2012 Summer Reading List for Kids from The Horn Book

2012 Summer Reading List for Kids from The Horn Book

Need ideas for some summer reading?  Check out these links and get started at your local library or bookstore.

'I LOVE YOU BETTER THAN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES'

This new children's picture book, I LOVE YOUR BETTER THAN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES, by Donalisa Helsley, is a delight with vivid illustrations, dynamic and descriptive language but most important it models behaviors, not for children, but for adults! It delightfully plays with language and evokes a multitude of warm feelings in combining imagery with word play. Just enough emphasis in the text to make the use of it as a read aloud an ease!

With its rich key theme of the child being valued and loved no matter what mistakes they may make it accomplishes that goal with a sense of warm acceptance, healthy family relationships, and a tidal wave of unconditional love. The ability of the picture book to also demonstrate for parents what their role in the strange and often stress filled thing called 'family' is a hidden strength of Helsely's work. It expresses the value and importance of love, acceptance, and value even when mistakes are made. Love is a word we often toss around without meaning - in Helsley's book it acquires meaning built from common experiences but is given value by how it is applied.

Know young parents who are stressed, challenged, overwhelmed with the new task of parents of toddlers and early elementary (K-2) - give them this book! Work with families, parents, grandparents? Read them this book! Have children of your own - get this book and read it often! 'I Love You Better than Chocolate Chip cookies'....snuggle up with some warm hot chocolate, a plate of cookies, and begin making memories with a little one.

Available on Amazon

Donalisa Helsley
Award-winning children's author
Read her blog: http://donalisahelsley.blogspot.com/
Visit her website: http://www.wildaboutreading.net
Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DonalisaHelsley
Connect with her on FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/wildaboutreading

Early Book Programs Develop Reading Children

Book centered programs for toddlers and young children play a valuable role in developing strong reading students later on. Through the use of simple books, finger plays, activities, and movement even crawling tots can be immersed in literacy.  Developmentally appropriate books, play, and activities help reinforce skills necessary for later reading success.

Everything has a purpose and working with children is never "filler" but a crucial and vital task deserving of the best funding, best quality training, and outstanding personnel.

BOOKS!  (M. Hudson)

Books, books, books!  /   Read, read, read!

Hey, everybody, that’s what I need!  (REPEAT)

Read-to-me, read-to-me, read-to-me YEAH!  

Read-to-me, read-to-me, read-to-me YEAH!  (REPEAT)

Apple Tree (Adapted from Traditional, M. Hudson)

There’s a BIG old apple tree!

See those RED apples -

GRINNING down at me?

SHAKE that tree so very, very hard

PICKING up the apples all over my yard!

Repetitions involve students in a fun and positive manner while helping them in the physical use of language (speaking out loud, pronunciation, inflections, etc.).

PUBLIC LIBRARY ENCOURAGES READING

Be sure and partner with your local public library and its youth reading and book programs.  If they do not have one, encourage them, volunteer to assist, and otherwise communicate how much you would value that type of programming in your community.

Libraries are major players in helping develop youthful readers, in helping provide resources to parents, and assisting the community in fostering positive and healthy families.

Summer reading programs are so valuable to creating readers - and more so when parents, schools, libraries,and teachers join forces to make limited resources accomplish the incredible!