Children’s Books
Story Telling benefits to children….. Children gain verbal skills Children use their imaginations A vehicle to pass on wisdom and information
Infants/Toddlers Thick Pages Pictures of simple objects Large, clearly outlined pictures
Two-Year-Old Imitate familiar sounds Repeat their own experiences Contain large pages with big pictures Include the familiar
Three-Year-Old Include things and people outside of home Explain the who’s and why’s Interpret the child’s own experiences Contain words like surprise and secret
Four-Year-Old Include humor in reality Contain new words Explain the how’s and why’s Include exaggeration
Five-year-old Add something to their knowledge Take them beyond the here and now Contain new information and relationships
Qualities to look for in selecting children’s books…. High quality illustrations High quality literary content Format and content that is age appropriate for the intended audience Multicultural in appearance and sensitivity (sometime bilingual) Balance of gender in characters and their roles Appealing characters Humor Characters reflect interests and experiences of young children Positive and hopeful attitudes are presented
Why use stories and books…. To add and enrich children’s first-hand ideas To foster social relationships To build concepts To develop and appreciation of books To present information To encourage verbal expression To call attention to the printed word To simulate new ideas To provide a quiet activity or change of pace To help children learn that people read from left to right across a page