Why is reading important for children?
Why is reading for pleasure with young children important
Different strategies to help kids learn to read
List of classical picture books
Reading is a very useful and important way for young children to learn language and vocabulary and to understand correct syntax and grammar.
Every single time children are reading they are seeing an example of good use of language, learning more words, learning interesting facts or enhancing their imagination. In general, it is extremely useful and children are constantly learning as they read.
There is a lot of research which says children who are exposed to reading very early on can achieve better academically. The reason this could be significant is that learning to read well at an early age is associated with literacy success in general, which can affect all other aspects of learning and future success in life.
Research also suggests that avid readers may construct their own knowledge and understanding to such a point that it could be equivalent to a few years of education.
Parents and nannies can help young children by helping them to learn the sounds and then blending them together to read simple words. Mastering these basic skills early on will have long lasting benefits for children enabling them to focus on reading for meaning and pleasure, and can consequently promote the enjoyment of reading.
Adults can also help by discussing the stories with children and asking them to predict, question, clarify and summarise the texts.
There is a lot of evidence pointing to the fact that reading for pleasure is connected with reading attainment. So therefore adults should look for attractive, exciting and interesting reading opportunities for children.
Here is a list of classic picture books:
The Gruffalo - Julia Donaldson
Handa’s Surprise - Eileen Browne
The Shopping basket - John Burningham
Dear Zoo - Rod Campbell
Where’s Spot? - Eric Hill
The very hungry caterpillar - Eric Carle
So Much - Trish Cooke
Ten in the Bed - Penny Dale
Eat up Gemma - Trisha Cooke
Titch - Pat Hutchins
Brown bear, brown bear - Bill Martin Jnr
Not now Bernard - David McKie
Mr Gumpy’s outing/motor car- John Burningham
Bears in the night - The Berensteins
On the way home - Jill Murphy
We’re going on a bear hunt - Michael Rosen
My cat likes to hide in boxes- Eve Sutton
Little Rabbit Foo Foo - Michael Rosen
Farmer Duck - Martin Waddell
Owl babies - Martin Waddell
Lima’s red hot chilli - David Mills
Pants - Giles Andrae & Nick Sharratt
We’re going on a Lion Hunt - David Axtell
There’s a cow in the Cabbage patch - Stella Blackstone & Clare Beaton
Jasper’s beanstalk- Nick Butterworth & Mick Inkpen
A Squash and a squeeze- Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
Penguin - Polly Dunbar
The Acorn - Edward Gibbs
Blue Chameleon - Emily Gravett
Orange Pear Apple Bear– Emily Gravett
Hickory Dickory Dog - Alison Murray
A bit lost - Chris Haughton
Shark in the park Nick Sharratt
Lullabyhullabaloo – Mick Inkpen
What the Ladybird heard– Julia Donaldson & Lydia Monks
Can’t you sleep little Bear– Martin Waddell
The Tiger-skin Rug– Gerald Rose
Lulu loves the Library– Anna McQuinn & Rosalind Beardshaw
To Market! To Market! – Anushka Ravishankar & Emanuele Scanziani
Lenny in the Garden– Ken Wilson-Max
Stanley’s Stick – John Hegley & Neal Layton
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