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| 2008 Caldecott Medal for Illustrated Children's Book Announced |
The American Library Association just announced the 2008 winner of the Caldecott Medal is The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. From an opening shot of the full moon setting over an awakening Paris in 1931, this tale casts a new light on the picture book form. Hugo is a young orphan secretly living in the walls of a train station where he labors to complete a mysterious invention left by his father. In a work of more than 500 pages, the suspenseful text and wordless double-page spreads narrate the tale in turns. Neither words nor pictures alone tell this story, which is filled with cinematic intrigue. Black & white pencil illustrations evoke the flickering images of the silent films to which the book pays homage.
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| 2008 Newbery Medal for Distinguished Children's Literature Announced |
In Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz, thirteenth-century England springs to life using 21 dramatic individual narratives that introduce young inhabitants of village and manor; from Hugo, the lord's nephew, to Nelly, the sniggler. Schlitz's elegant monologues and dialogues draw back the curtain on the period, revealing character and relationships, hinting at stories untold. Explanatory interludes add information and round out this historical and theatrical presentation.
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| Devoted To Books |
By Julie Douglas, Family Program Specialist
At a recent READ from the START program, a mother told of her little daughter who was hopelessly, completely in love with a book. The child carried the book with her everywhere she went. At lunch time, the book was perched on the table next to her plate. At bath time, the book waited, safe and dry, on the floor by the tub. The little girl sang to the book, studied its pages lovingly, retold the story in her own words to an assortment of Barbie dolls and stuffed animals, and insisted on having the book tucked in with her each night as she fell asleep. I have no doubt that the child’s dreams were filled with scenes from the story.
Ahh, but young love can be so fickle. This was not the first book the girl had loved with such fervor. And, her mom was sure it would not be the last. Like many preschoolers, her daughter demonstrated the fierce loyalty and discriminating taste that so many three- and four-year-olds are known for. When a child loves a book, or toy, or article of clothing, they do so with tenaciousness that is amazing to behold.
Though we can not, as parents, guarantee that our children will fall in love with a specific book, we can make sure we are providing them with wonderful choices. So, what are the characteristics of a good children's book? What kinds of books build a child's imagination and vocabulary, inspire a child to tell a story, or tempt a child to play with language?
With the announcement two days ago of the 2008 Caldecott winner, now is a good time to reflect on how to choose a quality book for a young child.
Books For Babies
"When I give my baby a book, all she does is chew on it." We hear that a lot in RFTS workshops. And our response? "That’s fantastic!" Though it may seem that babies only use books as teethers, there really is much more going on. Consider these things when choosing books for babies.
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A baby's eyes are attracted to bright, bold illustrations. The very youngest babies are most attracted to the high contrast of black and white pictures.
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Baby's brain responds to the rhythm of spoken language. Our brains are built for language, and listening to it develops connections in the brain that will affect development and learning. Choose books with rhythmic language. Sing or recite nursery rhymes.
- Babies chew and drool… a lot. Look for board books with wipe-able pages or cloth books that can be washed.
Take a look at these examples of wonderful baby books:
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Fuzzy Fuzzy Fuzzy!: a touch, skritch, & tickle book by Sandra Boynton (Little Simon, 2003)
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Global Babies by Global Fund for Children (Charlesbridge Publishing, 2007)
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Splash! by Roberta Grobel Intrater (Cartwheel, 2002)
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Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes by Annie Kubler (Child's Play International, 2002)
Books For Toddlers
"My 2 year old won’t sit still for more than a few minutes to listen to a story." Make the most of those few minutes by reading books that build vocabulary and encourage curiosity.
- Look for the use of repetitive words or phrases.
- Grab a toddler's attention with bright, engaging illustrations. Children love to see pictures of objects that they recognize.
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Peek-a-Who by Nina Laden (Chronicle Books, 2000)
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Hippos Go Berserk (Board book) by Sandra Boynton (Little Simon, 2000)
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Bounce by Doreen Cronin and illustrated Scott Menchin (Atheneum 2007)
Books for Preschoolers
"I want my child to be ready to learn to read. Should I start trying to 'teach' him now?" This parent is on the right track. A child's interest in books grows during his preschool years and this is a wonderful time to introduce books with more words and more developed story lines. It's also the perfect age for asking a child to predict what will happen next in a story or to talk about a character. While it is not necessary, or perhaps even appropriate, to try to "teach" a 3 or 4 year old to read, reading aloud to a child lays the foundation for the learning that will happen later. Make the most of this stage of development by choosing from a wide variety of wonderful classic and new children’s books.
- Encourage interaction by reading books with repetitive phrases or words.
- Choose books with interesting words and playful use of language.
- Look for familiar stories, books based on songs or nursery rhymes, and humorous tales for sure-fire success. Try longer stories, stories with more serious themes, and non-fiction to find out if a child is interested in these kinds of books yet.
- Use rich, interesting illustrations to spark conversations about what is happening in a story.
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Very Boring Alligator by Jean Gralley (Henry Holt & Co, BYR, 2001)
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A Tiger Called Thomas by Charlotte Zolotow (Hyperion, 2003)
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Meet Wild Boars by Meg Rosoff, illustrated by Sophie Blackall. (Henry Holt & Co, BYR, 2005)
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"Hi, Pizza Man!" by Virginia Walter and Ponder Goembel (Orchard, 1998)
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Old MacDonald Had A Woodshop by Lisa Shulman, illustrated by Ashley Wolff (Putnam Juvenile, 2002)
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Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert (Aladdin, 2000)
Books for Kindergartners
I have to admit, Kindergartners are some of my favorite story-time companions. With their giant-sized curiosity, their quirky sense of humor, and a little longer attention span, five- and six-year-olds are enthralled with many different books. Whet the appetite of this soon-to-be reader when choosing books for this age group. Provide a variety of books, both fiction and non-fiction.
- Be on the lookout for books about subjects that interest the child, such as starting school, siblings, pets, and friends.
- Select books with strong stories, such as fairy tales and folktales.
- Read books with familiar characters, such as Clifford or Frog and Toad.
- Use concept books to introduce themes or subjects that are of interest to the child.
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Kindergarten Rocks! by Katie Davis (Harcourt Children’s Books, 2005)
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Wild About Books by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Marc Brown (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2004)
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Three Pebbles and a Song by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by S. D. Schindler (Dial, 2003)
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The Best Pet of All by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Hanako Wakiyama (Dutton Children’s Books, 2004)
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Time for a Tale by Dugald Steer, illustrated by Elisabeth Moseng (Dutton Juvenile, 2002)
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Uneversaurus by Aidan Potts (David Fickling Books, 2007)
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