Picture Books To Build Literacy in Young Readers
The Benefits of Reading to Your Child
As teachers, we know that one of the most important things that we can do for our young children is to read to them each and every day. Bedtime is the most important time in our household. We plan on getting our toddler to bed 30 minutes early so we can read to them. Not only can reading help your kiddos learn sounds, words and language, it also helps to develop early literacy skills. Reading can also help children to learn the value of books and stories. We know that reading helps to spark our student’s imagination and stimulate curiosity- the same goes for even the youngest of our children. Not to brag, but our toddler has a killer vocabulary. Reading to our toddler helps to develop their brain, their social skills and helps to improve their communication skills.
We have learned that finding the right book helps to teach our toddler many life lessons. They realize the feelings they feel on a daily basis are normal and that they are not alone. They can connect with the characters of a story and see themselves among the pages. Books teach empathy and diversity. They also teach social emotional skills.
My kiddo has a temper, they’re a threenager after all. After a particularly trying day, week, month, it’s all a blur with a toddler, Denise recommended a book to me. Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake by Michael Kaplan I bought it right away. Let me tell you… life changing. Betty Bunny is a cute little story that helps to teach patience (something most toddlers need a lot of practice with) healthy eating, as well as managing a temper. It has become a family favorite. My kiddo and I have had plenty of conversations about appropriate ways to mange behavior due to that silly story - we also laugh a lot.
Another family favorite is After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got back Up Again) by Dan Santat. I know this is a very popular book, and it’s great for your classrooms as well. It has such a profound and powerful message about resilience and having the courage to face your fears. Our three-year-old really just likes the pictures and the silly egg. It doesn’t stop us from discussing the powerful ending and introducing the idea of symbolism and metaphor.
We love all things dinosaur in our household. Two favorites we have been getting a kick out of lately are That’s What Dinosaurs Do by the same authors as The Bad Seed, Jory John and Pete Oswald. We roar along with William the Dinosaur and make grump faces along with the Bad Seed. We also are super into What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night by Refe and Susan Tuma. This super creative book is enjoyable even for mom and dad. We like to point out all of the names of the dinosaurs on the pages.
Picture books focusing on sleep or going to bed are a staple in any household. One of our friends currently posted the cutest video of his kiddo reading the book, Sleepy the Goodnight Buddy by Drew Daywalt. It is by the same author as The Day the Crayons Quit (another epic read if you have not read that one - read it, read it now). This all dialogue picture book is hilarious and we giggle the whole way through. I dare you not to make up silly voices as you read this one. Our toddler also adores Goodnight Little Monster by Helen Ketteman. Our little one loves to point out all of the silly little things within the pages that are so similar to her bed time routine (yet so very different).
For the last few years I have found myself reading more and more about race and racism in the education system as well as in America in general. Through research and my readings, I have found some amazing instagram accounts that I now follow. One such account is called The Conscious Kid. They recently collaborated with the Washington Post on an article titled: Children’s Books can Help Start a Conversation about Race and Parents have to Continue it. The Conscious Kid has some absolutely eye opening and amazing posts on it all about education and how to talk to your kids about race. It has been an invaluable resource for me and my little family. The Conscious Kid also posted a great list of picture books that help to support conversations on race and racism. We love the Book Every Little Thing by Bob Marley and Cedella Marley. Our toddler also really enjoys The Thing about Bees: A Love Letter by Shabazz Larkin. The picture book is visually stunning and is the sweetest poem from a father to his two sons, and it has some great scientific facts about the amazingness of bees.
The Day you Begin by Jacqueline Woodson is not only a book I love to read to my students in Middle School during their first week of school, but my toddler thoroughly enjoys it as well. And last, but definitely not least are the books Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison and Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls by Francesca Cavallo and Elena Favilli.
Our book shelves are near bursting with books by Sandra Boynton. She is our child’s most noticeable favorite. We have to read at least one of her books each night without fail. They’re short and sweet, and make us giggle all the way through. While at first glance, Boynton’s books just seem like silly little rhyming board books. Once you have read through them a few times, you start to realize the genius of her stories, and the deeper meaning. We have way too many favorites to list them all, but the top contenders are The Going to Bed Book, But Not the Hippopotamus, Moo, Baa, La La La! Blue Hat, Green Hat, The Dinosaur Dance, The Belly Button Book, and Oh My, Oh My, Oh Dinosaur!
Last, but definitely not least, are the books we bring out during the holidays. We love Bonaparte Falls Apart by Margery Cuyler and Will Terry during the spooky, spooky Halloween month of October. The story is a great tale of friendship and problem solving, but on a deeper level, it is about celebrating our differences. We also love all of the The Little Blue Truck books, by Alice Schertle. We are fans of the original and all of the holiday spin offs. My husband and I especially love the springtime one.
I know I could go on and on about all of the books we have purchased, been gifted, or have borrowed from the library and read on a daily or weekly basis. These are just a smattering. However, this post is already two pages long and growing by the sentence! As teachers, we know the numerous benefits of reading to our children. Aside from building a vivid imagination, it instills a love of reading at a young age; one that I hope my child continues to build and explore throughout their life.
So teacher friends, what are some of your absolute favorite books to read to your students or children? I can always find more room on my shelves! Comment on our Insta or Twitter. We would live to hear from you!
Bottoms Up!