Since Father’s Day falls at the beginning of summer, let
this wonderful holiday help you launch a season of reading. During the summer, reading
prepares your child(ren), not just for the next school year, but helps her/him
grow into a lifelong learner. This
is especially true when s/he develops a habit of summer reading each year. Try any of these tips as you plan your
weeks away from school.
Summer Reading programs are a regular part of the local library. Visit your library early in the summer to register your child(ren). Many libraries offer awards, prizes and special celebrations to honor children who meet or exceed their own goals.
·
Make reading a part of each summer day.
In
the car:
1)
read signs and license plates with your child;
2) listen to audio books, music, or radio - sing
along.
In the
neighborhood:
1)
take a sound walk, looking for/naming things that start with the same sound (ex: dog, door, daddies, donuts, dolls)
2) play a guessing game; notice something without looking at it, give your child a clue to see if s/he can guess (ex: I’m thinking of something with wheels, painted red, and noisy. When s/he guesses correctly, let her/him take a turn!)
2) play a guessing game; notice something without looking at it, give your child a clue to see if s/he can guess (ex: I’m thinking of something with wheels, painted red, and noisy. When s/he guesses correctly, let her/him take a turn!)
· Make writing a part of each summer day. Your child can tell you about
something, you can write it, and you both can read it together.
1) Help your child keep a nature journal of all the
wildlife you see during your walks or other adventures -- or something that
shows wildlife has been there (ex: a hole in a leaf, a half eaten nut, an
anthill). Write it down/draw it or
have your child(ren) write it down/draw it in the journal/notebook. You may
need to solve a mystery of what animal left the remains behind. Review, looking back at the end of the
week, month, summer, remembering what fun you had together.
2) Arrange with a parent of one of your child’s
friends to send each other postcards of what your summer adventures are.
· Read aloud with your child(ren) every day. When children are read to by someone
they love, children learn to love books!
Read and share from these wonderful books in honor of the
dad in your child’s life. Have fun
together this summer!
Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle
Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle
Philomel, $17.99 (hardcover)
Interest Level: Pre-Kindergarten – Grade 2
(This book is available to borrow at the Miami Dade Library;
Main Branch, Miami Lakes, Lemon City.
Also may be purchased from Books & Books online: http://www.booksandbooks.com)
What
a great dad Mr. Seahorse is! He
floats through the ocean with Mrs. Seahorse’s eggs in his pouch.
In his travels, he meets up with
other caring fish fathers. One is
Mr. Tilapia, who keeps the eggs safe in his mouth until they hatch. Another is Mr. Pipe, whose eggs are on
his belly.
As is his habit, award-winning
author-illustrator Carle uses a light touch to expose youngsters to our natural
world. Cheery painted tissue-paper
collage introduces each new fish father. On one colorful double page spread an
upside down Mr. Seahorse greets Mr. Kurtus.
Additionally, Mr. Seahorse glides
past scary lionfish and other creatures. Alternating with fish fathers, they
are hidden behind beautifully painted acetate pages.
This lively, heartwarming story
concludes with the seahorse babies swimming away, ready to be on their own.
Following Papa’s Song by Gianna Marino
Viking, $16.99 (hardcover)
Interest Level: Pre-Kindergarten –
Grade 2
(This book is available to purchase from Books & Books online: http://www.booksandbooks.com)
As
they swim through the sunlit morning sea Little Blue, a humpback whale, asks
Papa questions. Little Blue is
especially interested in their coming travels. “Are we going far?” How will we
know the way?
Papa’s
answers comfort him. They will
follow the whales’ song, “like our family has for years upon years . . . . If
you listen closely you will always hear my song.”
They
begin their journey “through the liquid light and deep into the mysterious
black.” Little Blue is curious about the dark magical world below.
Marino’s
lyrical text merges with brilliant gouache colors on mulberry paper. The mixed
media approach to illustration lends texture to curving movements of underwater
life. This method also gives shape
to dark-light contrasts. One example is the double page spread using
silhouettes.
When
Little Blue dives down to explore the deep silence, colors deepen. Additionally, word size, shape and meaning
are echoes of the changing water. When Little Blue realizes the cold distance
from dad, he remembers to listen.
What he hears sends Little Blue up from the deep to follow the path of
Papa’s song back to the brighter surface of the evening ocean.How to Cheer Up Dad by Fred Koehler
Dial, $16.99
(hardcover) Interest Level: Pre-Kindergarten – Grade 2
(This book is available
to purchase from Books & Books online: http://www.booksandbooks.com)
Viewers
see the bad day beginning - with raisins from the oatmeal ending up on the
ceiling. The playful troublemaker’s wild behavior increases with the addition
of an unsuccessful bath, a no-clothes race, and a time-out.
In
an almost-cartoon-like style, the pencil and pen artwork is enhanced using
digital media. Lots of white space
and limited colors strengthen the young elephant’s naughty mischief making.
This highlights the gap between the child’s delight and the father’s exasperation.
When
Little Jumbo the elephant sees his dad is “having a bad day,” he wonders how “to
cheer up Dad.” Starting with a hug, the pair moves to playing catch. Sharing an
ice-cream cone, and fishing together follow. Additional colors brighten the white and gray spaces with
red, blue and yellow as the disturbances decrease.
The day ends with reading a story
and tucking dad in. But it’s NOT the end of the story. The final page’s artwork sets up the
joke with new mischief: “I wonder how much cheering up he’ll need tomorrow. . .”
Treat yourself and your child to other titles below:
Nelly Gnu and Daddy Too by Anna Dewdney
Viking,
$17.99 (hardcover) Interest Level: Pre-Kindergarten – Grade 1
(This book is
available to purchase from Books & Books online: http://www.booksandbooks.com)
Papa is a Poet: A
Story About Robert Frost by Natalie S. Bober
illustrated by Rebecca
Gibbon
Henry Holt, $17.99
(hardcover) Interest Level: Grades 1-4
The Lion Who Stole My
Arm by Nicola Davies
Candlewick, $14.99 (hardcover) Grade 3-5
(This book is available to
purchase from Books & Books online: http://www.booksandbooks.com)
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