18 Oct One of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences you can have is sharing a book with a young child.

One of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences you can have is sharing a book with a young child. Children enjoy exploring books by touching them, looking at them, and listening to them being read aloud. The reader’s enthusiasm and tone of voice, as well as the circumstances under which the book is being read, are crucial to the child’s enjoyment of story time.

 

Exploring Books

 

When you share books and stories with infants, toddlers, and two-year-olds, you’re supporting their development in many different ways. First, reading is an excellent way to strengthen language skills and vocabulary, giving children the opportunity to learn new words to describe objects, animals, feelings, colors, shapes, and experiences. As they grow, they’ll begin to mimic the animal sounds and repetitive phrases commonly found in children’s stories. Exploring books also helps infants to develop their fine motor skills. A baby may grasp the book, feel its texture, shake it, toss it, or chew on it. In addition, reading involves pleasant interaction between the young child and an adult or older child, reinforcing its appeal.

 

Books are an essential part of any education program. The area of your classroom dedicated to reading should be cozy and inviting. A child-size rocking chair, cushions, pillows, and other inviting furnishings are excellent choices for the space. Books shouldn’t be limited to this area only, however. Looking at books should be encouraged in any area of the classroom.

 

Selecting Books

 

When you select books for your reading area, there are many factors you must keep in mind. The books you choose must be developmentally appropriate and depict a wide range of characters from diverse backgrounds. Once you have an appropriate collection of books, it’s essential to rotate the books on your shelves so that each week there’s a new selection from which the children may choose. While rotation helps to hold the children’s attention, you’ll also want to keep a stack of much-loved favorites nearby for repeated readings.

 

Reading and Age Groups

 

While a young infant may be capable only of focusing on a bold picture and enjoying the sound of your voice, older babies and toddlers need more interaction during reading time. Each age group has its own set of needs, and the following guidelines will help you choose books that are developmentally appropriate.

 

Young Infants (Birth–9 Months Old)

 

Books for young infants should have the following characteristics:

 

•             Illustrated with bold, simplistic pictures

 

•             Durable and washable

 

•             Constructed of heavy cardboard, vinyl, plastic, or cloth

 

•             Made with pages that are easy to turn, such as board books

 

•             Interactive, including folds, flaps, and textures to feel and manipulate

 

•             Wordless or include one to two words on each page

 

Mobile Infants (10–17 Months Old)

 

When choosing books for older infants, remember the following:

 

•             Books for this age group should be sturdy.

 

•             Older infants are attracted to pictures of things that are recognizable and easily named.

 

•             Wordless books should show familiar objects that may be counted or named.

 

•             Older infants enjoy rhyming and repetition.

 

•             Older infants are beginning to choose books based on content.

 

•             Content should be simple, involving topics such as animals, babies, and families.

 

•             Books should include one to two words or one short phrase of three to five words on each page.

 

Toddlers (18–23 Months Old)

 

Toddlers are ready for books with the following qualities:

 

•             Simple plots and a few simple or short phrases (three to five words) words on each page

 

•             Topics such as families, animals, feelings, or daily routines

 

•             Pictures that introduce the concepts of size, shape, and color

 

•             The alphabet illustrated with uncomplicated, colorful pictures

 

•             Familiar songs, stories, or finger plays that invite participation

 

•             Stimulating activities such as finding and pointing out hidden objects

 

2-Year-Olds

 

When choosing books for 2-year-olds, look for books that contain the following:

 

•             Familiar songs, stories, or finger plays that invite participation

 

•             Diverse characters

 

•             Stories about themselves or children similar to themselves

 

•             More detailed pictures depicting the characters and their experiences

 

•             Concepts such as size, shape, number, and color

 

•             One to two short phrases (three to five words) on each page

 

Remember, when choosing books for any age group, it’s important to consider whether or not the books you’re choosing show children and families from a variety of cultural backgrounds and with diverse abilities.

