Whether it’s a required book for the new school year, a book while relaxing at the beach, or a fun book to pass the time, reading is an important part of summer break.
Reading has significant benefits to children. It helps with their concentration, creativity, cognitive and language development.
We asked some of our doctors to share their favorites.
Dr. Betsy Triggs’ favorite childhood book was Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. She loved the story of the little animals living their own little lives on the banks of the river while the humans stomped around nearby. The animal characters were fascinating — Mole, Rat, Toad and Badger. The illustrations in the version she had were done by Tasha Tudor, who is still Dr. Triggs favorite children’s illustrator. Tudor really brought those characters alive with her beautiful watercolors.
Dr. Triggs second favorite book was a book of poetry called Now We are Six by A. A. Milne, the same man who wrote all the Winnie the Pooh books. It is about Christopher Robin when he is a six-year-old little boy. Dr. Triggs memorized them all as a child and can still recite most of them. “When I was one, I was just begun. When I was two, I was nearly new…”
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, a childhood classic, was Dr. Travis Walters’ favorite book. This book has several different meanings including the ideal of unconditional love and friendship.
Dr. Kimberly Buie’s most loved book was Anna of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. A story for all ages, this heart-warming book shares the adventures of an 11-year-old orphan girl, Anne Shirley, who is mistakenly sent to live on a farm on Prince Edward Island.
Dr. Sanders has fond memories of early reads like The Monster at the End of This Book—enjoying it with his parents and later his own daughter, even if his version of Grover’s voice made him a bit hoarse. He also loved the family adventures in The Berenstain Bears books, especially The Bears’ Picnic, and the imaginative tales of Dr. Seuss, such as The Butter Battle Book and The Sneetches.
As he grew, Dr. Sanders enjoyed the challenge of solving cases with the Encyclopedia Brown series and the thrilling team-ups in classics like The Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, and Nancy Drew.
His love for reading continued with Michael Crichton’s science-driven novels like Jurassic Park (a multi-read favorite!). He’s a long-time admirer of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit—a series he has revisited often and shared with his daughter. Dr. Sanders also appreciates historical fiction that brings the past to life, such as Michael Shaara’s The Killer Angels, which vividly portrayed the Battle of Gettysburg for him.
Whatever the book of interest, it’s recommended by most experts that parents spend at least 15- or 20-minutes reading with their kids daily. If you’re in need of new book ideas, be sure to check out your local library and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library book gifting program.
Reading early and often with your child can help him or her cultivate a lifelong love of reading.
The information and content on our website should not be used as a substitute for medical treatment or advice from your doctor.
