Celebrities' favorite bedtime stories

People magazine is running a feature this week on what celebrities read their children at night. Greg Kinnear, Jada Pinkett Smith, Liv Tyler, Mariska Hargitay, Rainn Wilson, and Sarah Jessica Parker participated – here are their choices!

Sarah Jessica Parker, mom to James Wilke, 4: For Every Child, A Better World ($9.95) by United Nations Publications. ‘It’s the cold hard facts [about world poverty]. We’ve read it every night for weeks, and he still asks, ‘Why don’t those children have what they need?’ Because he lives in a country where clean water and food are at arm’s length, it’s hard for him to internalize why they aren’t available to everyone.‘

Jada Pinkett Smith, mom to Jaden Christopher Syre, 8 1/2, and Willow Camille Reign, 6: Children’s books by Fred Crump, Jr ($10.36). ‘They’re black fairy tales I found that are kind of underground. They’re written by a guy who took all of the classic fairy tales and re-created them with black characters. My daughter loves them. They’re her favorite!‘

Mariska Hargitay, mom to August Miklos Friedrich, 10 months: The Sneetches and Other Stories ($9.42) by Dr. Seuss. ‘All of the Seuss books are so brilliant. They’re rhythmic, and kids like that. My husband Peter and I read to our son August and do different voices. Then August eats the books. He doesn’t discriminate. He’ll eat whatever we have.’

Click ‘Continue Reading’ for Rainn Wilson, Liv Tyler, and Greg Kinnear‘s choices, and to share what your favorite children’s books are!

Rainn Wilson, dad to son Walter Mckenzie, 2 1/2: Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale ($10.07) by Mo Willems. ‘My son loves this book. It’s about a little kid who leaves her stuffed rabbit in a washing machine. It’s thrilling, but we haven’t gotten to the end yet. I can’t seem to get away from rabbits lately!‘

Greg Kinnear, dad to daughters Lily Katherine, 3, and Audrey Mae, 10 months: Anything in the Angelina Ballerina series ($10.18) by Katharine Holabird. ‘My daughter Lily is 3. She’s consumed with ballet. There’s a mouse who does ballet – it’s absolutely baffling to her! But it will last 15 minutes. Dr. Seuss’ Oh The Places You’ll Go! ($10.71) is rising fast!‘

Liv Tyler, mom to son Milo William, 2: Anything from the Hairy Maclary series ($5.95), or Slinky Malinki ($5.95) by Lynley Dodd. ‘Peter Jackson [my Lord of the Rings director] sent them when Milo was born. He’s obsessed with them because they’re clever and really funny. But I like Goodnight Moon ($10.71)!’

Comments

I absolutely love that you printed this. How fun to know the books their kids read. I am ordering the one Sarah Jessica Parker reads to her son.

- Robyn on April 21st, 2007

I was hoping see “Oh The Places You’ll Go!” in there and am so glad I did!
It is my most favorite book to read to my kids and I purchase it for all my friends and relatives when they have their first baby!

- Christine on April 21st, 2007

It’s wonderful to be concerned, care, and be informed with the state of the world’s children, but to burden a child with those issues? That it simply crazy! Children are vulnerable, and things that adults can process, children cannot. Why would you want to risk your child, at such a tender impressionable age, become obsessed with such issues. I hope parents are responsible, and only introduce children of an appropriate age to these issues.It is not about you, how good you look, and important you feel by your choice in reading materials, it is about your child.

- daisy on April 21st, 2007

I was glad to see a selection by Fred Crump Jr., since we own a few of his books and my kids love them!

I like Sarah Jessica Parker’s selection and will be ordering a copy too!

Thanks for putting out the selection!

- yaosa on April 21st, 2007

In regards to Daisy’s post above, the book by the UN isn’t really cold hard facts. The book is written by Kermit the Frog, so it is made for children. It isn’t burdening a child with issues, it is introducing a child to reality. I don’t think children should be blind to what the world is really like. We read this book to our kids at night and they think of ways to help the children written about- like volunteer work, recycling, care packages, etc. It is actually a great book!

- Colleen on April 22nd, 2007

I totally agree, Colleen. For children like James who have grown up with money and everything they need at their disposal, reading this book will teach them to be more open-minded and grateful for what they have at a young age and hopefully stay with them as they grow older. Even if the book does nothing more than make them feel fortunate for what they have, that is a huge accomplishment, as it erases the sense of entitlement so many kids, especially American kids, have nowadays.

- Lauren on April 22nd, 2007

i love all of the hairy maclary and slinky malinky books! they were always my favourites when i was growing up.

- sarah on April 24th, 2007