About Words
By July Douglas, Family Program Specialist
During the holiday season we are all bombarded by messages about what makes the ideal gift. Sparkly, technologically advanced, expensive, or trendy seem to be the buzz words when shopping for that perfect stocking stuffer. With so many gift-giving possibilities, the experience can become overwhelming. May I offer a suggestion?
If you are looking for a gift that:
- is the right size for anyone of any age
- takes up little space, but is as big as the recipient’s imagination
- is useful AND fun
- can be free, but is priceless
consider a gift of...
words.
Yes, words! Everyone from the wrinkly newborn to the wrinklier grandpa can enjoy and benefit from a big holiday helping of words. What other gift can inspire, encourage, educate, or entertain better than words? (Ok, music and art come close, but I still have to go with words as the number one choice!)
Words are perfect for any budget. Feeling the pinch during this economic downturn? Try your hand at crafting a poem or a heartfelt letter to someone on your list. Write down those wonderful family stories you have been promising to share "someday." Create a beautiful storyteller stick using ribbons and glitter and institute a regular family story telling night for the coming year. (The holder of the stick tells a story and passes the stick to another teller when the story is finished.) Give a book and a promise to read aloud to someone. Share a favorite quote, play a word game such as Balderdash, or create a collage of inspirational words.
For a little more green, the gift of words can be packaged as a brand new book, a subscription to a magazine, or a beautiful journal. Be creative! My sister and I recently fell in love with the same book. For Christmas, I am giving her a copy of the book along with a set of highlighters, a journal, and several hours at the coffee shop where we can talk about the ideas presented by the author. I'm fairly sure she is getting me the same thing!
An investment in a gift of words will yield returns throughout the New Year and beyond. For example, a child who receives a book such as Jamie Lee Curtis's Big Words for Little People will have fun while growing her vocabulary. A collection of stories, such as The Winter Book, A Children's Book of Winter Stories, Winter Songs, and Winter Holidays by Rotraut Susanne Berner can spark a child’s imagination and stoke the creative fire. Even the simple gift of a weekly visit to the library with a young child can form a habit that will serve the child throughout his life. A gift of words really is a "gift that keeps on giving."
Here are a few new books that would be a welcome addition on a child's bookshelf.
The Winter Book, A Children's Book of Winter Stories, Winter Songs, and Winter Holidays by Rotraut Susanne Berner (Groundwood Books, 2008)
Cozy up to stories, poems, recipes and songs that celebrate the winter months.
The Incredible Book-Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers (Philomel, 2007)Have you ever loved a book so much you just wanted to gobble it up? Henry loves books and literally eats them up. But in this funny story, Henry finds that reading books is even better than eating them.
A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Melissa Sweet (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2008)Discover the poetry of William Carlos Williams and delight in the creative illustrations by Sweet. A treat for both your ears and eyes!
The Black Book of Colors by Menena Cottin, illustrated by Rosana Faria (Groundwood Books, 2008)How would you describe the smell of the color red or the way the color yellow feels? This wonderfully imaginative book presents the reader with a different way of "seeing" through imagery and raised illustrations.
A Is for Art: An Abstract Alphabet by Stephen T. Johnson, illustrated by Stephen T Johnson (Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 2008) A good picture book combines text and illustrations in an almost magical way that enhances the story. A is for Art does the same thing for the alphabet. The words might be a stretch for young children, but the artwork will inspire conversation and imagination.
