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Professor, Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Introduction to the Topic
Literacy begins with literature, and sharing literature with your child begins almost at birth. You can share the pleasures of reading as soon as you can hold a baby and a book in your lap without dropping either one. The songs that parents or caregivers sing, the nursery rhymes they chant, and the interactive stories they read aloud are all deeply embedded literature. The sights and sounds surrounding a child may not always be understood, but they will be absorbed. It's important, then, to saturate the child's world with good books, to combine delight with durability.
Fortunately, the ability to say a lot with simple language and artful illustration has always characterized the best of children's literature. The selection formula is simple: the key to choosing the right book is your own enjoyment of it. Any child from birth on will respond to books that you enjoy. It's also important to remember that for preschool children, the "physical" and the "mental" are interwoven-they explore their world through taste, sound, touch, sight, smell, association, emotion, and connection. What goes into the mouth goes into the mind. Let it be literature as well as plastic. Songs and sucking; cardboard, cloth, and chewing; paper, pictures, and pointing; language and listening-it's such a natural progression of events.
While you and the baby are regularly relishing lap-sitting sessions of sharing a book, singing a song, or chanting nursery rhymes and perusing a book's illustrations, the baby will, some bright and unexpected day, try to grab the book and eat it. Well, why not? How often have you chewed on a thought? Give a child the same chance. There is nothing wrong with familiarity, with the book as a physical companion. The things dearest to us always get the most wear, whether they are teddy bears or blue jeans. I have seen children hug books they love. They are getting comfortable with the book as part of living. Soon they'll be ready to yell "DOG" when they see one in a book. Language will become a magical bridge from the physical to the conceptual.
Finally, children will be ready to hear that word magically transformed into a dog story with a beginning, middle, and end. "Once upon a time, there was a dog that loved to chase rabbits...." You will have expanded their imaginations as well as their vocabularies, their cultural as well as visual literacies, and their confidence as well as the skills that will bond them with lifetime reading.Online Resources
- Notable Children's Books, 2008
This list of book reviews from the American Library Association is their selection of the best books for children published in 2003.
http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/childrensnotable/notablecbooklist/currentnotable.cfm - Recommended Reading List 2006: Prekindergarten and Kindergarten
This list from the Houston Area Independent Schools Library Network includes books that are evaluated annually by grade-level committees.
http://www.haisln.org/Pre-K%20-%20K2006.pdf - Children's Choices for 2003
Over 700 books were selected by publishers, reviewed by professionals, then voted on by children to select those listed and reviewed on this Web site.
http://www.reading.org/pdf/cc2003.pdf Editor's Note: this url is no longer active. - Resources for Children-Helping Your Child Become a Reader
This site contains a sampling of books, computer programs, and Web sites that you and your child can enjoy together. Check with your local librarian for more suggestions.
http://www.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/reader/partx1.html - Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site
This Web site contains a collection of reviews of great books for kids, ideas of ways to use them in the classroom, and collections of books and activities about particular subjects, curriculum areas, themes, and professional topics.
http://www.carolhurst.com/toc.html - Center for Children's Books
This site includes the Center's picks for "best books" each year.
http://www.lis.uiuc.edu/~ccb/collection_development.html#best_books Editor's note: This url has changed:http://ccb.lis.uiuc.edu/bibliographies/bestbooks2003.html - 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know
New York Public Library provides this annotated list of picture books.
http://kids.nypl.org/reading/recommended2.cfm?ListID=61 - Choosing a Children's Book
The Children's Book Council suggests these basic points to keep in mind when you are choosing a book for a child.
http://www.cbcbooks.org/html/choosing.html Editor's note: This url has changed:http://www.cbcbooks.org/readinglists/choosing.html - Preschool Book Themes
This list, arranged by theme, includes new and classic books for preschool children.
http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/book-themes.htm#
Preschool%20Book%20Themes - Born to Read: How to Raise a Reader
Along with tips for parents, this site includes a list of good books to share.
http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/alscresources/borntoread/bornread.cfm - How to Get the Most from Any Story while You Read to Your Kids
This site contains tips from the "Between the Lions" project of the Public Broadcasting System.
http://pbskids.org/lions/tips/any-story-while.html Editor's note: This url has changed:http://pbskids.org/lions/parentsteachers/resources/tips/any-story-while.html - Every Child Ready to Read: Parent Guide to Early Literacy
This short color brochure includes tips for parents on sharing books and other getting-ready-to-read activities.
http://www.pla.org/ala/pla/plaissues/earlylit/workshopsparent/pargdeprereader.pdf
ERIC Database: Selected Records
To search the ERIC database for resources on this topic, use this search strategy: infants or toddlers or preschool children. Combine with reading material selection or annotated bibliographies.
