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Read Aloud: What to Read to Your Little One By Vicki Wood, Youth Services Supervisor, Lincoln City Libraries
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incoln City Libraries encourages parents to read aloud 15 minutes a day. The “50 Beloved Books Challenge” is our way of making it fun! The books on the list are beloved for a reason; they have delighted generations of parents and children with their clever wordplay, dazzling artwork, or imaginative stories. Some have won awards, many have been translated into multiple languages, all of them have found a place in the hearts of families everywhere. Here are 10 tips that will add value to this already priceless practice. 1. Read with expression and show enthusiasm. Your child will notice that you look forward to booksharing time and will “catch the reading bug”. 2. Ask a few questions about the pictures. Have your child predict what might happen, talk about a character’s facial
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expression or other action going on in the illustrations. If your child is wiggly or impatient, put the book away until later. And remember, reading, like exercise, can be done in a few, five minute periods throughout the day. Involve your child in reading the books by letting her hold the book, turn the pages, or repeat key phrases. Rhymes, word play, and songs are important in language development. Make sure to select books with these features. Too tired to read? Our book/ compact disc combinations are ideal for the drowsy dad or maxed-out mom. Put the disc in, and a talented reader will read for you. This is a great option for tiny travelers too. Bring home lots of new books, but prepare for repetition. Some children can’t get enough of their favorite book.
8. Savor the art. There is usually a note at the end of the book about how the illustrations were created. Discuss the techniques and tools artists use in their illustrations. 9. Keep books everywhere so they are always handy: in the diaper bag, by the car seat, on the nightstand. Babies should have board books among their playthings. 10. When your child is in the bathtub, the highchair, or the car seat, seize the opportunity to get some reading in. Each family can create reading rituals that work for them. Maybe dad is the primary reader, or you start the day with a story instead of the conventional bedtime practice. An older child can polish their reading skills by sharing a book with the baby in the family. I know grandparents that record themselves reading aloud for later sharing with faraway grandchildren. Video chat reading can start
a conversation when the parent is traveling. Nap time, snack time, and no screens time are all great opportunities for reading aloud. Ten, twenty, or thirty years from now, your children will remember that you made time to read, and gave them a world of experiences, through the pages of a book. Our next reading challenge kicks off February 4, which is Take Your Child to the Library Day, but you can sign up any time. The challenge runs through April 30, so there is plenty of time to read the 50 Beloved Books. The booklist can be found at http://lincolnlibraries. org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/ GetStartedBookList-10-2016.pdf. Ask your librarian for a booklet and you are ready to go! You can find the books on the regular picture book shelves or in our Get Started! shelving units at each library location.
Spring 2017 • Page 35