Children's Books and Reading

[Endi]

I'm taking a children's book-making course at my college this semester and we were talking about the different types of picture books made for different age ranges. It got me thinking, do parrots like to be read to? Would/do they enjoy children's books? I assume a "more intelligent" (is that the politically correct way of putting that?) species like an Eclectus or African Grey might enjoy it but I'm wondering what your experiences are.

I saw there was a thread about this but no one had responded to it for over a year.

 

[Kiwibird]

Kiwi likes being "read to". It's more of a "talking in his direction in a nice voice" thing than what you're actually saying (seeing as he speaks parrot, not english). I don't know if any parrot would understand the difference between you reading them a children's book or a thesis on quantum physics, just as long as you do so in a pleasant tone of voice.

Just saying, but a children's book about a parrot could be really cool! And children, unlike parrots, do understand what you're reading them

 

[Phlox]

When I read to my daughter in the living room, Iris the BFA sure takes an interest and usually provides inappropriate sound effects. My conures are too busy getting in trouble to pay attention.

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

I have been reading to Zilla every night since I got her. Only 2 weeks ago, but for 20 or 30 minutes every night right before bedtime I read to her.

I read my books on my kindle, and I read whatever I am reading (usually mystery "who dun it" novels) but she chatters back at me and preens & fluffs, so I have just assumed she likes it and I keep doing it.

Last night she jumped off her cage top and landed (not so gracefully) on my lap, climbed up my arm and perched on my hand and was looking at the kindle like it might be something fun to play with, but she couldn't figure out how to make it play, and I wouldn't let her chew on it, so she just sat there listening to my voice.

When I had my parakeet (about 30 years ago) he loved to sit on top of the book and chatter at me while I was reading. He also liked to play like he was a "hole punch" and put little holes along the top of the pages. Not sure how many books he did this to, but I would just throw out a warning to watch closely for this if you don't want holes in the pages of your books. I finally started giving him his own little spiral notebook (3" X 5" to chew up) and he learned he couldn't chew my books.

 

[Birdman666]

I agree. It's the voice and the attention rather than the book. (Though Alex was taught to spell, he was never taught to read or write... )

My birds love books - phone books in particular.

They turn them into confetti.

 

[Allee]

This will sound silly, but since you asked about personal experience, when my flock was still new and we were still getting to know each other, I thought reading to them sounded like a great idea. Three of the six birds were adult re-homes, so they had some issues. I've seen a reading circle mesmerize a classroom full of hyperactive toddlers so I thought, why not, can't hurt. I grabbed a copy of Shel Silverstein's, "Where The Sidewalk Ends," and started reading. I added lots of drama and they liked it so much it became a ritual. I can pull up a chair and hold up the book and every bird will grab a perch and listen. I haven't tried reading a motorcycle magazine or a medical journal, and granted the effect would probably be the same, but silly poetry is just fun and for some reason the parrots, and the dogs really like it.

 

[Kiwibird]

Iris the BFA sure takes an interest and usually provides inappropriate sound effects.

Kiwi also enjoys to interject rude noises at wholly inappropriate times Must be a BFA thing:09:

 

[Endi]

That makes a lot of sense that they'd just appreciate you reading to them. Your parrots all sound like a bunch of goofballs. Makes me even more excited to get one of my own XD