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Vineland Public Library Children's Department Families and Books Prepared by Barbara Capoferri,
former Head of Children’s Services Studies have shown conclusively that children who are read to become readers. When reading to your children, try the following guidelines so that the experience is enjoyable to the whole family. 1. Children learn by example. Show them that you are a reader by reading something. 2. Reading is reading! Newspapers, magazines, comics or the back of the cereal box, everything counts. 3. Share what you read. Tell them about stories that you read. Or talk about the stories you liked as a child. 4. Ten minutes a day can change your children’s lives. It only takes a few minutes to read to a child. 5. Reading aloud helps your child in school. It improves your child’s comprehension, vocabulary, language skills and their knowledge of the world around them. 6. Choose a story that you like. If you don’t find your story interesting, neither will your listeners. 7. Choose an age appropriate story. Select the age you are interested in from the following links.
Preschool needs, bright colors, clear pictures, few words and simple or no plots. Some examples are:
Kindergarten children need a simple plot with few twists and they like a variety of illustration styles. Some examples are:
1st and 2nd Graders are beginning to read on their own. They need stories that are going to help them expand their language skills and that will widen their cultural horizons. They still want stories that are illustrated. Some examples are:
3rd and 4th Graders are now reading on their own. They prefer stories that take them out of the familiar and into other worlds, other customs and into fantasy. Two(*) of the stories listed here are longer and will take several sessions to finish. Some examples are:
5th and 6th Graders have developed an understanding of chronological ordering of past events. They like historical fiction but are not too old for picture books. Some examples of picture books for this age group are:
Young Adults just think they’re too old for stories. The truth is that they love to listen. Their interests are varied but ghosts, romance and adventure stories will capture and hold their interest. You may start reading these a chapter or two at a time but your listeners will hunt the books down and finish them on their own. Some examples are:
Family stories should be aimed at the age level half way between the oldest and youngest child present. Wide interest stories are the best. Some examples are:
8. Read the story yourself before you read it to your children. That way you will know what’s coming and where to take your breaks. 9. If after reading the story you decide you don’t like it, choose another book to use. WHY? See number 6. 10. Set up the rules in advance. Tell them what kind of story this will be. (LISTENING or INTERACTIVE, ETC....) And what you expect from them. (QUIET OR RESPONSES, ETC...) 11. Check the room for distractions. (Shut the door, turn off the TV, have them sit with their backs to doors or windows, etc.) Make sure that every one is comfortable, including you. 12. After the story is over give the listener a moment to let the story settle. Before you ask those questions, remember that the idea is to make the listener enjoy the story and reading. Giving a pop quiz on characters, plot and content can ruin a good story. The above information is from a free brochure that is being distributed at workshops on Family Literacy conducted by Helen Cowan Margiotti, Head of Children's and Young Adult Services and Samantha Tai, Children's Outreach Librarian. The brochure is also available in the library's Children's Department. Funding for these workshops and the brochure was provided by a Literacy Grant from the New Jersey State Library with funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services through its Grants to States program. This information last updated 02/09.
If you have comments or suggestions, email Helen Cowan Margiotti. Return to Vineland Public Library Home Page
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