Oh No, George, by Chris Haughton
George’s owner Harry is going out. Harry says, “Will you be good?” Read the story and see what George does. This book will help parents understand how difficult it is to listen to that voice inside of you, telling you to do the right thing.
One Smiling Grandma: A Caribbean Counting Book, by Ann Marie Linden
This girl is learning how to count to 10 with her grandmother. It is gratifying to learn from someone with whom you have a relationship.
Little Quack’s Bedtime, by Lauren Thompson
Here is another Little Quack book! Little Quack and his four siblings are trying to go to sleep but each little duck has a question about hooting noises and swaying trees as they try to fall asleep. Mother duck patiently answers all the questions and the ducks are then able to sleep. All preschoolers have worries and questions about the dark.
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 generate a small donation to Hanna Perkins Center when used to make a purchase.
Explore our kindergarten and preschool programs. For younger children, our parent/toddler program provides developmentally minded fun.
NOV
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.