Kiddipedia
Sharing Moments of Magic & Imagination this Book Week
Book Week is now being played out through early learning centres across the country. For children, this means dressing up as their favourite characters and enjoying the celebrations. But there’s more to it than just costumes and role playing.
Guardian Childcare & Education Curriculum Lead Bronwyn Thomson says, “While our educators and children alike LOVE getting dressed up and enjoying the festivities of Book Week, the most importance aspect is the opportunity to encourage a rich connection with reading that engages and inspires children.
“We know that children learn to read and write through connections, relationships and by being in their community. Many rich and connected experiences with stories and storytelling sharpen children’s brains to reading. And these experiences build a deep love for books, which they may carry into adulthood.”
Rather than seeing reading to your child as another task to tick off the daily to-do list, Book Week celebrates the joy of reading and storytelling for children and caregivers. Reading to your child is a chance for uninterrupted quality time, where you can share moments of magic and imagination. You may even find yourself reliving cherished childhood memories as you flick through the pages of classic children’s books.
Here are some tips for reading to children at every age:
Birth – 2 years
Reading to babies is an important step in developing their language and communication skills. For instance, books about songs are great as children are able to connect words that they know with the pictures in the books – and songs with actions are even better! A tip is to think of reading time as cuddle time – this helps your baby associate reading with warm and cosy feelings, thus igniting their love of reading.
Toddlers (2-3 years):
Many parents find it hard to keep their toddlers still long enough to even read them a book! But as reading is an important daily experience, you can incorporate “hand actions’ or “character voices” into your story time to keep them engaged. As your child begins their reading journey, pointing to words is beneficial as they start to recognise letters and words, and you can show them the reading process of moving left to right across the page with the use of your finger. Asking your toddler questions is another great way to keep them engaged. Try asking, “What animal is that?” and “Do you know what this letter is?” to get them involved.
Preschool and Kindergarten (3-5 years):
A wide range of quality books is recommended as a way to expose children to different words, as well as experiences and stories. At this age, reading is not just for entertainment but also for information. This is also a great age to start reading your child chapter books. But don’t forget the favourites: re-reading books helps pre-schoolers to see that the message on each page stays constant and that the meaning comes from the pictures and the words. Repetition helps them remember what certain words look like, which is an early stage of beginning to develop further literacy skills that will serve them at school.
Book Week is a wonderful opportunity to discover new and exciting books, as well as the classics we all have on the bookshelf at home – Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar; Mem Fox’s Possum Magic; and Mandy Foot’s Old MacDonald Had a Farm.
Here are five more great – and perhaps lesser-known titles – the Guardian team recommend:
- W IS FOR WOMBAT BY BRONWYN BANCROFT: Filled with vibrant imagery in the style of Aboriginal artwork, this picture book celebrates Australia’s native animals, and is a perfect choice for parents who are keen to introduce Australia’s Indigenous culture to their children at a young age. Suggested for children aged 0-2.
- OVER IN THE MEADOW BY JANE CABRERA: A sing-along book is the perfect way for your child to remember – and learn to love – a book. This engaging book has it all: fun pictures, catchy lyrics, and the incorporation of counting as the reader is encouraged to count the different animals in the pictures. Suggested for children aged 2-3.
- THE BFG BY ROALD DAHL: No book list for children is complete without at least one mention of Roald Dahl, and The BFG is a great introduction to the world of chapter books. You may even remember this one from your own childhood, which presents a great bonding moment between you and your child! Suggested for children aged 3-5.
- THE MAGIC HAT BY MEM FOX: The Magic Hat is a great example of a book that incorporates rhyme and rhythm, which is a fantastic way to engage your child in the story while they learn to read. With an enchanted storyline, this picture book is sure to become a fast favourite in your household! Suggested for children aged 3-5.
- BEAR SNORES ON BY KARMA WILSON: While this book is aimed towards children aged 0-2, the charming, heart-warming story and gorgeous pictures make this book suited to those of all ages – and what’s best is this story is only one of many from Karma Wilson’s The Bear Books series.
So, this Book Week Guardian urges you to look beyond the costumes and the theatrics, and instead focus on what Book Week is all about – creating a joy of reading and storytelling that will help your child develop their literacy and build beautiful memories along the way. Happy reading!
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