#23 Review a Childs Book
You are writing for a monthly parenting magazine targeting parents of preschool and early years school aged children.
Stories are children’s window to the world and an important tool for parents to utilize to reinforce lessons, rules or morals ( but not ‘preachy or teachy’).
Your role this week is to review a book specifically for a child 4 – 6 yrs old.
Here are some features to look for when choosing child -friendly books and points your review may focus on:
Books with a real story. A good story for preschool children should have a fast moving plot and an up-beat ending. They get bored quickly if over repetitious, uninteresting – or outwardly ‘preachy or teachy’.
Simple themes. Picture books and stories with few words are good at first. Rhythm and rhyme are especially appealing. The should be writing clear and straightforward as many children this age are decoding the shapes on the page and “pre-reading”
Test Ride it - If you don’t have a child to read to – I am sure a neighbour or family member would adore your volunteering for reading time this week.
GREAT BOOKS FOR PRESCHOOL CHILDREN - (some personal favorites)
The Stray Dog by Marc Simont
A touching book about a family that finds a scruffy, stray dog in the park. A wonderful example of the way an illustrator can enhance a story through pictures.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
A very hungry caterpillar eats his way through various food items and the pages of the book itself. Twelve million copies of this book have been sold and children still seem to love it.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, Very Bad, No Good Day by Judity Viorst
This book is the remedy for children of all ages who have horrible, no good, rotten days.
If You Give a Mouse A Cookie by Laura Numeroff
A funny book of zany cause and effect. This is a surefire winner with children, who will want to hear it read over and over.
Where is the Green Sheep by Mem Fox
A simple story seeking the whereabouts of the Green Sheep. Rhyme and rhythm illustrated delightfully. A book that has stood the test of time..
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
A story about cows who want to improve their working conditions. The author has included a few big words for children to learn, but children seem to love the story anyway.
Olivia by Ian Falconer
Olivia is a high - energy pig who combs her ears and hates to take a nap. Another laugh-out-loud book with wonderful illustrations.
Julius the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes
A great book for children with a new baby in the house. Henkes captures all the emotions of a big sister whose parents pay too much attention to the new arrival.
