Children’s Books

Storytelling Reciting a story or reading aloud from a book

Importance of Storytelling Promotes children’s intellectual, emotional, and social development

Importance of Storytelling Storytelling helps young children: Understand other people Develop a positive attitude towards books Develop listening skills Build correct concepts of objects and form new ideas Increase their vocabulary and encourage verbal expression Associate written and spoken words Understand that printed words carry meanings Develop an appreciation for printed words Develop a desire to read Learn that people read from left to right across the page

Selecting Books for Children

Selecting Books for Children Storytelling is an art that requires study and practice The key to a good story is selection

Selecting Books for Children ** Keep the selection process in mind when creating your own children’s book

Selecting Books for Children Fictional Content Stories should reflect the children’s developmental level, backgrounds, and experiences Familiar objects, people, and situations make stories more interesting Stories about children with backgrounds and activities similar to their own are special favorites Most preschool children cannot separate fact from fiction, therefore it is important to look for realistic stories Fantasy stories are more appropriate for children over 5 years old

Selecting Books for Children Illustrations Create interest and arouse children’s imagination Illustrations should be Large, colorful, and plentiful Represent the written word Reflect actions Avoid unneeded detail Be realistically and attractively colored The pictures in a book for young children should almost tell the story by themselves. Children will be more interested if they “read” the story by looking at the pictures. Pictures should be easy to recognize and help the children make sense of the story, helps them anticipate what's next in the story. Too much detail and shading or lack of color will confuse young children, children respond best to brightly colored pictures with large, clearly defined objects http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/authors/wiesner/books/books_tues.shtml

Selecting Books for Children Vocabulary A good children’s book uses words that can be understood by most children of a certain age Repetition of some words will increase children’s enjoyment The rhythm of word sounds is one major reason children enjoy stories such as Mother Goose tales.

Selecting Books for Children Durability Children should be allowed to hold and carry books as well as turn pages Covers must be sturdy and made with strong, washable material Pages should be easy to handle Books binding should lay flat when the book is open

Selecting Books for Children Length Varies with children’s age Interest is reflected in the number of pages in the books Infants and Toddlers: Interested for a few minutes=few pages Two-year-olds: 5-8 minutes Three-year-olds: 6-10 minutes Four-year-olds: 8-12 minutes Five-year-olds: 10-15 minutes Fill in the amount of time interested on notes sheet

Reading Stories to Children

Reading Stories to Children Good oral reading takes time and effort The success of the story lies in your ability to be interesting and enthusiastic

Reading Stories to Children Preparing to Read Read the story several times so you know it well Practice reading in front of a mirror Record yourself reading This makes a quick glance at the page remind you of the text leaving your eyes free for contact with the children A comfortable setting is required for successful reading time, children must be free from distractions and sitting in a group to listen

Reading Stories to Children Introducing the Story: Briefly set the mood Ask questions, make personal comments, or show the book cover to get children involved in the story Props Ask children to predict what the story is about Personal comment example: This is a story my grandmother told me as a child You can use props Peter Rabbit: a live rabbit or stuffed rabbit The Red Balloon: a red balloon Harold and the Purple Crayon: a purple crayon

Reading Stories to Children Reading the Story Read stories with pleasure and feeling Maintain eye contact with children Read in normal speaking voice, you can add interest my whispering, shouting when appropriate, mimicking sounds, and changing pitches Think of your voice as a tool Project yourself into characters Example: Goldilocks and the Three Bears- high pitch for baby bear and low pitch for papa bear

Reading Stories to Children Concluding the Story Clear Ask a question about the story “Thank you for listening” The children need to know when you are finished What did you like best about the story, or ask about the setting, plot, characters