CHILDREN'S BOOKS

Those interested in children's literature will find some of the best recommendations for reading and reading aloud throughout this website. Age or grade categories usually cover a broad period in a child's life, however, please consider our ratings by grade as a recommendation, not a rigid limitation on the use of the books.

BENEFITS OF READING TO CHILDREN

Reading Aloud is one of the most important gifts a child can receive. A special bond is created between an adult and child in sharing a book. It indicates to the child that someone cares enough to spend time sharing a good book. There is also a sense of security that comes from the physical closeness in sharing a story.

Literature can positively affect a child's self-esteem. When reading aloud is a shared activity, children are encouraged to ask questions and talk about the story. This is a perfect opportunity to teach values, encourage integrity, and give children high ideals to reach for.

Giving children direct contact with books is very important for increasing attention spans, listening abilities, vocabulary, visualization, a greater cultural knowledge, and eventually success in reading.

When reading aloud to children, they automatically learn about the written language as well. Educators say that the ability to write well, to state a case carefully, and reason with others is critical, if children are to succeed.

Reading aloud can be extremely beneficial to parents who have difficulty in communicating with their child, difficulty with the English language, or lack quality time.

BARRIERS TO READING ALOUD

Television may be a great babysitter, but it is a huge obstacle to family togetherness. Television deprives a child of asking questions. It encourages deceptive thinking and stifles their imagination. It overpowers and desensitizes a child's sense of sympathy for suffering. It is a passive activity and discourages creative play.

Most American children do minimal reading. They do not know very much about history, unless they have seen it on television. This is ignorance, not illiteracy.

Our society offers so many distractions and negative role models that most children either cannot read, will not read, or hate to read. What does this say about their choices in the voting booths, how they choose to spend their money and leisure time, how they raise their children, or the value systems they adopt and whom they emulate?

Make sure the readings are interesting and exciting enough to hold their interest while building up their imagination. Use plenty of expression when you read aloud and have fun with the language. Whisper, laugh, oink, meow, or speak gruffly or softly. Read slow or fast to fit the story and allow time for children to point to everything in a picture and discuss it.

For children who are not used to listening to stories, keep the initial readings short enough to fit their attention spans, and gradually increase the reading time as well as the length of the book. Do not turn every reading session into a question and answer session. Be sensitive to the times when your child simply wants to enjoy the story.

Read aloud every day. Turn off the television, get comfortable, have good light, and enjoy a good book.

LISTENING LEVELS

Children hear stories on at least three different levels: intellectual, emotional, and social. Their listening skills are at least two full years ahead of their reading levels.

Around the eighth grade, the listening levels and reading levels converge. Therefore, children can listen to, understand, and enjoy books that are too difficult for them to read independently. These stories are needed because they are far more exciting, enriching and challenging than anything children could read on their own. These are the stories that eventually raise reading levels.

Sadly, many parents stop reading aloud when their children begin to read for themselves. Parents should realize that children who listen to books that are beyond their reading skills will be introduced to an increased variety of words and the complex structure of language patterns.

Most children's books are rated based on age because it better reflects a child' interests, emotion and social development. Usually the age or grade rating covers a broad period and should be considered only as a guide, not a rigid rule on the use of the book.

CLASSICS

There are two categories of classics: early classics like the fairy tales of Andersen, Grimm, and Perault; and modern classics like Charlotte's Web and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Both were written by people who never lost their love of childhood.

Classics should make a major contribution to a child's education, merriment, and appreciation of literature. Many good stories provide clear standards of right and wrong, show the ethics of human behavior, and evoke natural and wholesome laughter.

Classics contain those unique qualities that surpass time and appeal to listeners and readers of every generation.

A classic is the rare book that has a special element, which enables it to endure the test of time and appeal to children from every generation. It stands out because it has the ability to touch the heart and cross the boundaries of culture, nationality, religion, race, gender, and status.

Classics should make a major contribution to a child's education, merriment, and appreciation of literature. Classics should provide clear standards of right and wrong, show the ethics of human behavior, and evoke wholesome laughter.

A sense of honor and value surround great literature. Laughter, pain, hunger, satisfaction, love, and joy are found in classics. When our children become familiar with this kind of writing, they have a foundation for making comparisons. Not everything they read will be excellent, but they will know a story's possibilities.

Read stories in their original versions, not the watered-down ones without any drama of life. They may retell the classic stories, but the basic elements that make the stories classics are omitted.

With the influx of new books for children flooding the market each year, old favorites are in danger of being crowded out. Generations of children are missing the opportunity of listening to classical children's literature. This is unfortunate because classics are the cornerstone to building a life-long relationship with literature.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD BOOK

Of the two types of literature, fiction and non-fiction, it is fiction that brings children the enchantment of storytelling and ultimately a future love of reading.

The best children's books contain imaginative stories, memorable characters, beautiful illustrations, and lyrical language. Well-written stories should contain heroes and role models to imitate. Children need to fall in love with stories that entertain and arouse their curiosity.

Quality literature teaches children good morals, ethics, and values. Our culture's survival depends on the children of today. If they are to make a difference in the world, children need to learn about love, justice, courage, and compassion.

Well-written stories have good themes, valid characters, and should always be believable. Well-written stories should be people centered, not problem centered. Too many stories have society's problems dumped into them.

Good books contain heroes and role models to imitate. Children need to hear about people who contribute something of value to other's lives, people who make hard decisions and have the courage to overcome adversity.

Children need to fall in love with stories that entertain and arouse their curiosity. They need stories for pleasure, laughter and fun; imaginative and nonsensical stories that may not have any useful information or lesson, only cheerful and delightful fun.