With each passing year, I have realised that my son's favorite childrens book series changes from month-to-month. When he was younger, he had just a couple that would captivate him night after night. However, it wasn't long before he began reading children's books to me.
When he was a tot, his favorite childrens book series was Thomas the Tank Engine. Each night he would enjoy hearing tales of Thomas, Diesel and those troublesome trucks. Besides making him giggle with glee, these books, written by Rev. W V Awdry. Their colorful illustrations really brought the stories to life.
His passion for trains soon led to a love of cars, diggers and large trucks. The Amazing Machines series is a fantastic range of bright, cheery and boy-friendly books. They are easy to read and perfect for pre-schoolers. Older boys will enjoy the Hot Wheels childrens book series. Each book comes with its own vehicle which makes it excellent value.
Personally, I think that having toys or items around the house which relate to a childrens book series really helps your child develop their love of reading. Many associate books with bedtime, but quite often my son and I would read during the day as well as at night.
As he reached school-age, he began developing his sense of humor. To get him interested in reading, I tried the Captain Underpants childrens book series. The books are fantastic for boys from 7-10 as they are not only funny, but well laid out for readers with short attention spans. While some pages of these childrens books feature full-pages of text, there are plenty of illustrations as well as some pages laid out as comic strips.
He has begun enjoying superhero graphic novels, magazines and even some young adult books. While these aren't necessarily "childrens books", I don't want to stand in the way of his reading bug. So, I'm on a mad search for a children's book series which suits his abilities as well as his interest.
To help my search, I've asked my friends, family and co-workers to suggest childrens book series to me. I have put together a list, but will take my son with me to the bookstore to check them out. Sometimes it is best to let him choose the one that appeals to him.
By giving him the final say-so, it allows him to get him enthusiastic about the book. I've done it since he was two, and I have found it is the secret to our reading success. They say it is more difficult to make a boy a reader, however if you can successfully create a buzz around reading, you're halfway there.
