“The Kissing Hand” by Audrey Penn

 I will admit that I never heard of The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn until after my daughter came home from her first day of kindergarten. Her little handprint – with a heart in the middle of her palm – had been placed beneath a precious poem related to this story. Yes, it brought tears to my eyes. 

The Kissing Hand

 What was it about this story – I had briefly heard about – that tugged at my heart? I did not want to wait and see. This book was so popular that I had to place it on hold at our local library. As soon as it became available, I had the pleasure of reading this sweet story to both of my children.
 
This book was so touching that I could see why it was perfect for my daughter since she did not want to leave her mommy for the day. Kissing her hand put her at ease.

Would I recommend this book? You bet, especially for children that will be beginning preschool or kindergarten. Comfort your little “Chester,” kiss his or her hand and place it against your heart. 
                                                      

“A Bedtime Kiss for Chester Raccoon” by Audrey Penn

As a mommy to my own little “Chester,” I can share in mama's effort in getting a little one to sleep. Many caregivers will appreciate A Bedtime Kiss for Chester Raccoon by Audrey Penn.

Humans do not look at sleeping difficulties as daytime issues. Therefore, it is  hard to imagine having “dayscares,” until you read this tender tale from a different perspective. I have not read any story quite like this.

As parents often do, mama comforts her son, carried out with a kiss and a connection. Everything is right in the world, and Chester falls asleep dreaming away in nocturnal land.

My daughter has separation anxiety, so I fell in love with the book that started it all, The Kissing Hand. I appreciate the link Ms. Penn carries between her books within this well-known series. Its continuity provides comfort and familiarity, qualities perfect for easing anxiety in children.

I would recommend this precious book - so full of mama’s love – to any parent.  
          
                           

A Bedtime Kiss for Chester Raccoon     

             
         

Taking a Look at Your Developing Reader

If your little reader sees him- or herself as such, he or she has advanced in their literacy journey to the developing reader stage. At the beginning of this exciting phase, he or she will begin to select books that exhibit uncomplicated texts and patterns, such as One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss or Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Farm by Joy Cowley, respectively. Your child will yearn for books with a larger variety of patterns toward the latter part of this stage, so search for and present books similar to Just for You by Mercer Mayer.

Just Me and My Dad by Mercer Mayer

The developing reader gains a sense of the story by illustrations, thus associating them with print. Do not be surprised if you hear your child reading some easy words though! Simple sight words have been known to be uttered by some of these readers, like dog, cat, been, and make.

Expect to enjoy watching your child perusing over his or her choice of books for a short time, but prepare to set aside some “reading” time. Your youngster will want to share his or her selection of books with you!

Nurture your child's curiosity and fascination with early literacy. Let's take a look at how you can do so in my next post! Until then, cuddle up, open up a book or two, and share some exciting stories.   

Signs of an Emerging Reader

An exciting transition from the preconventional stage occurs - typically between the ages of four and six - when the signs of an emerging reader arise. Although most at this developmental stage rely on the visual aspect of books, emerging readers tend to play the role of active participants during story time.

Memorization of beloved books should not surprise parents. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? is a terrific example and a treasure by many children.
 

In fact, due to the ability to recognize names and words, emerging readers have the potential to read books with simplistic content, such as those exhibiting patterns.

Connections are often made between books and the child's personal experiences. Children begin understanding the concept of rhyming and enjoy playing word games.

This stage is often fleeting due to the emerging reader's excitement and extreme desire to learn to read. Despite the fast moving stage, parents can still assist their emerging reader, utilizing tips that will help to support their child's literacy journey.

Encouraging Your Preconventional Reader

As noted previously, preconventional readers are not reading, per se; however, such little ones show an extreme interest in letters, signs, logos, illustrations, page turning and more. As your child's caregiver, what can you do to encourage your preconventional reader?

• Read books to your child that emphasize rhythm, rhyme and repetition.
• Select books that appeal to your child's age, choosing those with appealing illustrations.
• Equate reading to a time of fun and relaxation. While it is okay to request minimal talking during storytime, do not set rigid boundaries for your early reader, demanding all questions for the end. Answer them along with the story.
• Encourage active participation during storytime. Allow your child to hold the book, turning the pages when appropriate. Additionally, ask your child to read repetitive lines or chorus with you.
• Point out words and letters that your child consistently sees daily while out and about or in a book – such as “stop,” “and,” “up” and “go.”
• Be creative! Make flash cards with simple sight words and emphasize positive reinforcement. A simple “good job!” goes far. Consider reward stickers and stamps. This will encourage you little one to continue his or her reading journey. 

A child with a healthy interest in early literacy is well on his or her way to the next stage, the emergent reader.

