Children who grow up loving books usually grow to love reading.   Children who read typically earn good grades and achieve many things in life.  

Books can help children in many ways.  They can be used to help children discuss fears and concerns, learn virtues and life lessons, solve problems, pursue hobbies, develop strategies for making responsible decisions, learn about other cultures, and improve school grades.   In addition, reading together and discussing themes in books strengthens the bond between parent and child, enriches language, broadens experiences, increases attention span, broadens vocabulary, and strengthens comprehension.  Further, children whose parents read to them often grow up enjoying reading.  Research studies find that there is a strong relationship between the amount of reading that children do and their reading achievement; the more children read, the higher their reading test scores are likely to be.  Finally, children who become readers develop the strategies to grow throughout their lives.  Whether they read to achieve academically, grow spiritually, escape into a story, obtain information, solve problems, learn a new job or skill, manage their health, handle stress, engage in self-improvement, or for some other purpose, these readers have strategies to respond to change and manage their lives forever.

The research is clear.  Parents and teachers make THE difference in whether children become readers.  Readers don't just know how to read; they choose to read.  They make reading a significant part of their lives.  When they encounter unfamiliar situations, they naturally use reading to handle these situations.   Reading is their natural response in their daily lives.  Reading is what they love to do. 

Creating an Environment
Where Young Readers and Writers Thrive

For many years, researchers believed that there was a strong relationship between socio-economic status and reading achievement. It was believed that parents who earned more money were more likely to have children become better readers, earn better grades, and achieve better test scores.  In fact, there is a strong relationship between socio-economic status and reading achievement.  But, in the last twenty years, research has shown an even stronger influence on reading development and achievement:

ResearchBit:  Research has shown that home literacy environment is more important in the language, literacy, and academic achievement of a child than the amount of income earned by members of a household.

The term, home literacy environment, refers to the existence of conditions that help children develop literacy.  These conditions include:

• parents who read

• parents who write

• a home where there are many types of reading materials:  newspaper, magazines, maps, manuals, dictionary, and lots of books, etc.

• children's books (where they can reach them)

• routine visits to the library

• parents who read to their children

• paper, pencils, markers, and other writing materials where children can readily gain access to them

• an environment that respects and encourages the language and le arning of the children

To sum it up, children who are surrounded by readers and reading materials are much more likely to become readers!

The following list is intended to provide parents and teachers with information and recommendations for helping children become readers and writers.  This feature includes three sections for each age group:

• Language and Literacy Development:   This section explains how children learn language and develop as readers/writers in an environment that builds on and enriches the language, reading, writing, and learning experiences of children.

• Reading Interests:  This section describes the reading preferences of children in the specified age group; it is intended to help parents and teachers find the types of materials that are motivating and age-appropriate for these children

• Books:  This section lists children's books that are appropriate for children in each age group.  This list reflects the reading of thousands of children's books and endeavors to:

reflect children's literature which aligns with the interests and needs of children at different ages

reflect a balance between classic children's literature and quality contemporary children's literature

reflect a balance between stories and informational writing

reflect award-winning children's literature and quality fun literature

introduce children to a variety of literary genre

introduce children to a variety of reading and writing purposes

enrich the language, knowledge, and lives of children

inspire a love of reading, writing, and learning

provide positive together-time experiences for children and their parents

include links to the secure web site of Amazon.com along with the various editions of children's books in other languages and read-along audio cassettes of these titles when available

include changes/revisions to reflect the publication of outstanding, new books for children

The purpose of KidBibs is to help you strengthen the language, literacy, and learning growth of children.  The more you do, the more your children/students will grow.  Please bookmark KidBibs and visit often.  New features are constantly being added to help you help the children in your life!