The Little Bear, by Nicola Killen
Ollie is worried about starting school. As she tries to sleep, an owl passes by her window and she follows the owl to night school. She meets a little bear who is also worried about going to school.
Ollie forgets her worry about school and helps her new friend. She gives herself a good feeling and is no longer worried about school.
Helping her new friend helped Ollie know that she was a competent school girl. Sometimes children need reminders that they can do things they think are hard.
Over and Under the Snow, by Kate Messner
A boy and his dad are going skiing in the woods. They discover where animals go during the winter – the subnivean zone under the snow. Many animals depend on this area to survive the winter.
It is a good book for a boy and his dad or a girl and her dad to learn about the kingdom under the snow. Parents and children can go out together looking for the tunnels and burrows where animals live in the winter.
Good Night, Little Blue Truck, by Alice Schertle
Toad and his good friend Little Blue were on their way home when it started to rain. The rain was wet, the thunder was a grumbly sound and the lightning was scary for the farm animals. Kind Little Blue had room for everyone in his garage. When the storm was over Little Blue gave everyone a ride home. At times, 4- and 5-year-olds need reminders to show their kind side.
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?
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- 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.
Other blog posts that might be of interest:
JAN
2024
About the Author:
Bob Rosenbaum manages the website and other communications functions for Hanna Perkins Center.