Will You Be My Friend? by Sam McBratney
This is the sequel to Guess How Much I Love You. Big Nutbrown Hare is busy working in the garden. Little Nutbrown Hare asks if he may go and play. Mother reminds him to stay close. He plays on the mountainside by himself and then meets Cloudy Mountain Hare. They play together and become friends.
How Many Stars in the Sky? by Lenny Hort
A child looked out his bedroom window, and wondered how many stars were in the sky. His mama was away that night and she knew all about the sun and stars. His daddy tells him that he will help him count the stars.
Siesta by Foglesong Guy
A brother and sister decide to gather all the things they will need to build a tent and take a nap in the backyard.
How to pick a great children’s book
The selection of books is as important as the selection of toys. Young children have incomplete information for understanding the world around them, which results in what we often refer to as “magical thinking”: explanations for things that don’t make sense to adults. Magical thinking can make it difficult to know what’s going on in a child’s mind, and may lead to unexpected reactions of fear or stress.
Here are some thoughts about selecting appropriate books:
- Look for pictures that may be scary to a young child. Is there a fire? Do the animals have long sharp teeth? Are there depictions of things that you know are troubling to your child specifically?
Acierno
- Is the vocabulary suitable? Are the words scary, like yelping, snarling and hissing sounds. Are there references to violence or antisocial behavior – fighting or throwing things?
- Is it developmentally appropriate? Books for young children should be uncluttered and simple with a clear presentation of the important concepts. The first words that children learn are nouns – the objects of everyday life.
For more insights about selecting books and reading with young children, look at our original list of 100 great children’s books.
Book links go to Amazon, and will generate a small donation to Hanna Perkins Center when used to make a purchase.
AUG
2021
About the Author:
Early Childhood Educator Noreen Acierno teaches preschool at Hanna Perkins School, where she has worked since 1999. She is passionate about children's books.