The Joy of Sharing Books with Children

I will begin by saying that I loved being a children's librarian and jumped at any opportunity to share books with children. One of the most rewarding aspects of my job was teaching adults about early literacy. I wanted to empower young parents, by showing them how important their interactions were to prepare their child to read when older. Simple everyday moments matter.

Relax and cuddle while sharing a book to make it fun and comforting. Find books that the child can relate to and you may find that they will request a favorite book repeatedly. That is wonderful! you can expand on the experience by spending time simply talking about the story or the pictures. Ask open ended questions such as why or what, to encourage conversation. Be patient and allow time for a response. This encourages vocabulary, as well as hearing new words within the story. Many children's books include language that we may not use daily, especially the descriptive words. Allow the child to hold the book and turn the pages. This helps them to understand the flow of the story. They will also learn the purpose of letters and words as you point out phrases with your finger. All of these things help develop a love of reading. Reading can share love.

When I wrote about Jack's adventures I included pictures that I hoped would inspire conversation. Maybe a memory of seeing a violet bloom in Grandma's yard or the walk when you saw a turtle. A story about a pet opens the door for sharing many memories. What child doesn't enjoy a stack of flapjacks...just like Jack.

This link will give a few more specifics. Happy reading! https://www.myacpl.org/kids/literacy/skills/