As a teacher I can’t say enough about the importance of reading to your child. So in that spirit I thought I’d share the first book that I have been reading to X, Bear Wants More. Now X can’t sit up on his own, nor really focus on the storyline, but I think he likes this book all the same.

Bear Wants More is just one of the books in the Bear series written by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Jane Chapman. It is a sweet rhyming story that tells how a bear wakes up from hibernation and is hungry so his forest friends help him eat and eat until he is so full he can’t fit in his den! The pictures are bright and colorful, the animals are adorable with cheerful expressions, and the rhyming pattern allows you to use a sing-song voice as you read it to your child.

I chose to read this book to X as his first picture book because this is my first graders favorite read aloud. At school I have the big book version and my whole class will chant along as we read the book. At home X has the small board book version and his interaction so far includes looking intently at the pictures and making a cute “ooohhing” face.

So whether you are reading to a newborn or a young child this book is sure to be a pleasure to share and one that will quickly become a favorite.