What's in a Name?

So I've been reading the book Amazing Minds by Jan Faull, which talks about simple things parents can do to nuture their child's mind during the newborn and toddler years. Being a parent of a 16-month-old, I'm always interested to learn about the way a child's brain develops and see it play out in my son. Right now he's learning new words like crazy, and one of the first words he recognized was his name.

Research shows that babies as young as 4 and 1/2 months old can recognize their names. According to Faull, using your toddler's name in conversation can be a powerful tool to support and reinforce behavior. So when your child does something good, like help clean up her toys, use her name when talking about how she helped and she'll pay attention and likely repeat the behavior. When your child gets a little older, she'll be able to recognize her name in print. And when she starts to learn letter names and sounds, the most important letter to her will be the first letter in her name.

Knowing letter names and sounds is an important precurser to learning how to read. So start with the letters in your child's name and point them out on signs, menus, in books, wherever. Talk about what sounds those letters make and look for objects that begin with the same sounds. In our weekly storytimes, each child has a nametag, and it's amazing to watch them learn which one is theirs - they always look for that first letter! Sometimes they can even recognize that letter in another child's tag. So don't underestimate the importance of a name - it's more of a learning tool than you think. And have fun helping your child recognize her name and everything that goes into it! Guest post by Shelly P.

Cuddle Close and Have a Look

I love reading books to children and I love when parents or grandparents later tell me how they have storytime at home, just like Miss Pam does it. The children delight in singing "open-shut them" or "cuddle close and have a look" in front of their favorite stuffed animals or dolls. Then they begin to read - either they've memorized the story or they "read" the pictures to their small, quiet audience. What a joy! These things don't just happen - children who have this devout interest in books have been read to since they were born. They have been allowed to play with, chew on, and look at board books since a very early age. Their parents probably bring them to the library for storytime and allow them to pick out their own books. These are the children who will start school already reading or will pick it up very easily in the first months of Kindergarten.

Start your babies on this path - pick up some wonderful board books. We have hundreds to choose from! Let your child get acquainted with them. Board books are so great - they're made of sturdy stuff and can withstand being chewed on, walked on, or thrown around. They are just the right size for little hands, purses, or diaper bags. Choose ones with bright colors, pictures of babies, or things children can easily recognize - dogs, cats, balls, trucks, etc. Find ones with textures to feel or flaps to peek under - it's all fun! It's something wonderful to do for our children and the enjoyment will last a lifetime. Check out the great board books available at the library! Guest post by Pam R.

Tom the Tamer

Tom is a clever fellow. He entertains himself and his outdoor animal friends by building amusing structures for them in the back yard, and training them to play games and perform circus acts. Tom wants very much for his father to share in the excitement, but there’s just one small problem ~ for some inexplicable reason, he’s afraid of animals, even butterflies!

Aside from his seemingly irrational fears, Tom’s father has plenty of talents of his own (and it’s easy to see that Tom’s apple did not fall far from the tree). Inside the house, he has created an enormous, multi-tiered model town full of trains, houses, windmills, a river, and, yes ~ even animals! But he simply can‘t bring himself to venture out of doors.

Determined to find a solution to this problem, Tom heads into town and begins to collect an assortment of creatures from the “Paws, Claws, Beaks and Bugs” Pet Store. He convinces all of them to participate in a ruse that will bring his father out of his shell and allow the two of them to fully enjoy Tom’s imaginative adventures together.

The charming pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations, rich with details, and many of them executed in lovely pastel colors, set a soothing and almost dreamlike atmosphere for the story. There is whimsy as well ~ a polar bear plays the role of an easy chair and an octopus that of a chandelier. Tom’s resourcefulness is eventually rewarded, and his father realizes it’s safe to join his son in the great outdoors. They both win the joy of each other’s company, and there’s no better prize than that! Find this book in our eCatalog. Guest post by Bridget W.

It's a Fact!

Is your child too wiggly to sit still so you can read together? Maybe you need some attention-grabbers. Try nonfiction! When you satisfy your child’s natural curiosity with books, motivation is built right in, and you establish the idea that books can be sources of learning for fun.  And after all, kids develop their own interests as they grow, so why not respond to them?

Is your child curious about that new house being built next door? How about a construction alphabet book? Are you getting questions about the butterflies in your garden, or the ladybug that landed on your little girl’s hand? We’ve got books on those, too, as well as castles and princesses, garbage trucks, ponies – you name it! There are also whole nonfiction series appropriate to share with toddlers and preschoolers, for example, Pebble Plus or, for more detail, Kingfisher Young Knowledge. Both are beautifully illustrated for extra kid appeal, and include lots of kid-friendly topics.

Information books are grouped by topic on library shelves, so you can browse those special areas with your child. If your browsing time is limited, you can print out and drop off a Personalized Reading Request, and let us identify books for you and your child to enjoy together. You can then place holds on your choices.

Does your child have a favorite information book? What is it? Guest post by Joyce F.

Fun with a Brown Bear

I was shopping at a department store recently and noticed their promotion is currently featuring Eric Carle books and stuffed animals. What a fantastic opportunity to get some really great books for youngsters! Some of the classic Eric Carle books have been remade into board books and beginning readers so that a broader range of ages can enjoy his classics like Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? The library even owns an audiobook version that has all four “Bear Books” together in one kit with both an English and Spanish version included.

Next Thursday, March 1, children's librarians will present an Every Child Ready to Read workshop for parents and children ages birth - 5 featuring Brown Bear, Brown Bear. Parents will learn how to incorporate singing, talking, reading, writing and playing into this favorite book to help teach children about colors and animals and give them important pre-reading skills. This program is full, but you can get on the waiting list by going to the library's online events calendar. And watch for more Every Child Ready to Read workshops based on popular children's picture books in the coming months. Guest post by Heidi T.

When a Dog's not a Dog

When is a dog not a dog? When it's a Poodle, a Rottweiler, or a Dalmation. Exposing your children to a variety of words makes it easier for them to learn to read. The more words your children are exposed to, the better off they are, because they'll be more likely to recognize an unfamiliar word in print if they've heard it before. When talking to your little one, occasionally throw in a new word or a synonym in place of an everyday word. Hence a dog is sometimes a dog, but it can also be a Poodle. Sometimes you point out your hand, and sometimes you point out your fingers or your wrist. It's fun!

If you're not sure where to start, a board book or picture book will do. For the very young, we like to use word books, like Alligator, Bear Crab: a Baby's ABC or My First Animals: Let's Squeak and Squawk!

Just look at the pictures and describe what you see. Sometimes it's a bird, and sometimes it's an Eagle! Guest post by Charlette J.

Catch the Love Bug!

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and I must admit, I’m not a fan of all the hoopla. Showing and reaffirming love shouldn’t just be a one day occurrence; it should be shown throughout the year. However, I do love some nice flowers, romantic movies, and cute children’s books about love. I’m hopeless.  And if you’re like me and celebrate Valentine’s Day on a smaller scale, be sure to read Snowy Valentine by David Petersen.

This heartwarming story even brought tears to my eyes the first time I read it. It follows Jasper Bunny on his cold, snowy quest to find the “perfect present” for his wife, Lilly. It’s a treat to meet all of his neighbors, take in all of the beautiful illustrations, and to see what Jasper finally does give Lilly. Nothing extravagant, nothing complicated, but made of love. (Tissues, please!) Be sure to check it out and snuggle up with the ones you love! Guest post by Amy A.