Bedtime storybooks that you can gift your child
Reading, as an activity, has become phenomenally popular in the last few decades. There are more readers today than ever before. This activity can reap dividends throughout a person’s life – and indeed, define who they are. So, it’s a good idea to introduce young children to the habit of reading as early as possible.
Reading can serve as a productive break from the time kids spend on the computer, watching television, or playing with smartphones/tablets. Books are a valuable tool that will help expand a child’s imagination while also working tirelessly on their cognitive skills.
With all this in mind, here are some recommended books you should definitely introduce to your child when they’re young – perhaps in abridged form, depending on their age.
- Gulliver’s Travels: The political satire will obviously be lost on young children, but nothing can beat this classic when it comes to entwining adventure and fantasy in marvelous settings that can hold children spellbound and let their imagination run riot. This page-turner can teach them the value of curiosity and adventure, along with the desire to ‘hang in there’ and never give up.
- The Harry Potter series: Being a teen can be a difficult time. Even though all adults have gone through it, their memory is predictably hazy. Harry Potter encapsulates all the troubles of being a young adult while offering sound moralistic advice on how to steer oneself through that phase. Its vivid imagination is powerful enough to transport any reader into the realms of magic and wizardry.
- Anything by PG Wodehouse: Arguably the funniest writer in the English language, PG Wodehouse is a must for children who are blossoming into teenagers. Teenage angst is best soothed by Plum’s insanely funny writing style. There is no better author that can improve one’s English – grammar, vocabulary, and style. Introduce your almost-teen to the stoic Jeeves or the errant Galahad and spark a lifelong love in them for witty English comedy.
- Panchatantra: Children do not respond well to the musings of long-dead saints and philosophers. This can be especially vexing for parents who wish their kids to relate to the philosophy and culture they belong to. Panchatantra is a collection of stories derived from India’s rich heritage, history, and myth, that’s presented in a child-friendly manner. Even the most complex philosophical and moral concepts are easily understood and digested by young children.
Reading a book before bedtime is a welcome diversion from technology and screens, and it can quickly become a habit that will stay with children through their lives. These titles have gone beyond being mere bedtime stories and have become classics to enjoy at any time.
However, it’s necessary to ensure that children get uninterrupted sleep or undisturbed reading time. Mosquitoes can be a huge hurdle, especially in India where they are rampant through the year. But an insect repellent such as Goodknight Neem Agarbatti can ensure a night of peaceful slumber – or daytime reading. It deters even the hungriest mosquito!
