Determining if books are "living books"

I’m no expert, although I have been homeschooling for five years and collecting picture books since before ds (soon to be 10) was born. Here are my thoughts:

(1) Do you dread reading it over and over and over? If so, get rid of it. Even if it’s a living book, if you don’t get pleasure from it, neither will your son.

(2) What are the illustrations like? Just because it’s a Caldecott doesn’t mean it’s not twaddle.

(3) Is it a “dumbed down” version of another book? Some are twaddle, some aren’t, but they may take away the joy of reading the original. I’m thinking specifically of retellings of Beatrix Potter and The Little Engine that Could.

(4) Is it based on a popular toy or cartoon?

(5) Could he learn the same thing by playing or observing? I’m thinking of Tonka truck books and such. Do you really need a book for that?

(6) Is it filled with slang or incorrect grammar for no good reason? Some books use regionalisms or incorrect grammar of someone whose first language is not English for a reason. If it’s there for some other reason or no reason, I would reject the book.

(7) If the character is naughty, does he learn a lesson in the end? Or is the negative behavior praised or ignored?

Just a few thoughts. Welcome to the board.

HTH,

Karen

I wrote a post on my blog about this a few days ago:

https://brighthope4tomorrow.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/why-we-keep-the-twaddle-away/

HTH!

I second the idea that if you dread reading it get rid of it!  (The Tonka’s fit that category with me!)  Some books we have that the kids love but I don’t (usually character books that they received as a gift)…they are their “looking at” books, ie. I won’t read them anymore.   We have a huge mix of living and other books, all are enjoyed and my kids are all avid readers and/or listeners of books.