I am always on the look out for books for emergent readers.

You know emergent readers. They are the ones who are so close to reading that they can almost taste it. The ones who can sound out cvc (consonant-vowel-consonant) words with only minimal effort. The ones who can recognize lots of sight words. The ones who can read books with repetitive text.

And the ones who especially dislike ‘baby books.’

Therefore, finding books to keep these kids engaged is particularly challenging. The beginning reader books that you can find at the bookstore or library are almost always turn offs. And often the books that kids read at school during this stage are “boring.”

So, when I stumble upon a book that is a perfect ‘read together book’ for emergent readers, I admit to doing a little happy dance.

The secret to these books is the ‘read together’ piece. There aren’t many exciting books that the emergent reader can read on his or her own but there are many books that an emergent reader can read parts of independently. The joy of reading is that it needn’t be an all or nothing pursuit. A book does not have to be only a book for independent reading or a book for a read aloud. It can (and should) be a little bit of both.

In finding “read together books”, emergent readers can be exposed to great literature while also focusing on their decoding and sight word skills. And in doing so, their reading confidence sky rockets.

Enter my latest favorite. Barney Saltzberg’s Cornelius P. Mud, Are You Ready for School?

Somehow I did not know about the Corenlius P. Mud series of books until I stumbled upon the title in 10 for 10 post. Turns out Cornelius gets ready for bed and for a new baby too and I couldn’t be happier to have met him.

So here’s the text made up of a back and forth conversation between Cornelius and his mom.

Cornelius P. Mud, do you know what it time it is?

YES!

Are you up?

YES!

Did you make your bed?

YES!

Are your clothes on?

YES!

Did you eat breakfast?

YES!

Is your backpack ready?

YES!

Did you pack lunch?

YES!

Are you ready for school?

NO!

Hmm… you got up, made your bed, put your clothes on, ate breakfast, got your backpack ready and packed your lunch. Is there something we forgot?

YES!

A KISS!

Cornelius P. Mud, NOW are you ready for school?

YES!

Have a great day!

So… some emergent readers will be able to tackle most of the text after a book walk or one reading. But nearly all emergent readers will be able to read all of Cornelius’ words the first time through.

What a fun and empowering read Cornelius is…and wait until you discover the surprise ending…

 

 

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Jules, of Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, wrote eloquently, as always, about a fabulous series, The New York Review Children’s Collection. Why hadn’t I ever heard of such a thing, I wondered? And then I read the description posted on their website:

The New York Review Children’s Collection began in 2003 in an attempt to reward readers who have long wished for the return of their favorite titles and to introduce those books to a new generation of readers. The line publishes picture books for preschoolers through to chapter books and novels for older children. Praised for their elegant design and sturdy bindings, these books set a new standard for the definition of a “classic.” Among the titles you will find Wee Gillis, a Caldecott Honor Book by the creators of The Story of Ferdinand; Esther Averill’s time-honored Jenny and the Cat Club series; The House of Arden by E. Nesbit, one of J.K. Rowling’s favorite writers; several titles by the award-winning team of Ingri and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire, including their Book of Norse Myths and Book of Animals; James Thurber’s The Thirteen Clocks and The Wonderful O, both with illustrations by Marc Simont. Not to be missed is the classic animal adventure story Bel Ria by Sheila Burnford, the author of The Incredible Journey; Lucretia Hale’s hilarious The Peterkin Papers; James Cloyd Bowman’s Newbery Honor Book, Pecos Bill; and holiday favorites by John Masefield, The Midnight Folk and The Box of Delights.

While I think this all sounds lovely, I know for a fact that neither of the girls would like these books. While neither has ever said, “I don’t like animal stories!” or “Please, not a book about people from the olden days!” their preferences are obvious. They simply don’t gravitate toward these types of books and if I push the issue and begin reading one aloud, their attention drifts and they ask for something else the next day.

Somehow, we have read all the Pippi books but that is it. I haven’t yet had success with any of the best. No Charlotte’s Web, no Little House, no Mary Poppins.

I’m stumped and torn.

The fact is, we all have our preferences. I can’t remember the last time I picked up a graphic novel and I’m pretty sure I haven’t read science fiction since I was a child.

Part of me wants to push the classics because they are, well, classic?

But a greater part of me want to allow my girls to read what they love so that they will love to read…

The internal debate rages on… Jump in if you’d like!

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Sometimes the creative blogging juices just aren’t there. Today would be one of those days. When this happens, I flip back through my pictures for inspiration.