Early Literacy: Preconventional Readers

Children develop at their own pace both physically and intellectually, although not too far off from one another. As with stages in childhood, reading too has its own steps.

Somewhere between the ages of three and five, children begin displaying an interest in reading and books, primarily focusing on print. Preconventional readers tend to flock to stories containing the three Rs -- rhythm, rhyme and repetition. While they are not actually reading, they enjoy participating along with the story as it is being read aloud. These readers want to turn pages of books, admiring illustrations. Many at this stage recognize their name, know the names of letters, and have an interest in traffic signs, logos and the like.

Such readers are at the very beginning of this exciting literary journey, known as early literacy, so what can parents do to encourage their child's development?

Relationship Between Reading and Brain Development

Anecdotal evidence suggests that at birth, a child's brain is developed by only 25%. Perhaps a sobering fact, the remaining 75% is - gulp - up to you through the stimulation of all five senses. 

According to Mem Fox, in her book Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever, by the child's first birthday, the foundation will already have been set with regard to his or her cleverness, imagination and creative being. Fox suggests that it may be too late for a child to begin reading if he or she has not begun to do so prior to entering school. Reading difficulties are not easy to fix, so, parents, prevention is key; wise Ben Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." This infamous quote can be applied to a great deal of topics today, including literacy, no less.

A child's intellectual development has been linked to close verbal communication by the age of three. Speech begins with being spoken to, and reading aloud is the perfect time for the special bond between parent and child, and intellectual, reading, and speech development. By the time a child hears speech, music, and repetition, the foundation of early literacy has begun. Without any verbal communication, or lack thereof, children will have a more difficult time wanting to learn to read.

So, read, read, read, and play the important role of giving the gift of all-things related to brain development.

Words Are All Around Us

Traffic signs, banners, advertisements...words are all around us.

As adults, we take reading for granted. We tend to forget that without our knowledge, we would not be able to read anything. It was not until I had my daughter - and started reading and pointing out words from all over town - that I realized this simple fact, and I thought, “What a perfect opportunity to teach outside of the box!"

I am happy to announce that it worked - for one day, out of the blue, my little girl said to me, “Mommy, that sign says ‘stop!'" My eyes grew big and my mouth dropped. “She really did pay attention to me!"

To this day, I seize every opportunity to read to my children, not limiting myself to books. By doing so, they acknowledge that those “letters" are actually words...words that are all around them.

Knuffle Bunny or Kuh-Nuffle Bunny?

We checked out the award-winning Knuffle Bunny series by Mo Willems. Consisting of three books, we followed Trixie from the stage of toddler-hood to early childhood. The entire elements of the series are like none other.

First Book in the Series

Upon opening the first book, I fell in love with the story, as did my children. Parents can appreciate the humor when, as a toddler, Trixie went “boneless," falling to the ground, in a desperate plea to get her daddy back to the laundromat to get her beloved, Knuffle Bunny. I can honestly say that I laughed out loud. Oh, have I had my fair share of “boneless" bodies from both of my children in public. (And why do they suddenly become 20 pounds heavier when they do so?)

Second Book in the Series

Skipping ahead to the last book, Trixie cannot find her dear friend shortly after arriving in Holland on a trip to visit Oma and Opa. Does she find her Knuffle Bunny? Does she go “boneless" again? (You can proceed with reading my post for I will not give it away.) However, I will express my sadness as I read the final part of the book. I thought to myself, “Surely, this cannot be it! No!" Perhaps it was noting the age similarity between my daughter and Trixie, or maybe it was the combination of that and the dedicated note to Trixie at the end.

I am always on the lookout for unique illustrations and this one hit the jackpot. With classic black and white photography near the author's home in Brooklyn, Willems adds his highly expressive cartoonish-style to each scene - quite brilliant, I think!

The Last Book -- Sniff, sniff!

If you are looking for a new book to read to your child, I highly recommend reading the Knuffle Bunny series. There was certainly an energy between the expressive characters, illustrations, and stories surrounding Trixie and Knuffle. I am certain you will grow with Trixie, her mommy and daddy, and the star of the show, Knuffle, as well!

Guess How Much I Love You ...

An Award-Winning Tail

By Sam McBratney is a tender “tail” of two hares, Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare, showing their love for the other, ignited by a common childhood problem -- not wanting to go to sleep! As a distraction, Little Hare changes the subject by interjecting, “Guess how much I love you”? (Of course, what parent, grandparent or any adult could ignore such a question?)

Little Nutbrown Hare admits to loving his daddy “this much”, representing his love by his outstretched arms. Daddy replies, “But I love you this much,” stretching out his much longer arms. Little Hare attempts to prove a love larger than Big Hare's through the remainder of the book. Does he succeed?

