Playful Early Learners

In our home, we loved going to the library for new books. The children had their own library cards and book bags. We timed our visits around “story time” and heard stories read aloud, watched puppet shows, sang songs, repeated finger plays, and danced on a large, comfy carpet. After the fun, we gathered books for our book bags, checked them all out, and went home to put them in our library book baskets.

Whether it’s the library or bookstore, young children choose books by what they see. The picture on the cover stimulates a child’s curiosity. (This is why bookstores put books on shelves with the covers facing out.) At the library, little ones can quickly gather stacks of storybooks. All that matters is the pictures on the covers. When parents try to put books back, a family outing becomes a disappointing power struggle.

Here are some ideas to keep your library visits fun:

• Bring a book bag and stick the number card “3” inside the bag. Talk to your little one before you go inside. “We’ll each choose three stories today.” Let your child find the card and match her books to the number.
• Make three bookmarks for three library books for your child to decorate with markers and stickers. Be sure to write your child’s name on each one.e covers facing out.
• Keep a folder handy for check out receipts. Help your child remember when her books are due.

“Dollar for dollar, the greatest bargain in America today is still the free public library system – yet less than 10 percent of the American people are regular patrons. …parents (rich and poor) say they’d like to bring their children to the library more often but there just isn’t time.” Jim Trelease, The New Read-Aloud Handbook

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Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle, was a favorite read aloud in our home. This story was the beginning of many bedtime routines.

I kept a smaller version in the diaper bag and car seat pocket. The children “read” it in grocery store lines and at restaurant tables. The pictures were perfect for naming animals and the repetitive phrases perfect for chanting.

The story was firmly woven into the fabric of our children’s lives. We created new, fun stories using Brown Bear’s word pattern.

• Family names: Daddy, daddy, who do you see? I see mommy looking at me.
• Pet names: Mason, Mason, who do you see? I see Stripes looking at me.
• The grocery store: Baker, baker, what do you see? I see corn muffins looking at me

Martin and Carle wrote three new twists to their own pattern:

• Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?
  
• Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?
  
• Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?

When young children memorize storybooks, they think and act like readers. This is a beautiful beginning to a lifetime of loving books—and reading.

Look for these qualities in the very best read alouds for memorizing:

• Delightful, stunning pictures
• Strong characters, familiar theme
• Playful rhyming words
• Rhythm and repetition
• Short story for repeated readings

Be sure to grab my Top Ten Best Books for Children for 2011. These stories with their familiar themes, playful rhyming words, and stunning art work will capture your children’s hearts.

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