Reading to youngsters good way to start
Reading together with babies and toddlers plants important seeds that become the building blocks of future success in many regards.
Reading aloud gives babies and toddlers the tools for language development, builds vocabulary at an incredible rate, teaches attention to detail, and fosters a greater ability to lengthen attention span.
Further, reading aloud to your baby and toddler strengthens the bonds of attachment and trust between parent and child.
Reading aloud also conveys the strong and clear message that you value reading. And last but not least, reading aloud provides hours of fun, magic, and learning.
Reading aloud — a simple activity that provides more positive results than can possibly be measured!
Books to BorrowThe following book is available at many public libraries.
"Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs!" written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton, Workman, 22 pages; read yourself: birth to age 3; read yourself: age 5 and older.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.
<B>Library:</B> Zelienople Public Library, 227 S. High St., Zelienople<B>Library Director: </B>Jan Lawrence<B>Children's Librarian:</B> Kay Howard<B>Choices this week: "Mrs. McTats and Her Household of Cats" </B>by Alyssa Satin Capucilli; <B>"The Doorbell Rang"</B> by Pat Hutchins; <B>"Little Wolf, Big Wolf" </B>by Matt Novak<B>Books to Buy</b>The following books are available at favorite bookstores.<B>"Where's Your Nose?"</B> by Begin Smart, photographs by William Winburn, Begin Smart, 2010, 16 pages board book; read aloud: age 6 months to 12 months; read yourself: age 5 to 6.A touch-and-feel book for the tiniest readers, "Where's Your Nose" couples adorable photographs of a Teddy Bear touching his toes, nose, ears, knees and so on, stating that the bear is touching that body part, then follows with simple questions, such as "Can you touch bear's knees? Where are your knees?"Lots of fun tactile stimulation and packed with learning, this selection by Begin Smart is one of many in their series of developmental books for babies and toddlers.
<B>"I Love My Little Storybook"</B> written and illustrated by Anita Jeram, Candlewick, 2010, 28 pages, $7.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 2 and older; read yourself: age 7 to 8.First published in 2002, this outstanding little gem is back to delight a new generation of young children. Extolling the delights a special book brings, a little rabbit describes all the magical places and creatures that are inside a wonderful story.Encouraging children to join in the magic that only an excellent storybook can provide, this selection is spot on.<B>"Into the Wild" </B>written and illustrated by Lerryn Korda, Candlewick, 2010, 28 pages, $8.99 hardcover; read aloud: 18 months to age 3; read yourself: age 6 to 7.Gracie is packing her knapsack. Her friends want to know where she is going.Gracie explains she is going into the wild where she'll climb mountains, camp outside, and in the morning patiently fish for breakfast. When her friends ask to come with her, Gracie says that adventurers must be brave, and the children all agree to be just that.Author and artist Lerryn Korda has a clear understanding of the imagination and adventurous spirit of little children as they craft a great expedition — within the safety of their own back yard.Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached via e-mail: kendal@sunlink.net.
