Growing a Reader: Kids Books, Tips and More

Let’s get Ready for Reading: A fun and easy guide to help kids become readers…so what else is in the guide continued…

Being familiar with printed language helps children feel comfortable with books and reading.  Noticing that print is all around, that it carries a message and has meaning, is a very important connection your child will make. 

So, how do we help them make this connection?  It’s simple really, and you probably don’t even know you’re doing it already.

Here’s how…talk to, and with, your child constantly; but also, take EVERY opportunity to read aloud to your child.  For example, while walking or driving, point to and read aloud signs.  Talk about street signs, traffic signs, posters and billboards.  Point out labels while shopping, and logos on t-shirts.  Read recipe instructions out loud, nutritional facts on the side of the cereal box, menus, notes, etc.  By doing this, you demonstrate to your child that letters and print are everywhere; that they are important and knowing how to read them is even more important.  Children who recognize that reading is valuable will be motivated to learn to read themselves.    

Encourage them to scribble, write and draw in their daily activities.  Show them how you write.  For example, write a grocery list together with them, then let them “write” one too.  Then go shopping and look for the items on both your lists.      

This tip and many others, can be found on pages 40 and 41 of Let’s get Ready for Reading: A fun and easy guide to help kids become readers.

See you next Friday for the final installment of fun and easy tips from the Guide!

Let's get Ready for Reading: A fun and easy guide to help kids become readers...so what else is in the guide continued...

 

What happens first, next and last? 

As you read with your child, take time to talk together about the book.  Don’t feel the need to read the book straight through to the end without stopping before you can have these discussions.  It is perfectly alright to stop on a page as you are reading and point to the pictures asking questions like, “What’s this?” or “What are they doing?”  Try to ask questions that can’t be answered with “yes” or “no”. 

Give them time to consider your question and what is happening in the picture on the page.  Also, give them time to think about what you have just read to them thus far in the story.  Encourage your child to ask you questions about the story too.  You can also add to what they respond to you, for example, if they say, “Dog” you might say, “That’s right!  It’s a big brown dog and he’s digging a hole in the grass.” 

Ask them what they think is going to happen next.  Encourage them to use their imagination to predict and describe to you how they think the story will unfold or end.  Once you have read through the story ask them to tell you what happened at the beginning, in the middle and at the end.  Ask questions like, “What happened next?” and “Why did that happen?” and “What part did you like best?”

Wordless picture books are great for encouraging your child’s storytelling skills.  They also encourage the use of descriptive language.  By giving your child the opportunity to tell a story in their own way, with their own words, you encourage their self-esteem and confidence, but also stimulate their inventive and creative thinking – imagination is a wonderful thing, especially that of a child’s.

Here are some of my favourite wordless picture books:

 

Good night, Gorilla / by Peggy Rathmann

 

 

 

Hug / by Jez Alborough

 

 

 

Have you seen my duckling / by Nancy Tafuri

 

 

 

Wave / by Suzy Lee

 

 

 

The Lion & the Mouse / by Jerry Pinkney

 

 

It is important to note that, your child does not need to be preschool age (3-5 years) in order for you to be doing this with them.  Get into the habit of engaging your child in this manner almost immediately.  At first you will be asking and answering all the questions, but as your child’s language skills develop they will begin to respond to you, already having an understanding of the interaction from you.

For more on this tip and many others see pages 30 to 33 of Let’s get Ready for Reading: A fun and easy guide to help kids become readers.

Join us again next Friday for another tip from the Guide!

 

Let's get Ready for Reading: A fun and easy guide to help kids become readers...so what else is in the guide continued...

Did you know that by playing “I Spy” with your child you actually encourage vocabulary building? 

“I spy with my little eye, something that is…” by asking your child to find something according to the category, shape, colour and size that you have described to them, you teach them how to look at and describe the world around them. 

Playing “I Spy” encourages the use of descriptive and expressive language, as well as, problem solving and critical thinking.  …Who knew?

The more you talk to your child, the richer their vocabulary will become. 

Talk to your child all day long.  Talk about and explain what you are doing.  Talk about the various things that you are using.  Explain their function and purpose.  Point out and name objects or items to your child.  Use words to describe the actions that you and your child are engaging in, but also, and most importantly, the world around them. 

Talk about feelings – yours and your child’s feelings.  I feel sad and this is why.  I feel happy and this is why.  By knowing words to express themselves by, you empower your little one to tell you not only what they want, but also how they feel.   

Remember, you are your child’s first and absolute favourite playmate, for more tips like this one (page 26) and others on games to play, check out Lets get Ready for Reading: A fun and easy guide to help kids become readers.

Visit back with us next Friday for another great tip from the Guide!

Let's get Ready for Reading: A fun and easy guide to help kids become readers...so what else is in the guide???

