by Yaisha Liz Cordero Rivera
Author Neil Gaiman maintains that “[adults] have an obligation to read aloud to our children…to do the voices, to make it interesting, and not to stop reading to them just because they learn to read themselves.” And we agree!
As family members, educators, and even booksellers, we share a responsibility to guide and encourage children to follow a path that is beneficial to their intellectual development and their emotional growth; one that fosters a lifelong relationship with books and reading.
Inspired by Gaiman’s enthusiasm for reading aloud to children of all ages, we compiled a list of six exemplary titles that promise to be stimulating, engaging, and entertaining reads that will have long-lasting positive effects on young readers’ lives.
“…to do the voices…”
Try reading with different voices to help your young reader comprehend which character is speaking. It might become confusing if a book has a handful of characters
My Dog, My Cat by Ashlee Fletcher
Cats or dogs? There are no teams after you read My Dog, My Cat, a book that reminds readers that even though the lives of dogs and cats can be very different, there is always something that brings them together
Kirkus says: “A simple and appealing story…Fletcher’s endearing, naïve illustrations…have a cheery, innocent effect. Preschoolers will enjoy this as an early, simple story, and its straightforward text adapts well to beginning readers. Teachers in the early-elementary grades will find the simple but clever text a worthwhile introduction to comparisons and a handy starting point for creative-writing activities.“
Agnes and Clarabelle by Adele Griffin, Courtney Sheinmel
In the first book of this fun new early chapter book series we meet Agnes Pig and Clarabelle Chicken. A pig and chicken might never hang out in real life, but in this book they’re the best of friends! (via Goodreads)
“…to make it interesting…”
Pick interactive books that will be engaging and fun for everyone in the room—not just the little ones.
A Color Game for Chester Raccoon by Audrey Penn
In this Kissing Hand board book, Audrey Penn brings us more maternal wisdom to solve another of early childhood’s little issues.
Whether on a trip, in a restaurant or a store, children can become bored and fussy. A Color Game for Chester Raccoon provides an activity that will entertain young children anywhere—finding things in many colors: white, blue, yellow, red, orange, brown, and black.
Booklist says: “Most concept board books about colors rely on common items for identification–oranges and fire trucks, for instance. But this latest Chester Raccoon title incorporates a story and rhyming text as Chester and his friends discover colors in their surroundings…This makes the book a mite more challenging than the usual fare, but enjoyably so.”
Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox
There are red sheep and blue sheep, wind sheep and wave sheep, scared sheep and brave sheep, but where is the green sheep? Mem Fox and Judy Horacek take you on a wildly wonderful adventure in their rollicking search for the green sheep. (via Goodreads)
“…to not stop reading to them just because they learn to read…”
So your young reader is going solo now? Don’t worry, reading can become a sharing experience for all.
It All Began With a Bean by Katie Mcky
What happens when, one day, a dropped bean is devoured by ten flies, and hundreds of dogs eat cheese fallen from a truck, and thousands of runners begin gulping air, and all the people at home that morning have eggs for breakfast, and then they all fart at once?
This hilarious book answers that intriguing question, as readers learn the after-effects of the world’s biggest fart on the poor town where it happens, from poodles’ curls going limp to elephants plugging their trunks with bananas. This unique picture book, with lighthearted illustrations, will entertain children and parents alike.
Sharon Oliver at Barnes and Noble Children’s says: “McKy’s book focuses on a topic that adults usually find embarrassing, annoying or try to ignore. For a child however, little is as amusing as that sound….For a reluctant reader (in particular the boys) this may be just the right choice.“
Why Is Snot Green? by Glenn Murphy
Sure a lot of kids want to grow up to be astronauts, but according to scientist Glenn Murphy, even MORE kids want to know what happens to astronaut farts. (Short answer: Not good things!) And they want to know: Why don’t all fish die from lightning storms? Why haven’t we all been sucked into a black hole? Do animals talk? Told in a back-and-forth conversational style, Why is Snot Green? presents science just the way kids want to learn it–with lots of laughter. (via Goodreads)
At Tanglewood, we believe that reading can be about more than words on a page; it can be about learning, laughing, and growing. From all of us to you and your young readers, we hope you can continue to enjoy the magic of books together.
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