 

The Child Book Project

 

The Child Book Project is a hands-on activity that relates to early childhood education.

 

Goal

 

The goal of this project is to help you expand your understanding of the material contained in your textbook and study guide and to apply your knowledge to some practical situations in an early childhood education environment.

 

Procedure

 

This is a project of discovery. You’ll find five age- and developmentally appropriate books that you would use with infants, toddlers, and 2-year-olds. Note: No purchase of any book is necessary to complete this assignment.

 

Once you’ve chosen your five books, you’ll compose a list of the books. You’re required to select one book intended for young infants (birth–9 months old), one for mobile infants (10–17 months old), one for toddlers (18–23 months old), and two for 2-year-olds.

 

Finding Books

 

Finding books can be done online, and now YouTube and other websites have readings of many favorite and new children’s books. First, look at this website for ideas on good books for infants and toddlers: Great Books to Read to Infants and Toddlers. Don’t ignore favorites that have been around for decades—they remain popular for a reason.

 

Be sure to search for infant/toddler age groups on sites such as these:

 

•             Amazon

 

•             Barnes and Noble

 

•             International Children’s Digital Library

 

•             Storyline Online

 

•             Caldecott Medal & Honor Books, 1938–Present

 

•             Newbery Medal Books

 

Select your books, then search for them on YouTube or other sites for readings so that you can experience them fully.

 

NOTE: No purchase of any book is necessary to complete this assignment.

 

Taking Notes

 

For each book you select, make notes to compile the following information:

 

•             The title, author, publisher, illustrator, and year of publication. Double-check all information for spelling and accuracy.

 

•             A brief summary of the book’s content, including characters, setting, plot, illustrations, rhyme, theme, and anything else you believe your instructor should know about the book. Your summary of the book must be written in your own words; do not copy, quote, or paraphrase the book publisher’s or book seller’s synopsis of it.

 

•             Record at least three features of each book that you believe make it appealing to infants, toddlers, and 2-year-olds. Be specific and share your honest assessment of the book’s appeal.

 

Writing Your Paragraphs

 

After you’ve collected all the information for each book, begin writing your assignment.

 

Create a title page. Your title page will include your name, your student number, the course name and number, the project name and number, and the date of submission for the exam. Center this information in 12-point Times New Roman font on the first page of the assignment.

 

Format your paper. Format your paper using 12-point Times New Roman font. Set the margins at a standard 1 inch on all sides. Set your line spacing as double. Because you’ve given your information on the title page, no header is necessary.

 

Your completed assignment will be in essay format, consisting of 12 fully developed paragraphs that include the following:

 

•             Paragraph 1: An introduction that previews for the reader what you’ll be writing about. Explain how you located and selected your five books and include your thesis statement as the last sentence of this paragraph. A thesis statement tells the reader what the purpose of the essay is and provides insight into what the body of the essay will discuss. This paragraph must be at least three to five sentences.

 

•             Paragraph 2: A summary, in your own words, of the book selected for young infants (birth–9 months old. This summary should provide the reader with a clear understanding of the book’s characters, setting, plot, and theme. In other words, what’s the book about? Be specific. This paragraph must be at least three to five sentences.

 

•             Paragraph 3: Describe one reason why the book would be appealing to young infants. What would young infants like about this book? Why would this book be enjoyable to them, and why would they prefer this book be read to them repeatedly? Next, identify one reason why parents would select this book for their young infant. From a parent’s perspective, why is this book appealing? Why would parents prefer this book? Finally in this paragraph, explain one reason why caregivers would pick out this book to read to young infants. From the caregiver’s perspective, why would they select or prefer this book over other books available to young infants? Why would they find it necessary or important to share this book with young infants? Your responses in this paragraph should be fully developed and should include specific details and examples as needed to support your opinions. This paragraph must be at least three to five sentences.

 

•             Paragraph 4: A summary, in your own words, of the book selected for mobile infants (10–17 months old). This summary should provide the reader with a clear understanding of the book’s characters, setting, plot, and theme. In other words, what’s the book about? Be specific. This paragraph must be at least three to five sentences.

