READING TO KIDS

Born to Read:
How to Raise a Reader

American Library Association The joy of sharing books is a gift you can give children from the time they are born. Chanting nursery rhymes, singing songs, and reading stories can comfort and entertain even the youngest child. Parents, child care providers, teachers, and other adults interested in the development of young children have a wealth of good books from which to choose.

Here is a list of some of the best with easy-to-do tips developed by members of the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association.  

Sharing books...

Helps create a special bond between parents and children.
Introduces children to art through the illustrations.
Enhances children's listening skills.
Introduces children to a wide variety of experiences.
Helps prepare children for learning to read.
Improves and enriches the quality of children's lives.
Provides fun and enjoyment for children and adults.

When to share books

Begin when your child is born.
Set aside a special time each day, such as nap time, bedtime, or after meals.
Share books when you and your child are in a relaxed mood.
Limit sharing time if your child becomes fussy or restless.
Take advantage of "waiting" times to share books--on trips, at the doctor's office, waiting in line.
Soothe a child who is sick or cranky.

How to share books

Find a comfortable place to sit (a rocking chair is wonderful).
Recite or sing rhymes from your favorite books.
Turn off other distractions--television, radio, or stereo.
Hold the book so your child can see the pages clearly.
Involve your child by having him or her point out objects and talk about the pictures.
Read with expression.
Vary the pace of your reading--slow or fast.
Find other titles by the authors and illustrators included in this list.
Have your child select books to read.
Reread your child's favorite books whenever asked.

And remember...

Be enthusiastic about books.
Be an example for your child--let her or him see you read books, too.
Keep a wide selection of reading materials at home.
Be aware of your child's reading interests.
Give books as presents.
Begin to build a child's home library.
Get to know the children's librarian at your local public library.
Use your local library regularly and register your child for a library card.

Creating Readers

The foundation for reading is set in a child's early life.  As a child's first teacher, parents set the necessary building blocks for reading.  These building blocks include:

1.  Talking with children - including them in activities and talking about them as individuals is crucial.  Asking them questions and answering their questions builds a foundation of knowledge and develops a curiosity about the world around them.

2.  Read!  Read!  Read!  Reading aloud to children and modeling reading as an adult as well as shared parent and child reading are the best ways to assist children on the way to a goal of life long readers.

3.  Listen as your children read.  Children need plenty of practice.  Try reading a page and then have your child read the next page and continue this pattern as you read.  Your children will love this activity.

4.  Limit TV viewing.  It is important for parents to monitor how much TV is watched and what is being viewed.

5.  Give children opportunities to write.  Writers make great readers and readers make great writers.

Remember parents are a child's first teachers and create the foundation for life long readers.  Enjoy the wonderful opportunities as you interact and bond with your child.

Some good books to share:

Baker, Keith. Big Fat Hen. Harcourt Brace, 1994.
Bang, Molly. Ten, Nine, Eight. Greenwillow, 1983.
Brown, Margaret Wise. Goodnight Moon. Harper, 1947.
Carle, Eric. The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Putnam, 1981.
Crews, Donald. Freight Train. Greenwillow, 1978.
DePaola, Tomie. Tomie DePaola's Mother Goose. Putnam, 1985.
Field, Eugene. Wynken, Blynken, & Nod. illust. by Johanna Westerman. North-South Books, 1995.
Fleming, Denise. Mama Cat Has Three Kittens. Henry Holt, 1998.
Fox, Mem. Time for Bed. Harcourt, 1993.
Hill, Eric. Where's Spot? Putnam, 1987.
Ho, Minfong. Hush! A Thai Lullaby. Orchard Books, 1996.
Keats, Ezra Jack. Peter's Chair. Harper, 1967.
Martin, Bill, Jr. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Holt, 1984.
McBratney, Sam. Guess How Much I Love You. Candlewick Press, 1995.
Opie, Iona. My Very First Mother Goose. Candlewick, 1996.
Tafuri, Nancy. Have You Seen My Duckling? Greenwillow, 1984.
Wells, Rosemary. Max's Bedtime. Dial, 1998.
Williams, Vera B. "More, More, More," Said the Baby: Three Love Stories Greenwillow, 1990.

Revised by the Preschool Services and Parent Education Committee, Association for Library Service to Children, American Library Association.
Copyright © American Library Association.