What if I don't like reading my kids favorite book to him?

I've been reading to my son since before his eyes could even focus on the pages. I picked out all sorts of beautiful books to read to him. He grew up sitting in my lap or in my husband's lap and listening to story after story after story. Most of the stories were fairly short picture books, until his 4th birthday when he met Captain Underpants. (Dunh. Dunh. Dunh....!). I hate Captain Underpants. I don't know what it is - too many years of teaching in the public schools so the main character's antics don't amuse me, the whiny principal, all of the 'poop' talk….I could go on. What I DO know, is that I don't like reading it, not even a little bit, not even for the sake of teaching my kid to read.

On said summer, after receiving these books for his birthday, and having every loved relative read him Captain Underpants, I just couldn't take it one more night.  At this same time, our good friends were visiting.  My friend, D, was surprised when I rolled my eyes at bedtime and said, "Great, Captain Underpants again!"  D asked me, "Why are you reading it if you don't like it?"  Hmmm.  The thought hadn't occurred to me to say 'no.'  I went in that night and told my son, "I do not want to read Captain Underpants tonight, but I will read you any other story."  It worked like a charm!  He looked at me to see if I was being serious and when he saw that I was he just grabbed another book.

Since that time, we've conversed about why I won't read that book to him.  It's good for him to know that I am giving my real opinions about what we are reading together.  In fact, that makes it a more valuable time for both of us, and will lend us well to conversations about our opinions in the future.  In the meantime, my son was more motivated to read and can now read most of the Captain Underpants books without assistance from me!

(Note: Use this 'pass' on a book as sparingly as you can, we are trying to develop a love of several genres.  And, DO try another book that is similar to the book you pass on, to let your child know you haven't given up on a whole type of book, just one particular author or series.)
 

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