Read! Read! Read! The Importance of Reading!

I have really enjoyed this sunny weather lately! But when the weather turns cold and rainy, as it inevitably does during spring in Seattle, there’s nothing more I like to do than snuggle up with my girls and read stories. We enjoy reading all sorts of books, silly books, search and find books, story books about ballerinas and ponies and also about new topics that we want to know more about. When we grow tired of the books we have, I love taking a trip to the library with my girls to explore other subjects and find new books that interest them.

Reading together is so important especially for young children. It teaches vocabulary and helps
children learn how to connect words together to make sentences; a very important process as children
are developing their language skills.  Reading books together can help open up communication about
lots of different topics and help develop a child’s imagination. Books can teach children about the
world around them and can expose them to new ideas and other ways of life.

Sometimes we read before bed, during snack time, or just whenever the mood strikes. Here are some
books we’ve really been enjoying!

Boogie Monster by Josie Bissett

This cute book is about a loveable Boogie Monster that loves to dance. It comes with a set of fuzzy
boogie legs that kids can put on to turn into the Boogie Monster and dance and wiggle! Josie Bissett
also writes Tickle Monster about a monster that has just flown in from Planet Tickle. This book is
so fun to read aloud and comes with “Tickle Mitts” to inspire laughter and fun while reading. 

 

Have You Filled a Bucket Today? By Carol McCloud

Have You Filled a Bucket Today? is a wonderful story with vivid illustrations that encourages positive behavior by showing how easy it is to use kind words and express appreciation daily.

The Story of Cherry the Pig by Utako Yamada 

This is my 4-year-old's favorite book and has been for the last couple years. It’s a book that teaches 
how not everyone perceives things the same and that’s okay.  Cherry the Pig loves to bake and some 
mice try her cake and don’t like it. This causes her to feel nervous and scared to enter it in the bake-
off but she does and wins!  This is such a great story about never giving up on your dreams even if 
others don’t agree.

Blossoming Buds and Starling Agency Nanny Placement are teaming up again this year to support  
Page Ahead Children's Literacy Program. Page Ahead is a wonderful foundation that builds awareness about the importance of early literacy in under-served/high-risk populations. On behalf of Page
Ahead, we will be hosting a book drive throughout the entire month of May. The books collected
will be delivered to low-income schools, shelters, and outreach programs throughout Washington
State. Many of the books will be given to children who have never owned their own book. We are
excited to be able to help support other early readers throughout the community! Feel free to share
the news of the book drive with your friends and neighbors! The more we collect for Page Ahead,
the more children will become engaged in early literacy. For more information on Page Ahead visit:  
Page Ahead 

If you would like to participate in the book drive, please feel free to deliver new/unused books
(ages 0-6) to Blossoming Buds during the month of May. If you bring them to Blossoming Buds
Cottage, you can enter to win a $20 Cottage gift card! Thank you for your help supporting such
a wonderful foundation!

To learn more about one of Seattle’s best preschools and drop-off childcare programs visit www.blossomingbudspreschool.com and www.blossomingbudscottage.com.