In the previous post, I shared a smattering of the perks of reading picture books to your child. Truth be told, the appeal of picture books is not limited to young children. That’s part of their value. Often, picture books unearth a theme we all need to consider. If you have children of varied ages, usually even the older kids enjoy listening. Perhaps, the story calls forth memories of when they were little, or maybe they just like listening to the cadence of the tale, rediscovering a favorite character, or ferreting out the underlying truth or theme the author tries to present. Pull in those older kids whenever you can so they can enjoy the fun and closeness reading picture books offer.
For the last eight years, I’ve had the joy of minding two of our grandsons every Tuesday afternoon. The oldest is now eight and his brother is six, so I’ve been through lots of ages and stages with them. Scads of picture books live in their home, but one of their favorite series when they were younger was The Little Blue Truck series. Boys and girls alike will love following Little Blue’s travels. A perfect book for this time of year is Little Blue Truck Springtime. In it, we’re invited to ride along with Little BlueTruck and Toad on a Spring day. Sprinkled with questions that prompt thinking, a child can open the flap to see if he’s right. What an enjoyable ride this is!
Since most of the books I’m highlighting today are part of a series, I figured they would be helpful reminders to picture book veterans, but also helpful to those of you who are just beginning the read-aloud journey with your youngsters. If your child falls in love with one of the characters, you know you can’t go wrong searching out others in the series. Enjoy!
Sit down with a group of young parents and invariable the topic of bedtime comes up. Bedtime woes can wear down the most patient parent. In Llama, Llama Red Pajama, Anna Dewdney takes on this relatable topic. The realistic story arouses empathetic feelings for both the child and the mom. This is a sweet tale that is quickly becoming a classic. Plus, if Little Llama steals your heart, you can meet him again in this lovely series.
How can I discuss picture book series for youngsters without mentioning Dr. Seuss. The Foot Book, has been around for years. I know because it was a favorite in our house. Several funny little characters help children to learn opposite words, while engaged in a delightful rhyme. This is the kind of book that inspires even young children to “read” because the rhymes soon become obvious (a good thing!). Of course, pick up any Dr.Seuss book and your in for a treat. From the simplest rhyming books like this one or the longer titles that have a sly lesson to teach, you can count on Dr. Seuss.
Finally, I highly suggest purchasing a copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s First Book of Rhymes. When I visited a book store to research this blog, I walked out with two copies of this poetry book to give as a gift to newborn children in the family. Eric Carle did not write the poems, but he did illustrate the book. The poems deal with everyday subjects and the rhymes are simple and sweet. The kind of poems that will delight the youngest children and easily allow older children to memorize. Add this to your baby shower gift (it’s not pricey) and buy one for yourself.
Please chime in with your comments and share your own picture book favorites. Monday’s blog will feature informational picture books. Some awesome ones are on my list!
Nurturing Literacy 