^{Originally posted on BabyCenter.com February 22, 2013}

Books are one of the truly great things in life. Yes, there is lots of newer media crowding them out these days, but a good book is still better at unlocking the imagination and building language skills than anything else out there.

Reading to my son is probably the biggest thing I looked forward to as a dad. I started reading to him while he was still in utero and now make sure to give him a bedtime story each night. One thing I learned quickly is that bedtime stories don’t have to always be kids’ books.

When you’re reading with a child during the day, it’s good to have something with simple words and lots of pictures, but when you’re winding down at night, just about anything goes. (Well, almost anything – it is my personal opinion that reading Stephen King’s It can probably wait until puberty, at least.)

A young reader or adult book can be read one chapter at a time over the course of several nights. You’d be surprised what a kid can pick up, even at a very young age. My 20 month old and I just finished up reading Rakkety Tam by Brian Jacques, which is a book featuring anthropomorphic animals. Two of the squirrels in the story have Scottish accents, and I made sure to give my best attempt at doing the voices. As the story reached its conclusion, when I picked up the book my son would immediately say, “Och” in a Highland brogue that puts mine to shame. Make no mistake: they’re always listening.

The other great thing about reading in general is the chance to pass down the stories that shaped your own childhood. Many of the classic kids’ tales from the past are still read worldwide today. Dr. Seuss is an obvious choice and happens to be excellent for teaching language skills. There are a lot of other classics, such as Robert McCloskey’s Make Way for Ducklings or Virginia Lee Burton’s Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel that you might have forgotten about but that will instantly ignite your memories when you start reading. Passing stories from generation to generation is one of the backbones of human culture, and story time is a chance to share your past with your child.

If you take my advice and decide that bedtime stories don’t need to be restricted by age group, my top suggestion for a good tale is Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, which in my opinion has everything a book could need. It’s got imagery that will get the imagination pumping, it’s got a lovely way with language, and most importantly it is a celebration of imagination.

That last part is especially important, because reading to your child is not just something for his benefit. It can also bring you back to days when stories held a special kind of wonder. Sharing that joy with your child is one of the best ways to bring the two of you closer together.

_{Image: Sarah Brooks}