Happy International Children's Book Day!!

Source: http://www.ibby.org/index.php?id=269#top

Don't you love social media? It wasn't until I logged onto Facebook this morning while the girl was at preschool did I learn via Roald Dahl's fan page that today is International Children's Book Day. Here's a link to a little extra info about the day and the group who promotes it (the International Board on Books for Young People, or IBBY).

I don't think I need to tell anyone about the importance of literacy in kids' lives. I know here in Maine we have a wonderful program called Raising Readers and many school districts, including the one I work for, put on literacy nights or have on going programs for families to participate in throughout the year. So, while I think we all know the importance of literacy in our children's lives, I don't think we can be reminded too much.

In young children, even tiny babies like my little guy, hearing a story and looking at the pictures (especially vivid, high contrast pictures) stimulates important parts of a young child's rapidly developing brain. It's common sense that if a child is exposed to lots of language early on, his own language will expand more fully. I'm not saying that if you read to you infant every day he'll be speaking full sentences by nine months, but when he does start speaking, he will have access to a wider, more precise vocabulary, which will only benefit him further on in life.

Plus, reading aloud, even if the benefits were nonexistent or minimal, is a great way to play with you kids, at any age. There really isn't a better or easier way to build a sweet memory with your kids than curling up at some point in your day, snuggling together, and cracking open a book.

How to get the most out of reading with your kids.

• Pick a quiet, relaxed time to read. Reading aloud should not be rushed. You should not feel stressed. Everyone involved should feel like they can really invest the time and make it a quality experience. 
• Have a special, comfortable spot to read. We like to read in Mama and Daddy's bed, snuggled up with our own pillows and special stuffies. Maybe you have a comfy sofa or the rocker-glider in the nursery?
• Let the kid(s) pick the books, but...
• Don't read something out loud (a lot) that you really can't stand. Yes, this is for your little ones, but it's also for you. It's not going to be a fun time if you're reading a book you really, really can't stand. Obviously, you give in once in a while, and it is beneficial and a pre-reading skill for kids to hear the same book several times in a row, BUT, don't make yourself miserable. 
• Reading is more than saying the words. I really hope to do a how-to video soon on reading aloud, but for now, I'll say this. First of all, talk to your kids about what your reading in the story. I'll be the first to say this doesn't happen every time we read a book, but if something interesting or relevant pops up, or the girl has a question, we talk about what we're reading. Reading aloud is an awesome way to weasel in some extra learning or to address an issue that's happening in your family's life. Secondly, and maybe this is just me with my slight dramatic flair, but reading aloud is a performance. You do not have to be a great Shakespearean actor to be good at reading aloud, but you have to be willing to put some emotion behind it. Kids are a million times more responsive if you are able to try to do that. Check out some books on tape to get an idea of what might sound good (the Skippy John Jones books on tape are hilarious, and Jim Dale who narrates the Harry Potter books is freaking amazing). (P.S. I realize not everyone has great fluidity in reading aloud. A lot of that comes with practice. If you're just starting out and are not great at reading aloud, it's okay. The mere fact that it's being done is awesome.)