Growing a Reader: Kids' Books, Tips and More

This morning it happened: my 13 month old daughter sat on her grandfather's lap attentively listening to story after story. This may not seem like any grand achievement but for me it is, considering it lasted a whole fifteen minutes – I timed it! She hasn't sat still for that long since she started to walk.

The sentamentalist in me would like to believe it was the books themeslves that facilitated this milestone. I recently uncovered boxes of my own childhood books in the attic, lovingly squirled away (and the Librarian in me is happy to report they are in fantastic condition). I've always felt it to be a heartwarming ritual to pass down a book: its musty smell and well worn pages serve as tangible reminders of the experiences of others.

Can the love of a particular story be felt physically? I believe it can be, for nostalgia helps to cement books as commodoties with a past behind them and a future in front of them. 

Below are some of my favourites:

Drummer Hoff adapted by Barbara Emberley and illlustrated by Ed Emberley

This retelling of a lively folk verse is a former winner of the Caldecott medal. Following the building of a cannon, the book's brightly drawn images reach a crescendo in tandem with the narrative itself. The Emberley's wonderful marriage between text and illustration highlights just how unique the picture book format can be, eliciting an emotional response that surprises and delights.

The Horn Book published an excellent article about this very book in its July/August 2013 edition. Written by Kathleen T. Horning, this fourth installment of a series of articles celebrating the history of the Caldecott Medal is an insightful and well researched look at a great work of children's literature.   

Here Are My Hands by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

This is the same team that brought us the Ready For Reading classic Chicka Chicka Boom Boom amongst other great titles. The story showcases different parts of the human body, pairing each with an accompanying rhyme. I not only like the simplicity and rhythm of the text, but I also admire the book's illustrations, which spill over onto a double page spread, and are reminiscent of a simpler time themselves.

There was an old lady who swallowed a fly illustrated by Pam Edwards

The 1973 edition published by Child's Play Ltd. is by far my favourite rendition of this popular folk song. We have a couple of different versions of the story at the library, but my alliegence is bound to the copy shown at left, even though illustrator Simms Tabak's 1997 version won'the Caldecott Honor Award . Edward's version is wonderfully designed. The book's cut out windows showcase an ever expanding stomach, while its pairing of playful fonts and non traditional text alignment make it an exciting and interactive read.