Reading And Writing Your Own Bedtime Story

The activity I was looking forward to most when I had children was sharing my love of reading. It is something I have loved from a very early age, I remember my mum reading to me and both my parents read books and had a lot of books around. Being an only child and having a room to myself, meant I had a lot of alone time to immerse myself into other worlds and indulge new characters. I have always loved fantasy and paranormal books, from vegetarian vampires to the classic worst witch books as a young child. I moved onto Judy Blume, Nancy Drew and Sweet Valley High in my teens, but never straying far from my love of supernatural beings.

My love for reading, extended to writing my own stories. I remember making little magazines with fun pictures for my friends and entering the yearly competition run by the Royal Mail where you wrote a story in the form of a letter. Not sure I ever actually sent my entry in, but I remember scribbling away in the back of my mum’s shop writing about vampires and witches of course.

That love and desire has never left me. My favourite activity is still reading. And my dream is to one day be a published author. But, my love for books has grown through the eyes of my children. Reading to them fuels my love and want for them to have the same drive to books as I do. Aria adores me reading stories and there is nothing better than getting in from a hard day at work to snuggle up with her and read a book. I also read with the boys now they are a little bit older at 7 and 9. They are both good independent readers and read themselves, but we enjoy reading together. We have recently read a few of the Harry Potter books, taking turns to read pages and allowing us to discuss them. We’ve also read Scotland Stars FC books together which were fun. After reading the article in the The Guardian, How old is too old for a bedtime story? I knew I was doing the right thing reading with the boys and also encouraging them to read themselves too. Do you still read to your older children? I don’t think I’ll ever stop until they don’t want me to and even then I might try again with a good book I think we’d enjoy together.

The boys have also picked up on the writing bug and are busy writing away to enter this great competition that The Book People has launched. It’s a writing competition for children, judged by television presenter Fearne Cotton, with the winner getting the chance to be published by Little Tiger Press. How cool is that?

The competition is open to children aged between 5 and 11 to write their own bedtime story of 200-800 words based around an animal of their choice. Ours might be a brave giraffe and a superhero hedgehog. I think it’s a great opportunity for young aspiring authors to see their book come to life, illustrated by the wonderful Ada Grey and published by Little Tiger Press. The winning story will be sold by The Book People exclusively, with all proceeds going to children’s charity Action for Children.

Fearne Cotton and Laura Hamilton will be amongst the judges judging the entries. As well as representatives from The Book People, Little Tiger Press, Ada Grey and an ambassador from Action for Children. That’s not all, the judging panel will choose five shortlisted entrants to attend a very cool event in London on 3rd November, where the winner will be announced. The winner will also receive £250 in books for themselves and £250 for their school. I bet they’d be popular with the teachers for this. You child still has plenty of time to enter submit their story online by 24th October.

It’s a great way to encourage your child’s imagination, writing skills and love of a good story. Don’t forget to keep reading and fuelling their imagination with bedtime stories. We love The Book People and get a lot of great books from them. My oldest Lucas is also enjoying his first taste of audio books and listening to the Michael Morpurgo books. These are a lovely set from The Book People and my youngest boy Tyler is enjoying the Roald Dahl collection. Books are something I love getting as gifts too, you really can never have too many books.

What are your reading habits? And I’d love to know your thoughts on reading to or with older children? And what books your children love? I’m always on the look out for a good book.

Disclaimer:- I was sent some lovely book sets from The Book People, but I was under no obligation to mention this, I just think it’s a great competition and I love books.

HonestMum
This is amazing, I’m going to ask Oliver if he wants to submit tomorrow, thank you darling. Loved reading about your love of books and your childhood xx
suz
Wishing your boys good luck with the competition. i read with my kids until they were older (and developed a love of YA fiction in the process).
#brillblogposts
Catherine @ Story Snug
Good luck with the competition!
Victoria Welton
I have just ordered a set of books from the Book People for Grace for Christmas. What a great competition. Good luck to your boys x
Cat hooper
I loved Nancy Drew and Sweet Valley High too! I so wished I was an American high school girl. This is a great competition! Love the book people too. My eldest read all the naughtiest girl story from a set this year
Sarah MumofThree World
I still read to my daughter at bedtime and she is 10. I read to my eldest right until he left primary school. I stopped reading to my younger son at 8, just because he shared a room with his brother! My kids don’t read quite as much as I’d like them to and certainly not as much as I used to when I was a kid, but I’m pleased to say they do read from time to time and my daughter reads a few pages every day.
emmaand3
I think many bloggers were avid readers and diary writers throughout their childhoods. i certainly was! I hope Erin keeps hold of her love of reading.
Tin Box Traveller
I was always jotting down stories from a young age. Sadly I haven’t read a book for myself for a long time but I do enjoy reading with my girls and seeing how much they are growing to love books. Great competition and I think when mine are old enough I’ll be egging them on to enter 😄
Karen Hannah
Ah I loved Sweet Valley High! My other favourites were the choose your own adventure books. You just jogged my memory too – my eldest boy’s favourite book as a toddler was One Ted Falls Out of Bed – I read it to him so often that I could recite the words 🙂
Colette B
Bedtime stories are vital. We have read them since our eldest was just five weeks old and they are pretty much non negotiable – sometimes we have the eldest read to the younger two. He has just discovered the joy of Roald Dahl.
Angela Milnes
ooh this sounds like a fab competition. I wonder if I could do this with Sylvia.? Thanks for linking up with #KLTR
Karen Belton
What a brilliant idea for a competition! Fingers crossed for your littles! My son is 15 months and I always have his books to hand wherever he plays. He’s just starting to independently choose to look at them which is great! I hope to cultivate this as he grows. #kltr
Downs Side Up
Our eldest’s (12) school recommended that we read to them occasionally at bedtime still. I hadn’t thought of it but it’s a great time to bond when the hormones are getting turbulent. Good luck with the competition x
Laura
Oh you even liked the same books as me as a girl I love Judy Blume and Sweet Valley too 🙂 I hope my children want me to read to them for as long as possible and this is a great competition.
Thanks for linking up to #kltr