Reading is a favorite activity for Mary-Louise Parker and her kids

There are a number of activities that actress Mary-Louise Parker could do with her son William Atticus, 4, and daughter Caroline "Ash" Aberash, 1, but her favorite is reading.

It’s the number-one activity I do with my children and have done since they were infants. Hours after my son was born, my brother was holding him and reading him poetry. Now he’s a little boy with a lot of energy, but he’ll sit still for a book and he has a great capacity to listen. With my daughter, I’m just trying to teach her how to turn pages!

We always read a lot before bed. Our record is 14 or 15 books. It’s at least five, even if my son’s tired. I love to hear the words, "One more book, Mom!"

With reading being a big thing in their family, the 43-year-old mom could go on and on about the books that she likes to read to the kids.

I love Cynthia Rylant; she wrote the Mr. Putter and Tabby books and the Henry and Mudge series. Patricia Polacco is a great author: ‘Chicken Sunday,’ ‘Thunder Cake,’ and ‘Thank You, Mr. Falker‘ are beautiful stories rich with humanity, and they teach lessons in a non-preachy way.

Another favorite, ‘Mama Panya’s Pancakes,’ about a village in Kenya, is a gentle way to introduce kids to other cultures and to the idea that everyone is not the same type of bunny or kid.

Mary-Louise is currently starting in The Spiderwick Chronicles and admits that it has always been a dream to star in a children’s movie.

I’ve always wanted to do a kids’ movie, and this one is somewhat atypical — the characters are finely drawn and complex. Even though my kids won’t be able to see it for a few years, I have lots of children in my life who’d love to see me in a movie.

Source: Parents

What is your child’s favorite book?  Do you read them books from your childhood?

Comments

Oh well, I don’t have kids, but I have solid memories of being read to, and how much I loved it. My poor mother had to read Go Dog Go to me over and over every night I can still remember the book, expecially the party on the tree at the end!!

Hopefully there are better books out there today ))

- Ivey on February 15th, 2008

We are passionate about kids books and my almost 3-yr-old daughter’s library is constantly growing. Roslyn Schwartz’s ‘Mole Sisters’ books are a favourite – ideal for a toddler’s attention span, sweet story lines, beautiful illustrations. Another treasured Montreal children’s author / illustrator is Marie Louise Gay – (her books about brother and sister team Stella and Sam, especially). And then there are the classics – ‘Goodnight Moon,’ ‘Runaway Bunny’ … ‘Where the Wild Things Are,’ ‘In the Night Kitchen.’ And with the winter we’ve been having in Quebec ‘Moe the Dog in Tropical Paradise’ is particularly fitting ..

- jacqui on February 15th, 2008

Wow, Mary-Louise sounds like an awesome mom! Her kids will grow up to appreciate reading and learning, and that’s the most important thing to pass on you one’s kids, in my opinion.

- syd on February 15th, 2008

My daughters are too young to read at the minute but my eldest likes to be read stories about Winnie the Pooh.

- Carlie on February 15th, 2008

I’m a 1st Grade teacher, and I can’t wait to have kids of my own that I can share my love of reading with on a daily basis (much like I do at work!!). This may sound weird, but even at an early age, TALKING about what you read is one of the best things you can do with your kids. Not only reading the words (which helps your children learn how to decode words), but actually discussing what happens, where it happens, who it happens to, even when they are tiny, can prepare them to be lifelong readers. So, don’t forget to ask them a question or two before tucking them in…..it should never feel like a chore, but just a great way to share that love of words and reading!!! (Sorry…not trying to preach….).

- Nicole on February 15th, 2008

My mom says that all 3 of her daughters loved the book Danny and the Dinosaur so much that she eventually hid it from us, hoping that we wouldn’t asked to be read it. Apparently, it’s realllly long and repetitive, but children love it.

- poppy on February 15th, 2008

My faves to read to my kids are “Where Do Balloons Go?” by Jamie Lee Curtis and “Oh The Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss.

Whenever any of my friends have a baby, their gift always includes a copy of “Oh The Places You’ll Go!”
It has wonderful messages about life and the childs understanding of the book will evolve as they grow!

- Christine on February 15th, 2008

“What is your child’s favorite book? Do you read them books from your childhood?”

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman

the My First Little House books (which are unfortunately out of print, but definitely worth looking for).

The Scarecrow by Cynthia Rylant

- Emily on February 15th, 2008

Yay! Love people who love reading to their kids! I conduct a lot of research on children’s literature, and in doing so, came across And Tango Makes Three. It’s a beautiful (non-fiction) children’s book that my son absolutely adores! Unfortunately, it has been banned from many elementary schools (not mine thank goodness) because it has same-sex parents (in the form of penguins.) (And yes – non-fiction — interesting story if anyone cares to google. — if I get started, this post will end up longer than it already is!) I admire Mary Louise in many ways – seems like a beautiful mother.

- brannon on February 15th, 2008