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Storytime blog: Where do you read? Pick a favorite spot for discovering books with your kiddies. By Kristen SchottPublished: January, 2010

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Growing up, I had a number of places I liked to cuddle up with a good story – under the trees in my backyard, on one of the fluffy couches in our living room, in the kitchen. But my favorite spot was, by far, a cozy little corner of our family room. My mother had set it up specifically to be a reading area one summer, and it will forever remain in my memory as a perfect place to dip into a great tale. My family's reading area was outfitted with two colorful beanbag chairs nestled up against a window that looked out into our yard. We had a small bookcase filled with the books we'd borrowed from the library – I, of course, had check out too many to fit – in order not to get them mixed up with the books we owned. I suggest you and your kiddies create a space specifically for reading, where they can discover stories by themselves or even with your help. Make sure it's comfortable, fun and welcoming. You can give it a particular theme, too, if there's a certain genre of stories or an author your child enjoys. For example, Chronicle Books sells these amazing Eric Carle Decorative Prints that will certainly set the stage for reading. They're bright and fun, and your children can also try to point out which stories they came from.  Depending on the age of your child or children, outfit it with a collection of books in a number of suitable age ranges – it's always fun to take a look back at a book they enjoyed when they were younger, too. Grab their favorites – maybe it's a story by Dr. Seuss or a collection of poems from Shel Silverstein – and add them to the bookshelf where they can easily pick them out and settle down with them. When you're finished, I'd love to see what you've created! Send them to me at kschott@churmmedia.com, and perhaps they'll show up during one of my "Storytime" book reviews. Kristen Schott is OC Family's children's book editor. Be sure to check out "Storytime," my video book reviews, for more fun facts about stories you and your kiddies must read. Jan. 14: Are they really 'Indestructible'? Jan. 12: Book journals Jan. 7: 'Weezer Changes the World' Jan. 5: 'All Kinds of Families'

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It brought a tear to my eye! Mom

Comment at 1/20/2010

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