"I Love My Mommy", Children's Arabic Story Book for Download, a Simple Picture Book for Beginners

"I Love My Mommy" or "أحب أمي" is a short illustrated Arabic story in PDF format for beginners who are young at heart or kids in PDF format. It uses simple phrases to include every day action verbs and common phrases in Arabic. It also makes a sweet bedtime story for little ones, with Arabic learning as a main goal. The pictures are filled with interesting objects that can also encourage questions and engage interest to learn new vocabulary.

Enjoy the free PDF download by clicking here.

You can also get the free coloring, and word tracing and matching worksheets by clicking here.

A simple and fun Arabic e-book for story time.

I have also made the story into a YouTube video if you would like to watch it or listen to the Arabic vocalization:

Reading in Arabic can be a fun family activity. I have written in a previous post about the importance of reading in Arabic to your child, if you're trying to teach them the language. I mentioned how it can be an effective way for contextualizing and visualizing the language. I also brought to mind how young children learn languages first by listening and mimicking sounds, whereas reading and writing actually takes many years of schooling. Story telling can also be an intimate daily activity which brings you closer to your child, stirring their imagination and creating a special bond between the two of you.

When reading to a child, particularly a child who is learning a new language, read out loud and repeat. It is important to read clearly and with a loud tone of voice. It is equally important to repeat the words and phrases as often as needed. This is how children learn and navigate through the world. On a daily basis, they are bombarded with new experiences and things to learn about. And to a certain extent, children are wired to learn through repetition and trial and error; otherwise the world can feel like an overwhelming place.

Try to dramatize and use body language, and change your tone of voice as needed. This can make story time more interesting and entertaining. If the child points out certain things in the book whilst you are reading, stop and acknowledge them. Allow their curiosity to lead. For example, the child might notice a little lady bug illustrated on one of the story pages and excitedly say: "lady bug, lady bug". Stop reading and acknowledge what they have noticed, asking open questions if you can: "yes, it's a lady bug. What do you think the lady bug doing?" It can also be a good opportunity to say the name in Arabic as well.

I sometimes turn the story into a short play for extra fun. I try to find characters from her toys and retell the story using the toys and the available resources. For instance, Angela's favorite Arabic story is about a cow and her bell "البقرة والجرس". I use her little brother's shaker as a bell, and use a stuffed cow and her other stuffed animals and toys to resemble the story characters. I start first, and then it's her turn to tell the story using the toys. I can't tell you how much fun this is and how effective it has been in picking up Arabic words and training her ears to listen to Arabic.

In the beginning, I would get a strange look on Angela's face when reading to her a story in Arabic, as she was only used to English stories. However, as the days passed, it feels just like story time in English. I tend to stick to the same story or stories for a period of time, until she gets familiar with the words and narratives. Repetition helps her learn and understand. We also progress from reading to reading and asking questions about the story.

Finally, I will say it again. Don't be afraid to start reading to your child in Arabic, even if you had not done it before. It takes time and patience, so be patient and persistent to see results. I also hope you enjoy reading this simple story. I did find a great shortage in illustrated Arabic story books for kids which are meant to be simple and fun. I hope

my small contribution helps.

For similar Arabic short stories with English translation and transcription, click here and enjoy the free downloads. For more free Arabic learning and reading resources, check out our Stories and Downloads pages. Don't miss out on any new additions and free resources, subscribe to the blog (click subscribe from the main menu). And stay tuned by Liking our Facebook Page. It's the best way to stay in touch! Please feel free to share any ideas, comments or resources with other readers by leaving a comment below or emailing directly to the blog.