Whenever my 18 month old grandchild leaves I walk around the house and pick up the few items that need to go back into her room (or at least the room with three small canvas bins just for her). Always, I am picking up a book or two. As soon as she arrives she dashes off to her room and starts dragging out book after book. This child rarely is without a book.
Her current favorite books:
Ten Friendly Fireflies by Roseanne Thong and illustrated by Amy Schimler. This is the type of book I would never have purchased, but it came with a whole collection chosen by a grade school teacher. When our granddaughter figured how to press the Push Here spot and have the twinkling fireflies light up she was delighted. Over and over and over. Just shows how children love all kinds of books.
I Love My Mama by Peter Kavanagh and illustrated by Jane Chapman. Who couldn’t love this book? You may even have a few tears of your own as you spend the day with a mama and baby elephant. Lovely illustrations and endearing words: splash, splish, dewy grass, pale sun, morning mist.
Maisy’s Amazing Big Book of Words and Maisy Big, Maisy Small by Lucy Cousins. The Maisy books were my choice. I love Maisy, I love her name, her clothes, her friends, her garden, her boots. Everything! When I gave a few of these books to my best friend for her granddaughter and received glowing reviews I just had to get a few for my granddaughter (okay, for me).
The illustrations just tickle me … they make me laugh and smile over and over. Maisy’s friend Panda shows up in the most unexpected places: in the barn with a cow, in the dryer and on the clothesline. These books are treasures and also some of our granddaughter’s favorites. Do get one of these for you and your child.
Spotlight on Shimmer! by David Kirk. Lately, my granddaughter has picked this book up more and spent time looking at it. The pages are thick cardboard and scalloped on one edge. The pictures are silly, the colors are gaudy and the writing is cute. Seems to work.
Little Quack by Laura Thompson and illustrated by Derek Anderson. This was one of the first books I bought, along with the matching stuffed quacking duck, because I loved it. For awhile the front and end pages (bright mustard orange) were the only attractions. Now the more subtle drawings are catching our granddaughter’s interest.
Let’s Go on a Class Trip by Carol Monica. Again, another book I would not have purchased on my own. This has been a favorite for a long time. The flaps lift (takes some skill but well worth it) to expose surprises. Even I want to look under every flap (40+). The dinosaur museum and firehouse have had the most use. And not to worry – these flaps will not tear out. I think this book will be a favorite for a long time since the discoveries in the book have various skill levels.
What do all these books have in common?
Easy to turn pages, thick enough pages that little fingers can grasp them, no slick pages. Lots of strong colors. Lots of shapes. And best of all some have flaps to lift. Many of the books came from a big wicker laundry basket of books we had won at a silent auction. Over 60 books for baby up to a nine year old. I gave away the older children’s books to a much delighted little girl with the condition that she passes them on to her friends so they can enjoy talking about the books. Apparently one of her BFF loves mice and you can only imagine how many heroes/heroines of books are mice (don’t forget our beloved Maisy).
The other books went into my granddaughter’s three canvas bins along with some stuffed animals and baking items she had turned into toys (wooden spoons, measuring cups and my shiny set of stacking donut cutters). I removed the book covers and set them aside – my thought was to iron them and use as a placement for our granddaughter (or me).
My rules for books in our home: there are no rules.
A book in the hand of a toddler will get chewed, surprisingly not very often. The pages and flaps will get torn out; a toddler is always amazed and thinks the page can be put back intact just by setting the page back in place, tape works just great. The books will get food and juice spilled on them. A week after our granddaughter had visited our dog discovered left over tomato sauce on one of the books in the bin. Our dog cleaned the sauce and then I cleaned the book.
At our home the books get stacked, carried, moved, binned and plopped down dozens of times a day. The favorite plop down spot is the center of the rug in the center of the kitchen. The same favorite spot for our two dogs. Toddlers, dogs … both about the same mental age right now. I find myself using the same words with each: come, sit, stay, fetch (not so much) and good girl (lots). And if one of my sisters visits watch out. Our granddaughter brings over a stack of books and gently leans her back against one of my sisters, which signals pick me up and share my books with me.
Things I have learned about books and a toddler:
- A toddler loves to read the same book over and over. Apparently this is quite comforting.
- Toddlers learn quickly the beginning and end of a book.
- Reading exposes children to sounds, rhymes (think Dr. Seuss) and words they may not hear in normal conversation.
- You will never be closer to a toddler than when you hold them and read.
- If I carried around the same size book my granddaughter does it would be the size and weight of a big wooden cutting board – try carrying five of these.
Please check out PBS Reading Milestones for some tips on reading to your toddler.
So, if you have a small one in your life do not let a day go by without reading together.
Delightfully yours,