As I was reading this treasured book aloud today, I immediately thought of the early love exchanges between my daughter and I. When she was two, I would say, “I love you.” “No, I love you more,” she replied. Of course, my response was, “No, I love you more.” We would go back and forth until one of us gave up with a smile and a hug.

As parents, we know how much our children mean to us, more than anyone could ever know, sometimes “right up to the moon -- and back.”

Big and Little Nutbrown Hare

 

Literacy Connections and Storytime Success

Literacy is fueled by three connections: you - the reader, the chosen book, and the child. All intertwined together, these three ingredients are the key players of this fantastic recipe!

The book you are reading to your child might not be the next bestseller, but does this truly matter to your child? No. In fact, the excitement and eagerness of storytime and the time spent with you are just as – if not more so – important to the child than the actual story itself.

Relaxed children presented with positive storytimes are more apt to begin reading on their own.

Tips for a Successful Storytime:

• Read aloud with emphasis.
• Encourage active participation. 
• Acknowledge the writer and illustrator.
• Allow snuggly cuddling for closeness and security, complete with pillows and blankets. 
• Introduce words and associate them with pictures, if applicable.
  

I hope the above tips will assist you with bonding and educating your child - your most precious asset.

As always, happy reading!

Teaching Early Literacy

My 1-1/2 year old son was introduced to the letter “I” just one time and the rest is history. I can say, for certain, that  “I” is his favorite letter! He is consumed with exhilaration when he sees his “I” -- so much so that we all need to know that it is present. I knew -- from my experience with my daughter -- that I could not go wrong with teaching my son early on. He is just as bright as she is, so I wanted to utilize this time to indulge his mind.

Letter recognition is a stepping stone...

I noticed he had been picking up on the ABCs just from watching Sesame Street, so I decided to further encourage letter recognition. Why do this at such an early age? You would be amazed at the information little tykes soak up; they are sponges! This is an excellent time in their lives to learn, so what better time to instill early literacy?

There are six pre-reading skills children should possess prior to reading:

1. Print Motivation
2. Vocabulary
3. Letter Knowledge
4. Print Awareness
5. Narrative Skills
6. Phonological Awareness

As your child's first teacher, you can assist with building these pre-reading skills through some of the following:

• Trace letters with fingers
• Read aloud in a snuggle session
• Attend storytimes
• Play rhyming games and fingerplays
• Sing ABCs and other songs
• Provide alphabet games that introduce word and letter recognition and phonics, such as with the LeapFrog Fridge Phonics Magnetic Alphabet Set
• Clap syllables of words
• Introduce the author and illustrator, as well as the anatomy of a book
• Supply a rich stash of books from the library.

Our children imitate us. For example, my son now holds a book while “reading” aloud. He will finish the last page with “the end.” Remember, reading should be fun so make it that way! Before you know it, you will have a reading machine.

What is Early Literacy?

One of the simple pleasures in my life is taking my children to the local library's storytime programs, both preschool and tot times. Being that I was unable to take my daughter to her storytime this past Tuesday, she attended tot time today with her baby brother. Thursdays are open to wee ones, aged three and younger, for finger plays, songs, and stories. 

Library storytime is beneficial for many reasons. Children develop an interest in literacy (early literacy) and their library, associating both with a special time in their lives, in a secure and caring environment.

What is Early Literacy?

Early literacy is not necessarily the act of reading or writing. Rather, it is referred to what the child knows about literacy prior to learning how to read; it is the foundational building block that reading is built on. You could associate early literacy to literacy as preschool is to school -- preparation for the real thing.

What are ways you can build your child's foundation so that he or she will be ready to learn how to read? Stay tuned!

Introduction

It is with great pleasure to introduce to you this blog devoted to all-things related to children and reading. Children are sponges, quickly grasping concepts, if given the chance to learn. You will (eventually) find topics on reading games, children books, reading for literacy, reading activities, the importance of reading to children and more!

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On a personal note, reading meant quite a bit to me growing up.  It was a means of escape from reality for a few hours at a time.  I looked forward to library day with the lines of books awaiting my discovery.  Perhaps this was not the adolescent norm, but it was for me being a shy child.  It was something I could relate to.

Fast forward to today -- I have children of my own.  Bouncing babies, I already made my plans to instill a love for the written word by reading aloud to them. I tenderly remember reading Goodnight Moon to my daughter when she was not more than 2 weeks old.  As the words flowed from my mouth, I looked at my daughter with great joy. This was something that we could share.

My plans - and desires - with this blog are many, so I do hope that you will stay tuned.  In the meantime, do not forget to read to a child - be it your own son or daughter, your niece, your nephew...any will do! :)  They will appreciate it, and you will enjoy the connection and snuggle time.

As always, make reading fun!