LearningTip
#32:
Use Variety in Children's Literature
To Delight, Excite, Inspire,
Promote Insight, and Stimulate Inquiry
By Joyce Melton Pagés,
Ed.D.
Mother of two children, President of KidBibs
|
What's a parent to do?
|
What's a teacher to do?
|
For parents and teachers, some of these behaviors are almost maddening when they occur over and over again. Yet other parents and teachers work overtime to get children to read. It is clear, that the children described above have discovered the the joys of reading. They're drawn into the captivating language, charming characters, and engaging plot. Books are personal to them.
In most cases, this love of literature and books starts early. From the small chunky books that the child could barely hold to the historical fiction, realistic fiction, or nonfiction that children can't put down when they're older, the love of reading affects every aspect of a child's life.
Reading to children and supplying them with a rich collection of children's books are the keys to helping them develop a love of reading. Home libraries, classroom libraries, school libraries, and public libraries make the books available to children. Together-time reading, lively oral reading, puppetry, and storytelling by adults who love literature motivate children to seek out the the stories that excite and inspire. Further, adults who respect the questions that children ask and invite children into nonfiction stimulate a love of learning that can last a lifetime. Children develop their attitude toward reading and their reading preferences as they experience the delightful variety of literature that exists. The difference between voracious readers and reluctant readers can be defined with one simple word: books.
Literacy development
and the love of reading begin at birth and have the potential to last a lifetime.
Variety can turn young children into readers and writers. Variety can turn reluctant
readers into readers. Variety can support growth throughout life.
In fact, variety delights, excites, and inspires reading, writing, and learning!
^
TOP
Variety
Some Books that will Delight, Excite, and Inspire a Love of Reading!
The following books are linked to Amazon.com the for secure online purchase, if desired.
Baby books introduce children from birth through age two to the delights of books. They include the simple books that are durable enough to be handled by babies. These books include board books (with essentially thick cardboard pages), cloth books, and bath books (which are made of plastic and may be used in the bathtub). These books introduce children to the delights of reading at the earliest possible age.
We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Clifford, Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt
Toy books employ novel ways to engage the child in the story. Toy books are engineered with movable features that provide pop-up, flap, see-through, drilled hole, or other types of features that supplement the storyline and engage the child.
The Original Pop-Up Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
The Jolly Postman and Other People's Letters by Allen and Janet Ahlberg
1000 Silly Sandwiches by Alan Benjamin
Where's Spot by Eric Hill Spanish editionWordless picture books and nearly wordless picture books communicate the plot of the story through illustrations. These books are excellent for promoting language development and developing a concept of how stories work (with beginning , middle, and end).
Mouse Around by Pat Schories
Follow Carl by Alexandra Day
A Boy, A Dog, a Frog, and a Friend by Mercer MayerConcept books use pictures to explore or explain an idea/concept, object, or an activity. They do not tell a story. Many of these books deal with concepts such as empty/full, long/short, etc. Alphabet books present the alphabet letter-by-letter in order to acquaint young children with the shapes, names, and sounds of the letters. Counting books present the numerals, their shapes, and pictures of objects to show what the number represents. Naming books present simple, labeled pictures of people, animals, and objects for children to identify.
Colors Everywhere by Tana Hoban
Exactly the Opposite by Tana Hoban
Look Up, Look Down by Tana Hoban
More, Fewer, Less by Tana Hoban
Animalia by Graeme Base
Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z by Lois Ehlert
K is for Kwanzaa: A Kwanzaa Alphabet Book by Juwanda G. Ford
AlphaBugs: A Pop-Up Alphabet by David A. Carter
Arthur Counts! (chunky flap book) by Marc BrownPredictable books and cumulative concept books use the predictability, rhyme, rhythm, and patterns of language to help children predict words, sentences, and story events. The language and storyline invite young children to interact, predict, and participate in the language and storyline.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin, Jr. Spanish edition
Chicka-Chicka Boom Boom by John Archambault
Up and Down on the Merry-Go-Round by Bill Martin, Jr.
I Went Walking by Sue Williams
Fortunately by Remy Charlip
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff Audio cassette, Spanish edition
If You Give a Moose Muffin by Laura Joffe Numeroff
If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Joffe Numeroff
One Cow Moo Moo by David Bennett
Is Your Mama a Llama by Deborah Guarino
The House that Jack Built by Pam Adams
The Jacket I Wear in the Snow by Shirley Neitzel
The Dress I'll Wear to the Party by Shirley NeitzelPoetry uses the rhyme, rhythm, and imaginative language to evoke feeling, promote new insights, and entertain.
It's About Time, Jesse Bear by Nancy White Carlstrom
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein Audio Cassette
A Pizza the Size of the Sun by Jack Prelutsky
If I Were In Charge of the World and Other Worries by Judith Viorst
Ashley Bryan's ABC of African-American Poetry by Ashley Bryan (ed.)
If You're Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand by Kalli Dakos
Gary Soto: New and Selected Poems by Gary SotoFiction books take many forms. In the first place, they can include traditional literature such as myths, epics, legends and tall tales, folktales, fables, religious stories, and modern folktales. Other children's literature options include modern fantasy, realistic fiction, and historical fiction. Within each of these genre, the story can be presented in a picture book or chapter book format. With fiction, children can identify with characters and cling to storyline from page to page. The "what will happen next" or "what would I do in this situation" keeps children turning the pages.
Nonfiction books provide information. Some children thrive on nonfiction. Their curiosity and interests motivate them to read nonfiction voraciously. Quality nonfiction books are accurate, well-written, and engaging. Quality non-fiction books supplement textbooks well in every subject. They are typically better written and have better photographs and illustrations than textbooks. Some excellent nonfiction children's books include:
The Moon Book by Gail Gibbons
From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons
Emergency! by Gail Gibbons
Whales by Seymour Simon
Big Cats by Seymour Simon
Autumn Across America by Seymour Simon
Deserts by Seymour Simon
Icebergs and Glaciers by Seymour Simon
Bones: Our Skeleton (Human Body) by Seymour Simon
Comets, Meteors, and Asteroids by Seymour Simon
Parents and teachers have many options available to them as they seek to help children become readers. Variety can, indeed, delight, excite, inspire, promote insight, and stimulate inquiry.....for children and adults!
^
TOP
The
KidBibs
Virtual Bookstore!