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Young Child and Kindergartner

As children get older, they have lots more to say about what the book is about, what makes it silly, and what they have learned. Read these stories to learn about different books that young children and kindergartners like and why. You'll also get to see how children have been inspired by their favorite books.

Iris's Story: Queen of the Trampoline
Four-year-old Iris loves to read, and she likes to talk about the books she reads. One of her favorites is Olivia Saves the Circus. Iris says, "I got it for my birthday. It's a very silly book." Iris explains how Olivia told her class a story about going to the circus. Everyone at the circus was sick so Olivia had to do everything. Olivia played with the dogs, she tamed the lions, and "she got to be queen of the trampoline." Sometimes Iris pretends she's the queen of the trampoline, too. Iris thinks that the book "is a girl's book because it's about a girl and there's lots of pink in it. But boys would like it too because it's very silly."

Nicholas's Story: Finding Facts
Nicholas is four and a half years old and loves to explore nature through books. When asked why he likes these books, he says, "I just like them." But when asked what he likes about them, he has lots to say, especially about what he has learned.

Nicholas especially likes the book Hungry, Hungry Sharks. "The great white shark--it is as big as a speedboat," Nicholas says. "People found things in sharks--things they ate from boats that sank, like a fur coat and a suit of armor. Baby sharks are called pups."

Nicholas also likes Ocean Hunters. "This book has eels, barracudas, and a great white shark. The barracuda looks dangerous--it has big teeth and eats little fish." Nicholas is sure to point out that the "hammerhead, sting ray, and bull sharks eat humans." Nicholas likes the "gulper eel" in the book and explains how these dangerous beasts got their name: "They don't chew. They gulp."

Nicholas's mom says, "Nick likes information books, where he can learn about things that interest him. At the same time, he broadens his interests by reading. So, by reading about sharks, he discovers that there are lots of different types of sharks and other sea creatures, too, to learn about and explore."

Ella's Story: Lotsa Water
Five-year-old Ella likes funny books and fact books. One of her favorite funny books is Somebody and the Three Blairs. A take-off on Goldilocks and the three bears, this story features a friendly, curious bear who intrudes on the Blair family. The bear discovers lots of intriguing things at the Blair house--a pond (a toilet) that is too small, rain (the shower) that is too hot, and a stream (water in the overflowing sink) that is just right. Ella says, "I like this book because it's funny." Her favorite part is when the Blairs discover the flood in the bathroom and baby Blair says, "Lotsa water." Ella is also a fan of Dr. Seuss books like Cat in the Hat "because they're funny and they rhyme and I like the funny pictures." She also likes Chicka Chicka Boom Boom "because the letters act like people and it rhymes so it sounds like a song."

Ella also likes to read "fact books" about butterflies such as Born to Be a Butterfly. She now knows that "their scales come off when you touch them, so you shouldn't touch them," and "They sip nectar from flowers using their probiscus. It looks like a big tongue."

Ella's dad also reads her chapter books. Ramona is one of her favorites. Ella's dad says, "Ella can relate to Ramona. After all, Ella and Ramona are both little sisters, and that isn't always easy. I think Ella relates to Ramona's mischievous spirit. Ella also bends over with laughter when Ramona takes things too literally. Ella feels likes she's in on the joke."

See Ella's drawings of Baby Blair and Cat in the Hat.