad for Baby Bird’s balloon!” -Christiane (Christie) Parcigneau
We like “If I Were a Giraffe” by Anne Wilkinson because it’s a sensory book and the pages are thick so it’s easy for Ava to turn them. She really likes the part about the giraffe‘s knobbly knees because when we get to that part I grab and tickle her knees!” – Jenn Tuthill
“Although I do not have children, here is a list of some books that I believe every child should be read/read (and, fun fact: as an adult I STILL LOVE THEM!)
“The Tao of Pooh” by Benjamin Hoff. This is an amazing book that introduces the beliefs of Taoism through the teaching of beloved Winnie the Pooh! It introduces fun ways for children to live in the moment and to appreciate every day! “What Day is it” asked Pooh, “It’s Today” squeaked Piglet. “My Favorite Day” said Pooh.
“I am Yoga” by Susan Verde, Peter H. Reynolds. This is an adorable book that teaching children through story the powers of yoga. Teaching children every step of the way to use their imagination, transform, strengthen and learn that anything is possible! Great for the reader as well as the child (plus you might all enjoy a good stretch along the way)!
The entire Dr. Seuss Collection. I just want to say, that it is not for nothing that Dr. Seuss is an all time classic! The entire collection of books is filled with fun stories and rhymes. The underlining themes of the books are a great learning opportunity for children of all ages to learn self-love and self-empowerment. “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn the more places you’ll go.” Dr. Seuss also likes to keep it real: “And will you succeed? Yes you will indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)” -Samantha Fauteux
“My all time favourite book to read with my children is “Oh the Places You Will Go” by Dr Seuss! I want to constantly remind them that they really do have the ability to reach their dreams, desires and live the life they want. Yes, there may be bumps along the way and they may steer off their path but that is part of life. I want them to always remember that they are “off to great places, off and away!”” –Amanda DeGrace, Little Lotus Founder & President
We hope you take time this Family Literacy Day to open a book and start an adventure with your loved ones.
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