Growing a Reader: Kids' Books, Tips and More

Although there seems to be some debate as to what the actual date is, most agree that "International Tongue Twister Day" is celebrated each November. And since we at Toronto Public Library encourage readers and pre-readers to play with their words every day, we're going to agree with the website "Days of the Year" and celebrate this literary "holiday" today, November 13, 2016.

Tongue twisters are a sequence of words that repeat initial letters or contain similar sounds which make them difficult to say out loud. Of course, the quicker you try to say them, the more your tongue seems to get tied up in knots. (And if you have ever asked a group of people to rapidly repeat a tongue twister, you will know that the faster they speak, the louder they seem to get as well!)

Toronto Public Library has quite a few English tongue twister books in our collection.  Here are a few of my favourites:

Six Sheep Sip Thick Shakes and Other Tricky Tongue Twisters by Brian P. Cleary (Ages: 6-10)

Tongue Twisters by Pam Rosenberg (Ages: 6-10)

Joking Around with Chirp: More than 130 Feather-Ruffling Jokes, Riddles, and Tongue Twisters! (Ages: 3-6)

Reading and reciting some tongue twisters is one way to celebrate; writing your own tongue twisters is another! 

In his book Six Sheep Sip Thick Shakes, Brian P. Cleary has some great advice that you can use to "make your own tongue twister".  Here are a few that I have created:

"Five fabulously-feathered flamingos."

"An otter in water."

"Ron Weasley – Right Wizard"  (He's my favourite!)

So, how will you celebrate "International Tongue Twister Day" this November?  Feel free to comment with your own curious creations… Simply submit some silliness boldly below. ;D