During the month of May thoughts often turn toward the
beauties of springtime weather and the gorgeous flowering of trees and other
plants. The books in this small
collection can help to direct attention to the earth and its creatures. They are among many terrific books for
young children available in the public library. Any librarian or bookseller will gladly help you find one of
these titles or other titles to enjoy with your child.
When you choose books to share, also
set aside a special time each day to read with your child. One possibility to consider is the
evening: it can become an important part of a bedtime routine.
Try any of the suggestions below to
help make your reading ritual happy:
·
Begin by talking about the pictures with your
child. Show the cover and the title page. The title and pictures can give hints
about the book.
·
Ask your child to turn the pages. Point out what
you see. Ask your child what she sees.
·
Run your finger along the words as you read the
story. This shows your child how words are read (left to right in English). It
also helps him follow along.
Children can begin to realize that words we say can be written, and can
be read.
·
Make the story interesting for you and your
child. Change your voice for each character in the story. Or act out a part
that makes you want to move your body. Your child LOVES dramatic play. She will likely want to join you in
this reading playtime.
·
Ask questions about the story: What
happened? What is this?
·
Invite your child to ask questions about the
story. An interesting conversation
does not require answers.
·
Offer your child a chance to tell the story. Very young children can retell a story in
their own words.
Rain Play
by
Cynthia Cotton
Illustrations by Javaka Steptoe
Henry Holt, $16.95 (hardcover)
Interest Level: Pre-Kindergaren – Grade 2
(This book is
available to borrow at the Miami Dade Library; Main Branch, Edison Branch)
Showing children romping in a park, this
picture book begins just before a storm.
The colorful paint and cut-paper collage illustrations are playful. They fit the text, adding movement, and
causing details to stand out. The
rhythmic, rhyming words make this book a great choice for young children.
There Was A Tree
by Rachel Isadora
Penguin, $16.99
(hardcover)
Interest Level: Pre-Kindergarten – Grade 1
(This book is available
to purchase from Books and Books online)
Author
and illustrator Rachel Isadora sets her dazzling version of a well-known folk
song (also called “The Green Grass Grew All Around”) on an African plain. There, a handsome thorn tree is home
and food for many animals, insects and birds.
Bright
oil paintings with cut-paper collages show many animals, the pretty starling’s
nest, and the splash of the setting sun.
Even the edging that looks like fabric is beautiful.
Superb
for young children is the use of rebus icons to replace repeated words in the
story. Especially on the page where the baby bird hatches from the egg.
Readers
do NOT need to know the music for this book to be fun. However, music with words is on the
final page, across from the rebus key.
Seeds of Change: Planting a Path to Peace
by Jen Cullerton Johnson
Illustrations by Sonia Lynn Sadler
Lee and Low, $18.95 (hardcover)
Interest Level: Grades 1-4
(This book is
available to borrow at the Miami Dade Library; Main Branch, Little River, Model
City, North Central, North Dade Regional)
This
clear, easy to read biography about Wangari Maathai uses bright African colors
to show important parts of the Nobel Prize winner’s life. As the oldest girl in her family, she
grew up close to the earth, caring for the garden. But she wanted more.
Education gave her a path to a
career as a scientist. She worked to
empower women. Her efforts to plant trees in her home country of Kenya sparked
community participation. She founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977.
Vibrant oil paintings with detailed
outlining in white show both destruction and restoration of the land. A note at the end explains more about
her later environmental work around the world.
Here Come the
Humpbacks!
by April Pulley Sayre
Illustrations by Jamie Hogan
Charlesbridge, $7.95 (paperback)
Interest Level: Grades 1-3 (This
book is available to purchase from Books and Books online)
A
splendid nonfiction picture book, this story involves readers and listeners
with humpback whales. It shows where they swim, what they look like, how big
they are and how they breathe. A
baby whale and mother travel to find food. They swim with another whale that
helps protect them from boats, orcas, and other dangers like trash and fishing
nets.
Charcoal
pencils and pastels in blues, greens and purples create the water-world of
whale life. Large print on the left side of the pages tells the whales’ story,
while smaller print adds factual depth. A note at the end gives adult readers
more details.
Little Black Crow
by Chris Raschka
Atheneum, $16.99
(hardcover)
Interest Level:
Pre-Kindergarten – Grade 2
(This book is available to borrow at the
Miami Dade Library; Main Branch, Miami Lakes Branch, North Central Branch,
North Shore Branch)
Award-winner
Chris Raschka creates paintings full of feeling in this unusual picture
book. He uses simple ink lines,
large watercolor brush strokes, and matches them with wondering words. This
book opens up imagination in young listeners and readers. They will be caught up in the curious
questions a young child asks of the crow.
Here are a few more wonderful titles to choose from!
Lucky Ducklings
by Eva Moore
Illustrations by Nancy Carpenter
Orchard Books, $16.99 (hardcover)
Interest Level: Junior
Kindergarten – Grade 2
(This book is available to purchase from Books and
Books online)
I Wish I Had . .
.
by Giovanna Zoboli
Illustrations
by Simona Mulazzani
Eerdman’s,
$16 (hardcover)
Interest Level: Junior Kindergarten – Grade 2
(This book is
available to purchase from Books and Books online)
Miss Maple’s Seeds
by Eliza Wheeler
Penguin, $16.99
(hardcover)
Interest Level: Kindergarten
– Grade 2
(This book is available to purchase from Books and Books online)
·
Encourage your child in his efforts.
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