Picture Books and Poems

Drop Everything and Read! Establish a time in your family’s routine to focus on reading. Start with ten minutes of sustained reading time and increase as your child grows older. It’s time to be the book whisperer to help your child fall in love with reading. What better way is there to do this than to pull out the picture books?

Get creative with reading time by changing the setting. Read in the backyard with glasses of lemonade. Enjoy books on a boat or train ride. Take your toddler to a coffee shop for quality time with a book. Aim for dynamic storylines that appeal to your child’s interests.

Genres of Picture Books

Children’s books come in a wide variety of genres to capture your child’s interests.

Fiction Stories

Read Me a Fairy Tale

Fairytales and folktales are both commonly used in picture books. Some children enjoy the common structure of these texts, such as the “long-ago” setting and the magical elements.

Can We Read About Real People’s Lives?

Realistic fiction stories are a great fit for young readers. Many parents find success using these books to teach about social issues. For example, your child may benefit from reading a book to prepare him to become a big brother or to start preschool.

Let’s Get Lost in a Fantasy World

Your child’s imagination is at its peak in this phase. Talking animals and magical lands with fanciful creatures are sure to keep your youngster’s nose in a book. Discuss the fantasy events in contrast to real events.

I Can Write a Story Too!

Try wordless picture books to promote using illustrations to make meaning. Your child can write her own story based on what she sees in the pictures.

These activities on Kids Academy’s website can help your toddler identify picture books and connect text to illustrations.

Non-Fiction Texts

Animal and nature lovers step forward. Is your child intrigued by historical events and people? Stroll over to the nonfiction section of the library to find picture books, magazines, and biographies. Your child may appreciate a subscription to a periodical designed for children. Some good options include Scholastic News, Time for Kids, Highlights, and National Geographic Kids.

Poetry

Don’t underestimate the impact that reading poetry has on early literacy skills. For one, reading rhythmic poetry promotes fluency. Additionally, some poems feature rhyming words. Identifying rhymes works hand in hand with phonemic awareness instruction.

Try these worksheets from Kids Academy to measure your child’s understanding of the text.

Key Takeaways

Books should not be a stranger to your child on the first day of Pre-K. You want your youngsters to be familiar with print and comfortable with books. Provide a diverse supply of picture books in different genres. Match book selections to your child’s interests. These actions contribute to your child’s overall print awareness.