Parents – Raising a Reader
19 Jul 2009 16 Comments
in education, children, infant, toddler,, Literacy Tags: books, childrens books, education, infant, literacy, read, reader, toddler
Raising a Reader
When is that magic moment when all of a sudden your child is ready to enjoy books? Well, of course, there is no magic moment, children should be introduced to books at the earliest possible moment. We want our infants to experience the pleasure and comfort of snuggling with a parent and a book. Surrounded by the warmth of their voice, exploring, seeing, touching, learning in the safety of their arms.
Tips to Get Your Child Off to a Good Reading Start…
1. Read to Your Baby – It’s never too early to introduce your child to books. “Read” board books (including these titles and much more:
Baby’s Very First Little Book of Bunnies
Baby’s Very First 123 Book
Baby’s Very First Bath Book
Baby’s Very First Book of Little Babies
Baby’s Very First Getting Dressed
Baby’s Very First Little Book of Kittens
Baby’s Very First Little Book of Little Puppies
Baby’s Very First Mealtime Book
Baby’s Very First Noisy Book
Baby’s Very First Noisy Christmas
Baby’s Very First Touchy- Feely
Baby’s Very First Touchy-Feely Animals Book
Baby’s Very First Touchy-Feely Christmas Book
to your infant, put stroller books (examples:
Beep Beep
Choo Choo
Farm Stroller Book
Rainy Day Stroller Book
Seaside Stroller Book
Tweet Tweet
on the stroller, and float plastic books such as Flip, Flap, Flop and Quack, Quack, Quack in the tub. Your kids will grow up with the idea that books are an integral part of their lives.
2. Make Time For Books – Set aside a specific time to read to your child everyday. Naptime and bedtime are obvious opportunities, but some busy families find that a story over breakfast or while lounging in the tub works best for them.
3. Keep Books Available – Make it easy to read. Keep a sack of books in the car to divert kids while you’re running errands and on the nightstand to amuse early risers. Pack a variety of books when traveling.
4. Be a Reading Role Model – Show your kids that you value reading. Let them see that you are reading for pleasure, and tell them how much you enjoy reading with them. Take them along on trips to the library and bookstore.
5. Make Your Own Books – Preschoolers can dictate their own stories and then add illustrations. Other ideas? Make a holiday book that shows your family traditions, a birthday book recording party memories, or a travel diary about the family vacation.
6. Read Anything and Everything – On the road, encourage your child to read the Stop, Yield, and Walk signs. In the grocery store, ask the kids to find the juice or cereal they want. Learning to differentiate among packages and to recognize common road signs is a great beginning step in learning to read.
7. Play with Letters – Magnetic letters allow children to spell their name on the refrigerator. Letter blocks combine stacking and spelling for double the fun.
8. Read it Again and Again – Parents may get tired of reading the same favorite book over and over, but repetition is an important developmental step in learning to read. As they repeat the familiar refrains with you, children begin to associate the words they say with the words on the page. Soon they will be recognizing and reading the words on their own.
*The above information is excerpts from a Guide For Grown-Ups by Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse Magazine.
Creating a Child’s Very Own Reading Oasis A Parent’s Guide to Selecting Books for an At-Home Library
One of the most important things you can do for your child is build a love of reading. By surrounding your child with books, you are planting a love of reading in them and teaching them to return to books for pleasure and knowledge. We want our kids to grow up with the idea that books are an integral part of their lives. With millions of books at a parent’s fingertips, how’s a parent to choose the right “investments” for their child’s library? Below is a list of questions and suggestions to help you choose just the right books for your child.
Choosing Books
* Look for books based on your child’s interest. What are your child’s favorite things or activities? What does he/she talk about?
* Choose books that relate to what’s happening in your family. Are you going to the beach this summer? Visiting the mountains? Visiting grandma?
* Use books to learn about and “celebrate” special events. Is it the first day of school? Are you having a new baby? Or celebrating a special holiday- Birthday, Easter, Passover, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s Day or Fourth of July?
* Is the book appropriate to your child’s physical development? Can he/she easily handle it, touch it, and mouth it? Are the pictures bright and attractive? Can he/she relate the “stories” to his/her own life?”
* Look for books that initiate independent reading. Wordless picture books, where the child can “read” the pictures and follow the story. Also, simple stories, with engaging characters that they can memorize and then later “read” on their own.
*If your child is reading: Can they easily read the book by themselves? Is the book one that a sibling can read to a younger child? Look for series of books. Children love to read about favorite characters in new and exciting situations.
Every child’s development time line is unique. As children grow, so do their attention spans and their bedtime reading ritual and reading habits need to grow with them. While you can’t push a child to learn to read, you can help your children love what comes out of books and provide lots of opportunities for them to explore them.
*Taken from an article by the National Center for Family Literacy
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“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island…and best of all, you can enjoy these riches every day of your life.” ~~Walt Disney
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“The future of our world depends on the education of our children. Usborne Books delivers educational excellence one book at a time. We provide economic opportunity while featuring strong family values. We touch the lives of children for a lifetime.”
To visit our store, click here. Contact me to order with free shipping $60 or more!