Today I found this…

They are just some of the many bookcases at a fantastically wonderful bookstore we visited during our time on the Cape. I think I could have spent the whole week in the store. It was opened years and years ago by a mom who was frustrated by the lack of quality children’s books she could find at her local bookstore. Her passion remains all these years later. The collection was amazing and the display gorgeous.

And here’s the weird part.

 As I drove home today from an interview at one of our local colleges, I thought as I often do, about my big picture goals. I know I want to work with parents, teachers and children. And I know I want to talk about, think about and write about children’s books. As I think about my goals, many images pop into my mind. Today one such image was of a quaint children’s bookstore with an amazing collection of wonderful books and amazing programming for teachers, parents and children.

I wonder if it’s a coincidence that I stumbled upon this picture tonight….

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I truly believe, for the most part, that children gravitate toward the materials that surround them. In this house, those materials would be books, paper and writing supplies.

The girls are both avid readers and writers, in part, because of the things that are around them every day.

Lately too, I’ve noticed another benefit. Caroline, who is often full of anxiety but short on the patience to talk through difficulties, will write me letters. Complete with envelopes.

Tonight I was frustrated with Caroline during dinner because she turned her nose up at a meal that she has eaten a ton of times before. And this is now officially a trend. She seems to be eating cereal for dinner far more often than she is eating the meal I have prepared.

Shortly after dinner I found the note below sitting on the counter:

It reads: I am sorry that I have not been eating for a week! The pork tenderloin just didn’t taste too good. I think Daddy is right about the food at the Yankee game. Again, I am really sorry.

Sometimes I will write a letter back which will then often elicit another letter in reply.

Tonight a hug was her response. Fortunately, along with our books and paper, we have plenty of hugs in supply too.

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with Bear and his friend Mouse, a delightful duo created by the author Bonny Becker and the illustrator Kady MacDonald Denton.

Last night, Katherine and I read A Bedtime for Bear and we just couldn’t get enough. From the adorable illustrations to the wonderful vocabulary to the insightful but subtle message, this book has it all. Katherine learned new metaphors like “Quiet as a mouse” and new words like “torment” without realizing that she was smack in the middle of many teachable moments. We both laughed out loud more than once and adorded the amazing expressions shown on Bear’s face. If you become as obsessed Denton’s amazing illustrations as we have, please take a minute to check out her interview on Jules’ blog, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. You’ll be able to see a sneak preview of the new Bear book along with Denton at work in her studio and a video of her drawing Bear.

Then this morning, Caroline woke up grumpy so I suggested I read to her, an activity that will often get her out of her morning mood. When I picked up A Bedtime for Bear, she told me she was ‘done with picture books’. I pretended I didn’t hear her because there is just no way that any child of mine is going to be ‘done with picture books’. Ever. 

Caroline must have been kidding because she sat right down next to me and began laughing. After loving A Bedtime for Bear, she said, “Don’t we have another book about these guys?” A pretty interesting question for a girl who is done with picture books, don’t you think?I didn’t mention that tough and ran downstairs to grab A Visitor for Bear.

More laughter, more joyful illustrations and more new vocabulary ensued.

A  bit later in the morning, Caroline told me that something was “insufferable”- a word that is new to her vocabulary and came directly out of Bear’s mouth only a short time before.

As if I needed another reminder why my children will never, ever be “done with picture books. “

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So I am a little late to the party. Or maybe a lot late.

To be totally honest, I completely forgot about one of my favorite collections of blog posts from last year and couldn’t have been happier when I stumbled upon it yesterday.

Cathy Mere of Reflect and Refine: Building a Learning Community and author of More Than Guided Reading along with Mandy Robek of Enjoy and Embrace Learning hosted their second annual August 10 for 10 event a few weeks ago.

Bloggers of all types, teachers, librarians, parents, professors and consultants, who weren’t late to the party, listed the top 10 picture books they couldn’t live without. There were lists of all types- books for word study, books for back to school, classic favorite, best new pictures books and on and on. Be sure to follow the links about to check out the amazing lists.

As I scribbled furiously adding book after book to my library request list, I began brainstorming my own top 10.

I could very easily suffer from ‘paralysis by analysis’ here. The perfectionist in me could spend hours and hours on this. Instead, because I don’t want to be any later to the party than I already am, I went a bit stream of consciousness with this. I have listed books that popped immediately to mind along with those that jumped right out when I scanned my bookshelves.

So here goes… In no particular order and with apologies to the gazillion books that could have also been on the list.

1. Pete the Cat  by Eric Litwin for it’s beauty as a super fun and appealing read for emerging readers:

2. Little Hoot because I think that Amy Krouse Rosenthal is one of the best authors around and I had to choose one of her books.

