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TEN THINGS TO DO WITH A BOOK!
1. Read it aloud! Have fun, be dramatic, be expressive! Do this with any children’s book.
2. Talk about it! Ask the questions: Why do you think the author wrote this? Try to create a connection between your child and the author. Understanding that authors are real people (with different styles) helps the child to understand that if he doesn’t like one book, he still might like another. Why do you think the illustrator made the pictures the way he did? Allow the child time to soak in the details. Notice the color, layout, style and any “hidden” details.
3. Bake it! Take a story such as Blackberry Banquet (Terry Pierce), The Gingerbread Man, or Pizza Party! (Grace Maccarone) and do a follow-up cooking activity.
4. Draw or paint it! You and your child can copy your favorite illustration from a story. How about designing a different book cover?
5. Write it! Use a book that focuses on writing, such as PS: Longer Letter Later (Paula Danziger & Ann M. Martin). Write a letter to the author or illustrator. Tell what your favorite part of the story was (authors and illustrators love this). Read a book about journaling (Diary of a worm—Doreen Cronin or Diary of a Wombat—Jackie French). Have your child start a journal, or write a diary entry for his favorite character (for younger children, have them dictate to you).
6. Act it! Reenact the story (for longer works, do one chapter). Go crazy—improvise costumes, props and put on a skit for family and friends. Good stories for this: Tae Kwon Do (Terry Pierce), The Recess Queen (Alexis O’Neill), Quick as a Cricket (Don & Audrey Wood).
7. Taste it! Choose a story featuring a food, such as Blueberries for Sal (Robert McCloskey), I Will Never Ever Not Eat a Tomato (Lauren Child), Yoko (Rosemary Wells). Use books to introduce your child to new foods.
8. Wear it! Books about clothing are in fashion (A Three Hat Day—Laura Geringer, Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing—Judi Barrett, Mr. Tanen’s Ties (Maryann Cocca-Leffler). Make your own hats. Visit a used clothing shop. Reenact favorite characters.
9. Live it! Read books about places you can visit, such as the circus, Little Monkey Says Goodnight (Ann Whitford Paul), the zoo, ‘Twas the Day Before Zoo Day (Catherine Ipcizade) or even exotic places such as Hawaii, Two Tales of Hawaii (Terry Pierce).
10. Read it! Again and again! Hearing a favorite story over and over helps a child develop a lifelong love of reading.
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