Enjoying books often and together on a daily basis is the first step towards developing a love of reading in your child.  Making reading time a fun and enjoyable experience demonstrates to your child that reading is a good thing. 

The question we as librarians get asked most often by parents and caregivers is, “How do I choose a good book for my child?”…the answer is really quite simple…

When selecting books for your little one a good start is to follow their lead, in other words, try to find books that follow your child’s developing interests.  For example, if they are fascinated with diggers and bulldozers (construction), find and read picture books such as At a Construction Site / by Don Kilby or B is for Bulldozer: A Construction ABC / by June Sobel or Digger Man / by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha.  Read them together. Point out and name the different machinery.  Start a conversation by asking them what the bulldozer or digger is doing.  Most importantly, don’t limit yourself to picture books.  Find information books or true stories (non-fiction) about diggers, bulldozers and construction.  It’s an opportunity for both you and your child to learn together about things they are expressing an interest in.  It’s also an opportunity for you and your child to spend time together.  Let them know that for you, reading and learning with them, is your favourite part of the day.

Share books with your child, even your baby, everyday and throughout the day.  You can also pick a specific time of day to read so that it becomes routine.  Children are creatures of habit.  Routines help your child to gain confidence by knowing what comes next.  Most importantly, make reading together a happy time; creating a pleasant feeling and memory for your child, thereby developing their interest in reading.

These tips can be found on pages 7 to 10 of: Let’s get Ready for Reading: A fun and easy guide to help kids become readers.    

See you next Friday for another fun and easy tip from the Guide!

 

Let's get Ready for Reading: A fun and easy guide to help kids become readers...so what's in it??

Let's get Ready for Reading: A fun and easy guide to help kids become readers, was launched on March 26, 2013.  It’s been out for a month now, and we’ve received great response. 

The guide was developed as a fun, research-based booklet for parents, caregivers and educators of children from birth to five.   Think of the guide as a little piece of our expert children’s librarian staff to take home with you, ready for you to reference at any time.    

The guide expands upon the six Ready for Reading skills that parents and caregivers already learn about in our Storytimes.  Each skill has its own chapter in the guide.  Each chapter outlines the skill, developmental milestones parents and caregivers can look for, as well as, suggestions on books to read, rhymes and activities to do with your little one.  As City Librarian Jane Pyper says, “Open the guide to ANY page and you will find useful information and tips that you can immediately put into practice.”

 

Here’s an example…do you remember the tongue twister Peter Piper? 

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.

If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,

Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

 

Did you know that tongue twisters are useful for encouraging children to hear the similar sounds at the beginning of words? 

 

How about Old MacDonald Had a Farm?

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.

And on that farm he had a cow, E-I-E-I-O.

With a moo, moo here and a moo, moo there,

Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo.

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O   

 

Did you know that when children can imitate animal noises they are also learning to hear the sounds in words, developing the skill that helps them to sound out words when they are learning to read?

 

These two rhymes, and tips, on what sharing them with your child can do, can be found on pages 18 and 19 of Let’s Get Ready for Reading: A fun and easy guide to help kids become readers. 

 

And that’s what the guide is all about.  Helping parents and caregivers find easy ways to “pepper” early literacy activities into the course of their and their child’s day.  When you read, talk, sing and play together, you help your child’s knowledge of reading and writing without even realizing it.  It’s that easy!

 

Check us out on Fridays for more on what's in the Guide!

Toronto Pan Am Games 2015 Mascot Voting is live!

The finalists for the Pan Am Games mascot challenge have been selected and the voting has begun. Involve your child(ren) in this exciting opportunity to be part of the selection of who will be the mascot for the 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games. You can vote daily until May 5th. Place your vote at the TORONTO 2015 Mascot Creation site.

If your child is interested in the process of how these finalists were selected, watch the video below for a glimpse into how these lively little critters were created.

 

 

RIP E.L. Konigsburg

Last week, the world of children’s literature lost another great creator: E.L. Konigsburg. Known mainly for her thoughtfully written middle grade and young adult fiction, Konigsburg was also an accomplished illustrator of picture books. She was one of only five authors who have won two Newbery Medal awards. 

 

In an interview on Scholastic’s Teachers website, Konigsburg said “… the kids I write about are asking for the same things I wanted. They want two contradictory things. They want to be the same as everyone else, and they want to be different from everyone else. They want acceptance for both.”

This theme of identity along with friendship, relationships with others and independently overcoming obstacles are all found in Konigsburg’s novels. Any of the four novels below are worth recommending to young readers hungry for stories that are intelligent, moving and funny.

Shakespeare for Kids Spring Session - Register Now!

Welcome, Spring! And welcome to a new season of the Shakespeare for Kids Library Club!

