For poetry my absolute favourite to read aloud from is The Tolkien Reader.
If you love reading tongue-twisters very very fast, you will not find a better poem for the purpose than "Errantry." The beginning is a clue as to how fun it is.
There was a merry passenger,
a messenger a mariner:
he built a gilded gondola
to wander in and had in her
a load of yellow oranges
and porridge for his provender;
he perfumed her with marjoram,
and cardamom and lavender.
Be prepared to add to your vocabulary!
Of crystal was his habergeon,
his scabbard of chalcedony,
with silver tipped and plenilune,
his spear was hewn of ebony.
His javelins were of malachite
and stalactite - he brandished them,
and went and fought the dragon flies,
of Paradise, and vanquished them.
Not for everyone, I know. But if you're a philology geek who has Bilbo Baggins' love of rhyme, you will love this book and enjoy reading the songs of Tom Bombadil, Sam's song about the trolls, the tale of how the Man in the Moon came down too soon, and much more.
The first book I ever read to The Precious was The Silmarillion, also by Tolkien of course. I admit that she slept through a lot of it, but she was a newborn after all. She did seem to enjoy the beginning as much as I do. The Music of the Ainur has to be one of the most gorgeous pieces of prose of all time!
Then the voices of the Ainur, like unto harps and lutes, and pipes
and trumpets, and viols and organs, and like unto countless choirs
singing with words, began to fashion the theme of Iluvatar to a great
music ; and a sound arose of endless interchanging melodies woven in
harmony that passed beyond hearing into the depths and into the
heights, and the places of the dwelling of Iluvatar were filled to overflowing,
and the music and the echo of the music went out into the
Void, and it was not void. Never since have the Ainur made any
music like to this music, though it has been said that a greater still
shall be made before Iluvatar by the choirs of the Ainur and the
Children of Iluvatar after the end of days. Then the themes of
Iluvatar shall be played aright, and take Being in the moment of their
utterance, for all shall then understand fully his intent in their part,
and each shall know the comprehension of each, and Iluvatar shall
give to their thoughts the secret fire, being well pleased.
The Silmarillion
Both The Jungle Book and Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling have been great fun to read aloud. My favourite passages come from "The Cat That Walked By Himself," in Just So Stories. As with The Tolkien Reader I will only give you a few passages so as not to spoil the rest.
"HEAR and attend and listen; for this befell and behappened and became and was, O my Best Beloved, when the Tame animals were wild. The Dog was wild, and the Horse was wild, and the Cow was wild, and the Sheep was wild, and the Pig was wild—as wild as wild could be—and they walked in the Wet Wild Woods by their wild lones. But the wildest of all the wild animals was the Cat. He walked by himself, and all places were alike to him."
and
"'O my Enemy and Wife of my Enemy and Mother of My Enemy,' said the Cat, 'it is I, for you have spoken a second word in my praise, and now I can sit by the warm fire at the back of the Cave for always and always and always. But still I am the Cat who walks by himself, and all places are alike to me.'
Then the Woman was very very angry, and let down her hair and put more wood on the fire and brought out the broad blade-bone of the shoulder of mutton and began to make a Magic that should prevent her from saying a third word in praise of the Cat. It was not a Singing Magic, Best Beloved, it was a Still Magic; and by and by the Cave grew so still that a little wee-wee mouse crept out of a corner and ran across the floor."
I do read The Precious books that are meant for children too, I promise. One of our favourites is Sandra Boynton's Barnyard Dance.
Stomp your feet!
Clap your hands!
Everybody ready for
a barnyard dance!
It's just so much fun, and there are lots of actions you and your child can do along with it.
One of my favourite songs to sing to my baby has been Summertime, and we both love this book version with incredibly beautiful illustrations.
Oh your daddy's rich
And your ma is good lookin'
So hush little baby
Don't you cry.
Summertime
And of course, every night, we have to read Margaret Wise Brown's soothing classic, Good Night Moon. Our copy looks like an accordion now, The Precious loves it so much!
Goodnight comb,
Goodnight brush
Goodnight Nobody
Goodnight mush.
And goodnight to the old lady whispering hush.
*Please check your local independent bookstore for these titles before ordering from Amazon!*
What are your favourite books to read aloud?
