"Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them! How I need them!
I'll have a long beard by the time I read them."
- Arnold Lobel


ABOUT

Every Tuesday is Book Review Day, where I review and recommend a children's book.

Every Wednesday is Wise Owl Wednesday, where you can butter up your brain with some children's literature facts - history, milestones, trivia ... stop by here to learn a little something about the amazing world of books for the young!

Every Thursday is Literacy Tip Day, where I offer literacy suggestions for your children based upon my teaching and parenting experience.



Keep cozy this fall with a good book!

09 July 2010

Literacy Tip #10 .: Developmental Milestones of Early Literacy / Part Two of Five :.

Photo credit :: The Graphics Fairy ::


Today's literacy tip is part two of a five-part series on children's early interaction with books, designed to optimize your reading time with your little, little one(s). It is adapted from research provided by Reach Out and Read, an excellent resource for early literacy intervention.


** Note: Please keep in mind that every child develops at his or her own rate. This chart is simply a reference and is not intended to be a substitute for a doctor's advice. **
 
 
If your child is 12 - 18 months of age, here are some instrumental motor and cognitive skills he or she is capable of demonstrating from a literacy perspective:
  • sits without support
  • may carry book(s)
  • holds book with help
  • turns board pages, usually several at a time
  • no longer places book in mouth immediately
  • points at pictures with one finger
  • may "label" a particular picture by producing a specific sound for it
  • points when asked, "where's...?"
  • gives book to adult to read
  • may turn book right side up

Here is what you can do to maximize reading time with your 12 - 18 month old child:
  • respond to child's prompting to read
  • let your child lead the way through the reading session
  • be comfortable with the toddler's short attention span
  • ask "where's the...?", and allow your child to point to the object

Here are some literature suggestions for your 12 - 18 month-old child:


LeavesGoodnight Moon 123 Lap EditionBig LittleYummy Yucky (Leslie Patricelli board books)
 Over the Rainbow (Book & Audio CD) (Book & CD)Eric Carle's Opposites (The World of Eric Carle)Things I Like


Enjoy this valuable reading time with your toddler!!!
 
Coming next Thursday :: Tips for reading time with your 18 - 24 month-old child ::
 
Final Clue for Mystery Friend Friday :: Sunny ::
 
 


As part of this week's fantastic "Book Blogger Hop," we were asked to answer who our favorite author is and why...

Since this blog is dedicated to children's literature, I would like to share who my favorite children's author is and why! This is really, really difficult for me, since I love so many different children's authors for so many different reasons ... but ... I think I would have to choose Margaret Wise Brown

As far as children's picture books are concerned, she was (and still remains) one of the most talented authors of this genre ... ever.  Her ability to capture the essence of writing for the young child was and still is unparalleled.  Ms. Brown's  picture books are the perfect blend of comfort, warmth, and safety for babies and toddlers around the globe. 

My personal favorite book by Ms. Brown is Big Red Barn.  It is a must-have for any young child's library!




08 July 2010

.: The Versatile Blogger Award :.


Thank you, thank you, thank you to Jen at Teach Mentor Texts for bestowing this award on my little blog!!!

I am particularly honored to receive this award from her, because she is a fellow teacher with whom I share the same philosophy of teaching reading to children.  Check out her blog by clicking on the link above ... you will find it to be a vast resource of high-quality literary and teaching information!!!

Okay, now for the rules of this award:
1. Thank the person who gave you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic for whatever reason! (in no particular order...)
4. Contact the bloggers you’ve picked and let them know about the award.


Seven Things About Myself:
1.  I love, love, love to practice yoga.  It greatly de-stresses me!
2.  I love cats.
3.  I have a terrible fear of drowning.  When others express fear about sharks in the ocean, I don't cringe.  I do, however, cringe at the thought of drowning.
4.  I just had our fourth child this past January.  She is absolutely beautiful!
5.  I love to take naps!
6.  My favorite TV show of all time is The Golden Girls.  I own the entire series on DVD! I know that any time I watch it, I am guaranteed to belly laugh! Oh, and my favorite "Golden Girl" is Dorothy, played by the late (and incredibly talented) Bea Arthur.
7.  I love all manner of things related to fall and Halloween - apples, pumpkins, falling leaves, ghosts, goblins, and witches ... just to name a few!!!




And here are the fifteen blogs to whom I am passing along this award:



I hope you can take a little time to check out the blogs I awarded ... they are some of my faves!!!


Clue #2 for Mystery Friend Friday :: Klaus ::


06 July 2010

Book Review #13 :: The Secret Circus by Johanna Wright ::


The Secret Circus

The Secret Circus
Written and Illustrated by Johanna Wright
Published by Roaring Book Press
Copyright 2009


"Somewhere, deep in the city of Paris, there is a circus that is so small, and so secret ... only the mice know how to find it."


Publisher's Summary:  Somewhere, deep in the city of Paris, is a circus so small and so secret that only the mice know how to find it.  Do you want to know what happens there? Get under the covers with this book and a flashlight and find out.  But sssshhhh! Don't tell anybody.  It's a secret.

Mary Elizabeth's Musings:  Where has this little book been hiding?? It is absolutely glorious and endlessly delightful!! Before going any further, I must disclose that I love all things Paris ... so I am a bit partial to the setting.  However, the setting is an integral part of this lovely piece of literature.  Written in soothing, repetitive prose, this book begs to be read aloud again and again to eager toddlers.  Ms. Wright beckons the reader into the mice's secret world within Paris through her exceptional use of repetitive language.  The illustrations are beautifully reminiscent of the Babar book series, and gracefully reveal the beauty of Paris in luminous echoes of light within Ms. Wright's artwork.  This is a perfect bedtime book to lull your sleepy little ones to sleep.

This book is recommended for ages 1 - 4 years.


If you love the beautiful city of Paris as I do, here are some other book recommendations:

Adele & SimonThe Red Balloon (Oberon Book)MadelineMadeline Says MerciCharlotte in Paris

Eloise in Paris (Eloise Series)The Story of Babar (Babar Books (Random House))The Travels of Babar


Clue #1 for Mystery Friend Friday :: Violet ::



.: This post is a part of "Tot Tuesdays" held at Delicious Ambiguity :.



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