3. Dogs by Emily Gravett because I also think she’s the best and I had to choose one.

4. Neighborhood Mother Goose by Nina Crews because there isn’t a better Mother Goose book out there for today’s kids.

5. Clever Jack Takes the Cake by Candace Fleming for it’s wonderful read aloud-ability.

6.  Time for Bed by Mem Fox because I read this book to each of my girls every night from the time my What to Expect When You Are Expecting book told me they could hear me.

7. The Chicken Chasing Queen of Lamar County by Janice Harrington because I can’t help but smile every time I read it.

8. Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas because even the older kids who still need to work on rhyme love this goofy book.

9. Perfect Square by Michael Hall because there is no better picture book to read at the start of a professional development day where the teachers will learn about a change.

10 And Knuffle Bunny just cause…

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I often have visions of beautiful sunny days when sisters play quietly like the best friends they really are.

 Sometimes, we actually have those days.

Yesterday was not one of them.

All day long I heard, “I’m bored!” “Everyone’s on vacation except us!” “What can we do!?”

By mid afternoon, I realized that my vision was not my reality and I had to step it up. I turned, as I often do, to the blogosphere for inspiration. Within minutes, I had two great ideas.

Of course, because it was just that kind of day, the girls would not agree on which project to persue, so they chose seperate projects. That aside, we had lots of fun and there were finally some smiles…

I discovered a fantastic Find and Make Scavenger Hunt at one my favorite blogs, The Artful Parent. In this creative project, the good old fashioned concept of a scavenger hunt is made even more fun with the addition of some art projects along the way. I took some of Jean’s ideas and added some of my own. Caroline searched for and created things like a Lego House, a tracing of her hand decorated with gorgeous jewelry and an item that started with the same letter as her name.

Katherine chose to tackle the Rainbow Walk. I found this idea at Two Chicks and a Hen, a new blog for us that I found through the Artful Parent. This is one of the joys of reading blogs- one leading to another and then another. With a chart in hand, Katherine and I headed outside to find colorful items- one for each color of the rainbow. As we searched, we seemed to find nature in equal proportion to small pieces of trash. This disappointing  discovery expanded our discussions from colors to protecting our earth.

And now for the smiles…

 

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My inbox of full of education related news. I sign up for tons of newsletters from places like Reading Rockets, The National Council of Teachers of English, and The International Reading Association. I love reading all the teaching tidbits, book recommendations and policy news that comes my way.

Given the climate in public education today, however, the news can sometimes seem a bit dire. I was thrilled, therefore, to open up a link from Education News with good news of my favorite kind. The title of the article reads, “Census: Parents Reading More With Their Children.”

The article goes on to report that,

“Among children in poverty, 45 percent of 1- and 2-year-olds and 40 percent of children ages 3 to 5 had parents who read to them at least seven times a week in 2009; by contrast, in 1998, among families in poverty, only 37 percent of the toddlers and 34 percent of the preschoolers read with their families as often. The proportion of low-income children being read to by their families increased faster than for their wealthier peers.”

I will admit that the cynic in me couldn’t help but think of the unemployment numbers and the class divisions we are experiencing in the United States today. Is it possible the numbers changed because these parents are no longer working and have the time to spend with their children? Perhaps. But I will chose to be joyful and pleased that reading is what people are doing, even if it under less than ideal circumstances.

Have you heard any good news lately? If so, feel free to share…

 

 

 

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I can’t think of a much better scene to stumble upon than the one I just did. May it go on and on…

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Preschooler at the library: “Can I get this Thomas movie?”

Her father: “You are too old for that.”

Preschooler: “Please!”

Her father: “It’s too Christmasy.”

Preschooler: “Can I get it at Christmas time?”

Father: “Sure. If it’s still here.”

Preschooler: “Great. I’ll hide it.”

So… Funny conversation for sure but it also got me thinking.

I read a bunch of beach books while we were gone. The true page turners that are just pure fun to read. Nothing highly literary by any means. I promised myself I would switch back to “real books” when we got home but instead I’ve found real comfort (after the super sad passing of our dog), in these easy reads. I’m half way through another beach book while siting here in my suburban home with no beach in sight.

As I listened to this dad telling his daughter that she needed to check out a more high brow cartoon I couldn’t help but think of myself.

I’m glad no one is telling me what to read right now. I am really happy reading what I am reading and it is serving a real purpose. Does this mean that I will never go back to the good stuff? Certainly not. But for now I am going to enjoy myself.

I will be tucking this little episode into my memory bank for those times when Caroline insists on reading one more Babysitter Club book and when Katherine brings me yet another Clifford book to read.

There is a time and place for all reading. Now back to my book!

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