Little Books
What to do:
- Little books are specially written to involve children in book reading. They are designed so that even children who have had little interaction with parents about books and who show little interest in books will read. Little books use few words, some of which children may have experienced in other contexts. Little books use repetition and are written to be fun and meaningful. Try to convey a message children can relate to.
Stop Ghosts Apples
stop car a happy ghost red apples
stop bus a sad ghost yellow apples
stop truck a little ghost green apples
Stop, stop, stop scary ghost blue apples
stop for that cat boo!red apples, mmm
yellow apples, mmm
green apples, mmm
blue apples, yuk!
Funny Farm Family Time for Bed
one baby chick, peep brush your teeth
two baby chicks, peep read a story
four baby chicks, peep get a hug
a-a-and nighty-night, sleep tight
one big baby duck, quack
five baby chicks, peep climb in bed
Continued next page…
- Make copies for each child.
- Arrange a small group of children so that their copies of the book are directly in front of them. To begin, the children and the teacher talk about experiences they have had with the topic that is suggested by the cover and the title of the book. They make predictions about what the book will say about that topic.
- Next, the teacher reads the book aloud, pointing to the words. He or she encourages and responds to children’s questions and comments. Then he or she rereads the book, encouraging children to read along.
- At this point, older children may be able to read on their own. To begin with, each child can read a page or two so that each has a turn and the story is quickly completed. The teacher accepts the way the child inserts or deletes words and supplies words when a child hesitates. Younger children might be able to talk about the pictures in the book.
- Continue as long as the children want to read or until they know the book well.
- To close the teacher congratulates the children on reading a book!Children elaborate on the story and their experience. They keep their books, read them at school, and take them home to read to their families.
- A classroom copy of each little book should be available in the library center for children to read on their own even after they have taken their copies home. Some children may want to read the book to the class as a sharing activity. Others will want to write their own little books.