Usborne Books and Kane Miller Books are the best children’s books for infant, toddler, up to young adult. Also, includes parent’s guides. If you value the education system, teach them early. Read to them and talk to them in regular conversation as early as after birth. A parent raising a reader is the first teacher. Check the book reviews, the sales, the job opportunities for extra income from a home business. I am an education consultant who can help you, your school, library, or teacher find the best books to get a message across. Children who learn in bits and pieces retain more information and learn things easier. Learning can be fun and reading is educational. Bargain discounts available. All on http://www.Suesbooks.info or http://www.MyUbam.com/N2252 . Schools and libraries can check http://www.FreeLibraryBooks.info
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Book Reports
19 Jul 2009 3 Comments
in education, children, infant, toddler, Tags: books, childrens books, education, infant, read, reader, reviews, toddler
A Friend by Anette Bley
A Friend by Annette Bey
“A Friend is a charming children’s picture book about friendship. The thoughtful text and adventurous color illustrations list various qualities and wonderful things that true friends share. “I’m glad I have a friend to play with…/…on rainy days. / Someone to get in trouble with…/when I feel like playing tricks. /Someone to dance and laugh with…/…when I am happy.” A lovely and heart warming picture book, highly recommended. ~~ The Midwest Book Review, May, 2009
My Father’s Shop
“My Father’s Shop is a lighthearted and richly illustrated story which celebrates friendship – old and new – and the delightful possibilities that come from sharing culture and language. The spirited Mustafa is a lovable character who shows readers that having fun can be productive and educational.” ~~ Abigail Sawyer, Paper Tigers, May 2009.
My Japan by Etsuko Watanabe
My Japan by Etsuko Watanabe
“Watanabe does an excellent job of showing how similar we are and yet allowing readers to really see the difference in the societies we live in. The illustrations are done in a very welcoming style that invites readers to look closely at the details. This is a very nice introduction to Japan and its modern culture through the eyes of a child.
Recommended for children studying Japan or Japanese as well as children who are interested in other cultures. With its friendly, inviting style, this book is a welcome addition to any library.”
“Kids Lit, May, 2009
Norman and Brenda by Colin Thompson
Norman and Brenda by Colin Thompson and Amy Lissiat
“The Plot: Norman and Brenda live their own lives, waiting for life to begin, waiting for that someone. Will their paths ever cross?
The Good: I wanted to read this after reading Betsy’s review: “Norman and Brenda ain’t sexy, but they’re hopeful.”
Norman and Brenda’s stories are told at the same time; Norman on the top of the page, Brenda on the bottom. Both alone; both waiting; both yearning. Norman felt as if life had started without him. “Everyone else was having theirs, but his hadn’t arrived yet.” Meanwhile, “Brenda felt as if life was always going on in the next room. If she went into the next room, it moved out into the garden.”
Their paths always almost cross. Will these two ever find each other?
Like Betsy said, this is a book to give as a gift to grown-ups; especially grown-ups who need a little hope in their life; a reminder that happiness comes, just at different times for different people.” ~~A Chair, A Fireplace and a Tea Cozy, June 2009
Not All Animals Are Blue by Beatrice Boutignon
by Beatrice Boutignon
“French author/illustrator Beatrice Boutignon has created a wonderful picture book for the preschooler. This is a book that requires the child to make connections between the sentences on the left hand page witht the pictures on the right. Each right hand page pictures five animals doing different things or attired differently. The five statements on the left are one to one matches the child must make. Clues inclued enlarged, colored words in the sentences plus easily identifiable clothing or body posture on the animals.
For instance, opposite the picture page of “Five Raccoons Making Mischief” are such questions as “Who has the best balance?” The word balance is larger and is blue; the statement matches a raccoon doing a hand stand and wearing a blue shirt. He’s just relaxing…” matches the raccoon propped up on his elbows with one knee up and wearing red shorts.
This very clean, crisp looking book will be delight for interactive reading with youngsters. I took it home for a grandchild’s visit where it was a favorite. Let’s hope for more from this new contributor to children’s books.” ~~Education Resource Center, University of Delaware, June 1, 2009
Sosu’s Call by Meshack Asare
Sosu’s Call by Meshack Asare
“…The illustrious Ghanaian Meshack Asare, who has been winning international awards for his picture books since before many of today’s parents were born, combines his talents and education in art, educational psychology, and social anthropology to give readers a well-conceived story that will touch the hearts of people from many backgrounds. This beautifully illustrated book featuring a protagonist who refuses to be defined by his disability reminds us of the value in every person and all that can be lost if we fail to recognize it.” ~~ Abigail Sawyer, Paper Tigers, May 2009
To order these books and see catalog, click here.
Call me to order with free shipping $60 or more!
Usborne Books and Kane Miller Books are the best children’s books for infant, toddler, up to young adult. Also, includes parent’s guides. If you value the education system, teach them early. Read to them and talk to them in regular conversation as early as after birth. A parent raising a reader is the first teacher. Check the book reviews, the sales, the job opportunities for extra income from a home business. I am an education consultant who can help you, your school, library, or teacher find the best books to get a message across. Children who learn in bits and pieces retain more information and learn things easier. Learning can be fun and reading is educational. Bargain discounts available. All on http://www.Suesbooks.info or http://www.MyUbam.com/N2252 . Schools and libraries can check http://www.FreeLibraryBooks.info
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