Celebrating Children’s Books

Contributed by Julie Douglas, MHC Family Program Specialist

Have you recovered from your exuberant celebration of Children’s Book Week yet? What, you didn’t celebrate? Children’s Book Week was May 10-16 and has been observed since 1919. According to the Children’s Book Council, Children’s Book Week was established because, quite simply, books change lives.

The other day I met a grandmother who told me she was reading as much as she could to her grandchild because soon the child (a four-year-old) would be “too old to read to.” In our READ from the START programs we stress the importance of reading to babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. But perhaps we should rethink the name. Maybe READ from the START and DON’T STOP. Reading to and with a child can continue to be a rich experience right through grade school and high school and even into young adulthood.

Reading and discussing books is special at any age, but the savvy parent will tweak the book sharing depending on the child’s age.  Celebrate children’s books anytime with some of these simple tips and book recommendations from the Children’s Book Council:.

Babies and Toddlers: Choose books with playful language and bold illustrations.  Read to the child in tiny “bites” to accommodate short attention spans.

All of Me: A Book of Thanks by Molly Bang (Blue Sky Press, 2009)

Simple language and vibrant illustrations make this book irresistible to little ones!

Preschoolers:  Threes, fours, and fives like to participate in the reading by chiming in on repeated phrases. They also are able to talk about what is going on in the illustrations and predict what might happen next.

There Was An Old Monster! by  Rebecca and Adrian Emberley (Orchard Books, 2009)

This is a hilarious take-off on the familiar story of the old woman who swallowed a fly.

Kindergarten:  Continue to read with expression and encourage your child to talk about the books you read.  Kindergartners are becoming interested in letters and sounds and the other “nuts and bolts” of reading, but a good story is still the most important thing to look for when choosing books.

The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School by  Laurie Halse Anderson, illustrated by Ard Hoyt (Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, 2009)

Besides being an imaginative story about some very unruly hair, Zoe’s story is also about the world of school.

Early Elementary:  “I can read!!!” Encourage your child to explore this new skill by reading together. Adult and child can take turns reading pages.  When reading aloud to your new reader, choose books that are a little beyond his reading level to grow vocabulary and comprehension.

The Odd Egg by Emily Gravett (Macmillan UK, 2009)

Duck finds an egg and decides to hatch it (just like all of the other birds) with surprising results!

Elementary:  Humor is always a hit with this age group. But don’t overlook books with more serious themes.  Elementary age children enjoy listening to longer stories and chapter books. Take time to discuss what you are reading together.

The Book That Eats People by John Perry, illustrated by Mark Fearing (Tricycle Press, 2009)

Read this at your own risk. After all, it tells you right on the cover that this book EATS PEOPLE.

The Dog Days of Charlotte Hayes by Marlane Kennedy (Greenwillow, 2009)

More than a “dog story,” this book explores themes of family and friendship.

Junior High:  Keep the lines of communication open by sharing books with your pre-teen.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (Amulet Books, 2007)

The “wimpy kid” gives us an insider’s look at the dramas of middle school.

Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff (Harper Collins, 2009)

An engaging story about grief, healing, and community.

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