Review: Routes to Reading

We have been fortunate enough to of been reviewing the Routes to Reading book subscription service for the past few months now. You can read my previous reviews here and here. In case you haven't heard of the subscription service here is a quick recap. 

Routes to Reading is a great concept. By subscribing to Routes to Reading your baby will receive hand picked books every month and the books are suitable for babies and toddlers up to the age of three. You can subscribe for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months or 12 months which is great if you wanted to try it out for a month or two before subscribing for any longer. You of course keep the books! (I thought I would mention this as someone recently asked if you get to keep them!)

Here is what we received this month-

I was delighted to see one of the books from the famous 'That's not my..' collection. If you have a young child and haven't heard of these Usborne books then you must be living under a rock! Noah has a fairly decent library considering he is so young and 'That's not my teddy..' is now right up there with his favourites. He can sit there for lengths at a time looking through the pages and feeling all the touchy-feely spots. Lovely!   

Initially 'My busy day' didn't appeal to me and I don't really know why. I just didn't take a like to it but thankfully it's not my opinion that counts with this one and Noah really likes it! There is a picture of a teddy towards the end of the book and he always giggles at him. 

Now here are some tips and advice from Routes to Reading-

Introducing a regular reading time  Your baby may be experimenting with crawling or walking at this age and if this is the case, it will begin to become your baby’s favourite activity! Don’t be worried if a quiet occupation like read reading takes a bit of a back seat! This might be a good time to introduce a regular book sharing time, possible before bed when your little one is less mobile and more willing to sit still! Introduce simple story books with bright pictures and a little text. Shorten the story and just talk about the pictures with your baby at first. Books with simple rhyming stories and bright pictures will help your child to understand the importance of rhyme as this is one of the foundations for reading. Books with greater interactivity might be more interesting as you continue to use sliders as well as flaps and puppets. We were sent these books for the purpose of this review. However all opinions are my own.

Review: Routes to Reading

For as long as I can remember I have always loved to read. From being a young child, curled up in bed reading "Spot the dog" til now squeezing in a quick ten minutes read of "Game of Thrones" on my iPad while Noah naps. I always knew I wanted to pass that passion on to my future children as it's a invaluable interest which not only keeps you entertained but keeps your mind sharp too.

Throughout my pregnancy I was picking up baby books here and there and built up quite the library for his arrival. I even found my childhood favourite "Spot the dog" and the memories came flooding back. I bought it for Noah and I have to say it's one of my favourite book to read to him even if he does try to rip off all the flaps!

Baring all this in mind you can understand my excitement when Routes to Reading contacted me asking if Noah would like to sign up to their baby book club! I jumped at the chance and was so excited for our first month installment.

By subscribing to Routes to Reading your baby will receive hand picked books every month and the subscription is perfect for babies and toddlers up to the age of three. You can subscribe for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months or 12 months which is great if you wanted to try it out for a month or two before subscribing for any longer. Not only is Routes to Reading a great gift for your baby but it would also be a lovely gift to another child or even an expectant Mother.

Our first months subscription arrived last week and I was so excited to see what books we had been sent. We received two books called "Fur" and "Mealtime", both are wooden books and ideal for Noah's age.

"Mealtime" is a sensory, touch and feel book. Each page displays different food and drink with different textured areas. Noah loves to flip though this book whilst looking at and touching all the brightly coloured pictures. It's a great book for the age that he is now but will be just as good when he is a little older and is learning the words to the different food and drink on the pages.

"Fur" is a sligtly larger wooden book, all about cats and kittens. This book was ideal for us as I am a self confessed crazy cat lady and Noah is already becoming such a huge animal lover. We both loved it. The story is short and sweet and the illustrations are gorgeous. Noah must enjoy "Fur" just as much as I do because every time we read this book he smothers the cats in kisses, which is insanely cute!

I have reviewed a dozen subscription services in the past and I have to say that Routes to Reading is one of my favourites, if not favourite! As an avid book lover and believer of the importance of reading to your children (whatever the age!) I can't rate Routes to Reading any higher!

- I was sent these books for the purpose of this review. However all opinions are my own.