How to Obtain ERIC Documents and Journal Articles:
References identified with an ED (ERIC document)or EJ (ERIC journal) are cited in the ERIC database. ERIC Documents (citations identified by an ED number) may be available in full text from ERIC at no cost at the ERIC Web site: http://www.eric.ed.gov. Journal articles are available from the original journal, interlibrary loan services, or article reproduction clearinghouses.
If you would like to conduct your own free ERIC database searches via the Internet, go directly to http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=advanced
- ERIC Journal No.: EJ649388
Read It Again: Choosing and Using Children's Books
Publication Date: 2002
Source: Texas Child Care, v25 n4 p2-7 Spr 2002
Abstract: This article d etails guidelines for selecting books for young children in child care settings and describes categories of children's books, including ABC books, counting books, and wordless picture books. - ERIC Journal No.: EJ573311
A Child's View (Children's Books)
Author(s): Bolte, Mary; Johnson, Jan; Radcliffe, Rhonda; Thompson, Lori; Lehman, Barbara A.
Publication Date: 1998
Source: Reading Teacher, v52 n2 p164-73 Oct 1998
Abstract: This article o ffers brief annotations of 44 children's books (published in 1997) and organizes them in groups according to intriguing topics, appealing illustrations, relevant themes, engaging language, and pleasing humor. - ERIC Journal No.: EJ671961
Come and Listen to a Story about a Girl Named Rex: Using Children's Literature to Debunk Gender Stereotypes
Author(s): Roberts, Lisen C.; Hill, Heather T.
Publication Date: 2003
Source: Young Children, v58 n2 p39-42 Mar 2003
Abstract: This article s uggests that children's books can socialize children to cultural norms, including gender roles. The article includes an annotated bibliography of books for 4- to 6-year-olds that break gender role stereotypes. - ERIC Document No.: ED458602
Inside the Mind of a Child: Selecting Literature Appropriate to the Developmental Age of Children
Author(s): Rocklin, Joanne
Publication Date: October 2001
Available from: EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
Abstract: This paper considers what kinds of books enhance the development of the individual child from infancy to adolescence. The paper discusses what to look for in choosing books for infants and in choosing picture books for children ages 3 and up. - ERIC Document No.: ED450419
Selecting Quality Literature for Your Child: Lessons from the Caldecott Award Winners
Author(s): Stern, Lois W.
Publication Date: 2000
Availability: For full text: http://www.kidstories.com/caldecott.html
Abstract: The Caldecott Awards are presented annually for the most distinguished American picture book(s) published for children. This article contains annotated citations for 6 books. - ERIC Journal No.: EJ606335
Sharing Books with the Youngest Readers
Author(s): West, Jane; Galda, Lee
Publication Date: 1998
Source: New Advocate, v11 n3 p273-76 Sum 1998
Abstract: This article d iscusses five books (published between 1995 and 1998) intended for parents, teachers, and others as they participate with young children starting on the road to a love of reading. - ERIC Document No.: ED418397
Read to Me
Author(s): Donoghue, Mildred R.
Publication Date: 1998
Source: CSLA Journal, v21 n2 p27-31 Spr 1998
Available from: EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage
Abstract: To update the California State Department of Education's recommended list of books for children ages 2 through 7, this annotated bibliography reviewed current books recommended by the National Council of Teachers of English, the International Reading Association, and literature journals, and added 20 titles to each of the four categories listed in the original "Read to Me" list. - ERIC Document No.: ED438069
Babies Need Books: Sharing the Joy of Books with Children from Birth to Six. Revised Edition
Author(s): Butler, Dorothy
Publication Date: 1998
Availability: Heinemann, 88 Post Road West, P.O. Box 5007, Westport, CT.
Abstract: Asserting that books should be a vital part of children's lives from the earliest months, this publication provides guidelines to help parents, teachers, librarians, and others to select appropriate books for young children. - ERIC Journal No.: EJ554387
Many People, Many Places, Other Times: An Annotated Bibliography of Multicultural Books for 3- to 8-Year-Olds
Author(s): Renck, Melissa Ann
Publication Date: 1997
Source: Early Childhood Education Journal, v25 n1 p45-50 Fall 1997
Abstract: This article c ites 99 recently published fiction, folklore, and nonfiction books for 3- to 8-year-olds that illustrate a broad interpretation of multiculturalism and include positive and accurate portrayals of various ethnic or religious groups.
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