By the time your little one is a toddler they should have had substantial exposure to books. By the time they can focus on a picture or a face, you can start to read books to your child. They of course need to be quick reads, with bright pictures. Board books are great for this and make sure that they are about real things ie people, animals, vehicles etc. Don’t be tempted to buy the watered down versions of classics such as Winnie the Pooh or Paddington Bear – save those characters for when you can read the entire story.
My top six on our shelf (in no particular order) are:
1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
“In the light of the moon a little egg lay on a leaf.”
2. Hug by Jez Alborough
3. I went Walking by Sue Williams and Julie Vivas
“I went walking and what did you see? I saw a black cat looking at me.”
4. Good-night Owl! by Pat Hutchins
“Owl tried to sleep. The bees buzzed, buzz, buzz and Owl tried to sleep.”
5. Where is the green sheep? by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek
“Here is the blue sheep. And here is the red sheep.”
6. Kiss Kiss by Margaret Wild
“One day, when Baby Hippo woke up, he was in such a rush to go and play that he forgot to give his mum a kiss.”
What do these books have in common?
1. They all have bright colourful pictures.
2. Most have real characters (except for the sheep..)
3. All build up sentences as the story progresses, or repeat key phases.
4. All can be read in about two minutes.
5. All are available as board books.
Interesting fact about Where is the Green Sheep:
All 190 words in the book are one syllable – except for two.
If you are interested in reading the story of how “Where is the Green Sheep” was developed by Mem and Judy Horacek go here. Make sure you take 2 minutes and 15 seconds of your life to watch the clip on that page as well.
❀❀ ❀❀ ❀❀ ❀❀ ❀❀ ❀❀
Ten Ways to Raise a Non-Reader
1) Have the television on at all times. Make sure you put a television set and a computer in every room. (Don’t forget the kitchen!)
2) Keep the place neat–no books or literary magazines in sight.
3) Never let your children see you read a book.
4) Never take your kids to the library.
5) Never read stories aloud past age two.
6) Never talk about ideas while eating meals.
7) Schedule your children for every activity you can think of so they won’t be bored.
8) Keep the lights down low. Buy only forty-watt lightbulbs.
9) Never play any table games together.
10) Absolutely no reading in bed or good lamps to make it easy to do.
Ten Ways to Raise a Reader
1) Restrict television watching drastically.
2) Keep the computer under control and where it can be monitored. Don’t allow too many hours on pointless computer games or in chat rooms.
3) Have books and other good reading material within easy reach, an enticement to read.
4) Let your children see you reading.
5) Read books aloud together regardless of age.
6) Talk about books together; play games together.
7) Have well-lit rooms with comfortable chairs that invite reading.
8) Balance activity schedules with reading time. Let your kids know the library is as important as the gymnasium.
9) Encourage reading in bed with good lights to do so.
10) Visit the library often, and listen to books-on-tape when traveling.
Taken from “Honey For a Chid’s Heart” by Gladys Hunt. Available here. One of my favourite parenting books. This book is a must if you are endeavouring to surround your children with wholesome literature.
❀❀❀ ❀❀❀ ❀❀❀
Yesterday’s post about great make believe books here.
Tomorrow’s post? Great Australian Picture books. I don’t think I’ll be able to pick only 5 or 6… top ten maybe?