Picture this moment. Your child is curled up next to you their small warm body pressed against yours as you hold a book between you. Your voice fills the quiet space weaving stories into their imagination. Their eyes are wide with wonder hanging on every word that flows from your lips.
This is not just reading. This is magic. This is connection. This is love made visible.
But here is what breaks my heart. Too many parents have convinced themselves that they are not good enough readers for their children. They worry about their pronunciation. They feel embarrassed about their pace. They think that somehow their voice is not worthy of sharing stories with the little souls who look up to them with such pure adoration.
Let me tell you something that might change everything. Your child does not need perfect diction. They need your voice. They need your presence. They need the security that comes from knowing that you consider them worthy of your time and attention.
The Ripple Effect of Reading Together
When you read to your child you are doing something profound. You are showing them that stories matter. You are demonstrating that learning is a priority. You are creating a safe space where imagination can flourish. You are teaching them that books are not just objects but doorways to infinite possibilities.
Children who are read to become readers. Children who see their parents reading become lifelong learners. Children who experience the joy of shared stories develop stronger vocabularies better concentration skills and deeper emotional intelligence.
But the impact goes even deeper than academic benefits. Reading together creates bonds that last a lifetime. It establishes rituals that children carry into their own families. It sends the message that spending time together is valuable and that their curiosity deserves to be nurtured.
A Book That Celebrates Wonder
This brings us to Chidi Likes Blue by Ifeoma Onyefulu. This is not just another picture book. This is a celebration of the kind of focused fascination that makes childhood so beautiful. Little Chidi is obsessed with blue and through his eyes we see the world with fresh wonder.
Blue pots. Blue clothes. Blue everywhere. Every page is a colorful discovery and a glimpse into African village life that many children have never experienced. This book does something extraordinary. It validates a child’s natural tendency to become completely absorbed in something that captures their interest.
How often do we rush our children past their fascinations? How often do we dismiss their intense focus on something that seems insignificant to us? Chidi Likes Blue reminds us that these obsessions are not distractions. They are the building blocks of curiosity and observation skills.
Building More Than Reading Skills
When you read this book with your child you are doing more than teaching them about colors or introducing them to different cultures. You are showing them that their interests matter. You are encouraging them to notice details. You are helping them develop the kind of focused attention that will serve them throughout their lives.
Observation skills are foundational to learning. Children who learn to really see their world become better scientists artists writers and thinkers. They develop the ability to notice patterns make connections and ask meaningful questions.
The Courage to Begin
Perhaps you are reading this and feeling overwhelmed. Maybe you are thinking about all the books you have not read to your child. Maybe you are worried that you have already missed too many opportunities. Let me offer you this gentle truth. It is never too late to start.
Your child does not need you to be perfect. They need you to be present. They need you to believe that they are worth your time. They need you to show them through your actions that reading is valuable and that their development matters to you.
Start with one book. Start with five minutes. Start with Chidi Likes Blue and let his fascination with color spark conversations about what your child notices in their own world. Ask them what they love most. Listen to their answers. Follow their lead.
The Legacy You Are Creating
Every time you pick up a book with your child you are investing in their future. You are building their brain. You are expanding their world. You are creating memories that will sustain them through difficult times and inspire them to create magic for the next generation.
Reading together is not just about the immediate joy of sharing stories. It is about creating a legacy of curiosity learning and connection. It is about raising children who see books as friends and who turn to reading for comfort knowledge and adventure throughout their lives.
Your voice matters. Your time matters. Your commitment to reading with your child matters more than you can possibly imagine. So pick up that book. Find your spot on the couch. Let your child curl up beside you. And begin to create magic together.