 

•             Paragraph 5: Describe one reason why the book would be appealing to mobile infants. What would mobile infants like about this book? Why would this book be enjoyable to them, and why would they prefer this book be read to them repeatedly? Next, identify one reason why parents would select this book for their mobile infant. From a parent’s perspective, why is this book appealing? Why would parents prefer this book? Finally in this paragraph, explain one reason why caregivers would pick out this book to read to mobile infants. From the caregiver’s perspective, why would they select or prefer this book over other books available to mobile infants? Why would they find it necessary or important to share this book with mobile infants? Your responses in this paragraph should be fully developed and should include specific details and examples as needed to support your opinions. This paragraph must be at least three to five sentences.

 

•             Paragraph 6: A summary, in your own words, of the book selected for toddlers (18–23 months old). This summary should provide the reader with a clear understanding of the book’s characters, setting, plot, and theme. In other words, what’s the book about? Be specific. This paragraph must be at least three to five sentences.

 

•             Paragraph 7: Describe one reason why the book would be appealing to toddlers. What would toddlers like about this book? Why would this book be enjoyable to them, and why would they prefer this book be read to them repeatedly? Next, identify one reason why parents would select this book for their toddler. From a parent’s perspective, why is this book appealing? Why would parents prefer this book? Finally in this paragraph, explain one reason why caregivers would pick out this book to read to toddlers. From the caregiver’s perspective, why would they select or prefer this book over other books available to toddlers? Why would they find it necessary or important to share this book with toddlers? Your responses in this paragraph should be fully developed and should include specific details and examples as needed to support your opinions. This paragraph must be at least three to five sentences.

 

•             Paragraph 8: A summary, in your own words, of the book selected for two-year-olds. This summary should provide the reader with a clear understanding of the book’s characters, setting, plot, and theme. In other words, what’s the book about? Be specific. This paragraph must be at least three to five sentences.

 

•             Paragraph 9: Describe one reason why the book would be appealing to 2-year-olds. What would 2-year-olds like about this book? Why would this book be enjoyable to them, and why would they prefer this book be read to them repeatedly? Next, identify one reason why parents would select this book for their 2-year- old. From a parent’s perspective, why is this book appealing? Why would parents prefer this book? Finally in this paragraph, explain one reason why caregivers would pick out this book to read to 2-year-olds. From the caregiver’s perspective, why would they select or prefer this book over other books available to 2-year-olds? Why would they find it necessary or important to share this book with 2-year-olds? Your responses in this paragraph should be fully developed and should include specific details and examples as needed to support your opinions. This paragraph must be at least three to five sentences.

 

•             Paragraph 10: A summary, in your own words, of the book selected for two-year-olds. This summary should provide the reader with a clear understanding of the book’s characters, setting, plot, and theme. In other words, what’s the book about? Be specific. This paragraph must be at least three to five sentences.

 

•             Paragraph 11: Describe one reason why the book would be appealing to 2-year-olds. What would 2-year-olds like about this book? Why would this book be enjoyable to them, and why would they prefer this book be read to them repeatedly? Next, identify one reason why parents would select this book for their 2-year-old. From a parent’s perspective, why is this book appealing? Why would parents prefer this book? Finally in this paragraph, explain one reason why caregivers would pick out this book to read to 2-year-olds. From the caregiver’s perspective, why would they select or prefer this book over other books available to 2-year-olds? Why would they find it necessary or important to share this book with 2-year-olds? Your responses in this paragraph should be fully developed and should include specific details and examples as needed to support your opinions. This paragraph must be at least three to five sentences.

 

•             Paragraph 12: A conclusion that tells the reader what you’ve learned from this assignment. What has this project taught you about choosing books for infants, toddlers, and 2-year-olds? How will you be able to apply this information in your own personal or professional life? This paragraph must be at least three to five sentences.