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Simple baby books are packed with learning
By Kendal Rautzhan, Columnist
Monday, March 03, 2008 | No comments posted.
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Reading a baby or toddler book requires a little imagination on your part to get your child to really look at the book and begin to experience the joys reading can bring.
The typical baby or toddler book has few words and lots of colorful illustrations. The absence of a lengthy, complicated story is intentional — children this age aren’t ready for that. But just because the page might only have one word or one sentence, there is a whole array of things you can teach your child with every page you turn.
Kendal Rautzhan
Take colors, for example. If your child is just learning about colors, point to and talk about the pretty red flower, the green frog, on so on. Once your child is more familiar with colors, ask her to show you where the blue balloon is or the yellow cat.
You also can do object identification on each page. If your child can’t speak yet, ask him to show you where the kitten is or the butterfly. Later, when your child can speak, ask her to identify specific objects, and later, to count how many of an item is on the page.
Another idea is to ask your child what he thinks the animal or child (whatever character is in your book) is thinking or might do next.
Most importantly, be creative and use enthusiasm when you read to your child. No one likes a dull storyteller. And use your imagination when you’re reading books to your child. Before you know it you’ll be coming up with all sorts of creative ways to gets miles more out of those baby and toddler books than you ever thought possible.
Books to Borrow
The following book is available at many public libraries.
“Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs!” written and illustrated in color by Sandra Boynton, Workman, 22 pages, board book
Read yourself: birth to age 3.
Read yourself: ages 6-7.
Talented author/illustrator Sandra Boynton never seems to run out of ideas when it comes to books for our youngest readers, and this selection is no exception.
Comical renditions of dinosaurs embellish every page of this book of opposites. Some dinosaurs are good while others are not. Some are big dinosaurs and some are small. Some dinosaurs are weak, some are strong, and so on. In every comparison of opposites, zany characters are found doing zany things — Sandra Boynton’s engaging, fun trademark!
Librarian’s Choice
Library: Hazel M. Lewis Library, 511 3rd Ave., Powers
Library Director: Melinda Ellis
Choices this week: “The Recess Queen” by Alexis O’Neill; “He Saves the Day” by Paul Showers; “Hank the Cowdog” series by John Erickson
Books to Buy
The following books are available at favorite bookstores.
• “Baby! Baby!” by Vicky Ceelen, Random House, 2008, 24 pages, $6.99 board book
Read aloud: birth to age 3.
Read yourself: birth to age 3.
Babies and toddlers are fascinated by photographs of other babies, and this sensational selection takes that concept and expands on it. Featuring adorable photographs of human and animal babies and their striking similarities, this wordless picture book provides numerous opportunities for learning.
• “Pat the Bunny: Bunny Kisses” written and illustrated by PENK Inc., Golden Books, 2007, 14 pages, $9.99 board book
Read aloud: birth to age 3.
Read yourself: ages 6-7.
Bunny has lots of friends and enjoys playing with them and taking care of them. Little children will love participating in the story by touching the silky red curtain, the pig’s pink tummy, the cat’s soft white fur, and more. Bunny also loves to give kisses to friends, and young readers will love to press the button and hear the sweet “kiss” sound on every page.
A simple, loving story with lots of colors, objects, touch-and-feel and interactive opportunities, “Bunny Kisses” is certain to please.
(Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children’s literature. She can be reached via e-mail: kendal@sunlink.net.)
The typical baby or toddler book has few words and lots of colorful illustrations. The absence of a lengthy, complicated story is intentional — children this age aren’t ready for that. But just because the page might only have one word or one sentence, there is a whole array of things you can teach your child with every page you turn.
Kendal RautzhanTake colors, for example. If your child is just learning about colors, point to and talk about the pretty red flower, the green frog, on so on. Once your child is more familiar with colors, ask her to show you where the blue balloon is or the yellow cat.
You also can do object identification on each page. If your child can’t speak yet, ask him to show you where the kitten is or the butterfly. Later, when your child can speak, ask her to identify specific objects, and later, to count how many of an item is on the page.
Another idea is to ask your child what he thinks the animal or child (whatever character is in your book) is thinking or might do next.
Most importantly, be creative and use enthusiasm when you read to your child. No one likes a dull storyteller. And use your imagination when you’re reading books to your child. Before you know it you’ll be coming up with all sorts of creative ways to gets miles more out of those baby and toddler books than you ever thought possible.
Books to Borrow
The following book is available at many public libraries.
“Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs!” written and illustrated in color by Sandra Boynton, Workman, 22 pages, board book
Read yourself: birth to age 3.
Read yourself: ages 6-7.
Talented author/illustrator Sandra Boynton never seems to run out of ideas when it comes to books for our youngest readers, and this selection is no exception.
Comical renditions of dinosaurs embellish every page of this book of opposites. Some dinosaurs are good while others are not. Some are big dinosaurs and some are small. Some dinosaurs are weak, some are strong, and so on. In every comparison of opposites, zany characters are found doing zany things — Sandra Boynton’s engaging, fun trademark!
Librarian’s Choice
Library: Hazel M. Lewis Library, 511 3rd Ave., Powers
Library Director: Melinda Ellis
Choices this week: “The Recess Queen” by Alexis O’Neill; “He Saves the Day” by Paul Showers; “Hank the Cowdog” series by John Erickson
Books to Buy
The following books are available at favorite bookstores.
• “Baby! Baby!” by Vicky Ceelen, Random House, 2008, 24 pages, $6.99 board book
Read aloud: birth to age 3.
Read yourself: birth to age 3.
Babies and toddlers are fascinated by photographs of other babies, and this sensational selection takes that concept and expands on it. Featuring adorable photographs of human and animal babies and their striking similarities, this wordless picture book provides numerous opportunities for learning.
• “Pat the Bunny: Bunny Kisses” written and illustrated by PENK Inc., Golden Books, 2007, 14 pages, $9.99 board book
Read aloud: birth to age 3.
Read yourself: ages 6-7.
Bunny has lots of friends and enjoys playing with them and taking care of them. Little children will love participating in the story by touching the silky red curtain, the pig’s pink tummy, the cat’s soft white fur, and more. Bunny also loves to give kisses to friends, and young readers will love to press the button and hear the sweet “kiss” sound on every page.
A simple, loving story with lots of colors, objects, touch-and-feel and interactive opportunities, “Bunny Kisses” is certain to please.
(Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children’s literature. She can be reached via e-mail: kendal@sunlink.net.)
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