Shakespeare for Kids is a great opportunity for children aged 7 to 12 to explore the world of magic, wizards, potions, ghosts, swords and witches in some of the greatest stories ever told. Actors and educators from the Shakespeare in Action Theatre Company coach and instruct kids in learning and playing theatre games, developing play-reading skills, creating and acting in scenes and more. Children read and explore some of Shakespeare’s plays, including Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest. This free two-hour program is offered on six consecutive Saturdays this spring from April 6 to May 11.

The program is free, thanks to the generous support of TD Bank Group.

Take a look at this wonderful photo essay celebrating World Theatre Day on the Shakespeare in Action blog, featuring pictures from the winter session at the Brentwood Branch. After this spring session, we won't see Shakespeare and his band of bards again until the fall, so be sure to register your child right away.

To register, please visit or call participating branches.

Morning Programs (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.)

Morningside Branch - 416-396-8881
Oakwood Village Library and Arts Centre Branch - 416-394-1040
Pape/Danforth Branch - 416-393-7727
Riverdale Branch - 416-393-7720
Runnymede Branch - 416-393-7697

Afternoon Programs (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.)

Barbara Frum Branch - 416-395-5440
Bendale Branch - 416-396-8910
Centennial Branch - 416-395-5490
Malvern Branch - 416-396-8969
Parliament Street Branch - 416-393-7663

Let's Get Ready for Reading: a fun and easy guide to help kids become readers

Today, Toronto Public Library launched Let's Get Ready for Reading, a fun and handy research-based guide for parents, caregivers and educators of children from birth to five. The guide was developed by our expert children’s librarians and is full of book recommendations, rhymes, songs, finger plays, activities and reading readiness tips, all based on the Ready for Reading skills and practices.

Let's Get Ready for Reading is available to browse and borrow at Toronto Public Library branches throughout the city. Place a hold on a copy now. You can also purchase a copy at any branch for $3.

Let's Get Ready for Reading has been made possible through funding from the Toronto Public Library Foundation, thanks to a generous donation by an anonymous donor. The Foundation is also grateful for the support provided by the J.P. Bickell Foundation and Rotary Club of Toronto.

Thanks to this generous funding, we plan to distribute 100,000 copies of the guide to kindergartners, Ontario Early Years Centres, Parenting and Family Literacy Centres and licensed daycares, through library community outreach programs, and to every branch of every public library system in Ontario over the coming year. In partnership with Toronto Public Health, copies of the guide will also be given to newborns and toddlers in Toronto this year through programs for new parents. In an upcoming campaign, a free copy of the guide will be given to each child five years old and younger who registers for, or renews, a library card—while quantities last.

Watch for more posts in the coming weeks on using this new guide, and when you pick up a copy, be sure to let us know what you think!

Awesome book apps for young children

More and more picture books, whether they are childhood classics, traditional fairytales or modern stories, are appearing as apps.

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd, is available from Loud Crow Interactive. 

The opening double-page spread has a cute feature where the child may write their name on a bookplate. 

Loud Crow keeps its apps in fairly book-like formats and that is the case here.  This app is receiving rave reviews online from many users.

 

 

One of my favourite picture books ever is Where do Balloons Go? An Uplifting Mystery by Jamie Lee Curtis, illustrated by Laura Cornell, and it has been made into a very fun app by Auryn Apps.  There are tons of cute, special features, such as a fan you may use to blow the balloons around. 

There are jokes for adults, such as when the balloons float by the Bates Motel, a nod to Jamie's mother's role in the movie, Psycho.

 

 

 

HarperCollins is creating fabulous apps for many of its children's titles.

There are numerous resources for Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin on the HarperCollins website. 

The app for Pete the Cat is fun and gives the user positive feedback after each activity.  There are fun pages where the child may search for different items.  Once the items are located a playable guitar comes on the screen.

 

Thousands of people are creating their own apps too.  Because of this trend there are many self-published apps that are children's books. These apps vary widely in quality but are usually only ninety-nine cents.  The Adventures of Little Munch features realistic animals sounds and fun extras such as buzzing bees.  The text is in a good, clear font for young readers.

It's buyer beware with self-published apps.

 

 

 

Wombi is an app development company run by three friends in Stockhom, Sweden. They have created an app for The Princess and the Pea that takes the traditional story from H.C. Andersen and adds fun animations.  On one page, the princess shoots a pea at the prince through a straw. 

 

 

 

 

My all-time favourite app, and one that children don't seem to tired of, is Don't Let the Pigeon Run This App by Mo Willems.  This app, like the best apps, is distinguished by its interactivity, creativity and the fact that it is not just a printed book moved to a different medium. 

Have fun with book apps!! Click on the above authors' names to link to Toronto Public Library's catalogue and borrow their original books!