LEARNING TO WAIT WITH LITTLE CHICK

This is the time, during Mid-Lent, that I always learn about waiting and patience: for the fast to be over.  For our continued contemplation and participation in the mystery of the Cross.  For the hope of the Resurrection on Easter and the Joy that it brings.

Fr. Alexander Schmemann, in his book GREAT LENT, writes in Chapter 4, The Lenten Journey: "We are in Mid-Lent.  On the one hand, the physical and spiritual effort, if it is serious and consistent, begins to be felt...we need help and encouragement.  On the other hand, having endured this fatigue, having climbed the mountain up to this point, we begin to see the end of our pilgrimage, and the rays of Easter grow in their intensity."

I can't pass up this chance to tell you about a sweet children's book that teaches some wonderful lessons about waiting.  It's LITTLE CHICK, written by Amy Hest and illustrated by Anita Jeram.  I think your child will love meeting Little Chick and Old Auntie, the big red hen.  From School Library Journal:

"...three short adventures that brim with childlike concerns and solutions.  Little Chick impatiently waits for her carrot to grow and then finally pulls it, finds a way to make her kite fly, and accepts that she cannot catch her favorite star and put it in her pocket. The protagonist, like many youngsters, wants what she wants immediately, but her understanding and wise Old-Auntie is always there to ease life's disappointments. The text is gentle, affectionate, and child-centered with some lovely turns of phrase and on-target dialogue....Jeram's pencil-and-watercolor illustrations shine. Little Chick is so perfectly childlike—lying on her back holding her toes when she has to wait, leaning on Old-Auntie when things get too hard, or hanging her head dejectedly when her kite won't fly...Old-Auntie is large and comforting." (ages 4-8)

SIX GEESE A-LAYING!

In honor of this sixth Day of Christmas, I'd like to keep with a goose theme.  You can click here to read my past post about Mother Goose books, but I'm really excited to share six "Gossie" books with you!

"Gossie is a gosling.  A small, yellow gosling who likes to wear bright red boots.  Every day."

These simple, sweet board books are perfect for preschoolers.  Gossie, Gertie, Ollie, Peedie, and BooBoo will help your child learn about friendship, siblings, and sharing.

I've enjoyed perusing author/illustrator Olivier Dunrea's website.  He lives in a tiny remote village on the western edge of the Catskills Mountains on the Upper Delaware River. The house he lives and works in is called "Henwoodie" - the Henhouse. Henwoodie is a large Arts & Crafts style house surrounded by an acre of gardens, lawns, and terraces.

He says about his Gossie books:  "Gossie & Friends began in 2001 with sketches of goslings while I was staring out the studio window watching Canada geese fly overhead, honking loudly. A pair of red rubber toy boots sat on my bookshelf for some strange reason. As I sketched goslings I started drawing them wearing red rubber boots. And that is how the idea for Gossie and her "bright red boots" came to life."

Gossie


Gossie and Gertie


Ollie


Ollie the Stomper



Peedie


BooBoo

GOD GAVE US...

With Thanksgiving approaching, it's important to remember all the good things God has given us.  Author, Lisa Tawn Bergren does just that in her cute GOD GAVE US picture books.  Any of these books would make wonderful gifts for a new baby, a baptism, birthday, Valentine's Day, or Christmas.  The first one I ever came across was God Gave Us You, with illustrations by Laura J. Bryant.  This book gently answers a little bear cub's question of, "Where did I come from?"  The answer is simply explained without adult details.  I tear up every time I read:

"When we found out you were growing inside me, 

we were so happy!  

Even the angels were celebrating for us!"

"Because of me?" asked Little Cub.

"Yes, my darling child.  Because God gave us you." 

The book I choose first for my Christmas book list, "FORTY BOOKS FOR FORTY DAYS", is just as sweet and tender.  Click here to read an excellent and detailed review.  I think you'll want this book in your child's personal library!   God Gave Us Christmas, illustrated by David Hohn.


Other books by Lisa Tawn Bergren:
GOD GAVE US TWO, GOD GAVE US LOVE, GOD FOUND US YOU (for adoptive families).

IT LOOKED LIKE SPILT MILK

"Sometimes it looked like spilt milk.  But it wasn't spilt milk".  So begins a book that will spark your child's imagination and might make you want to get out the paint and glue to start an art project!  My kids enjoyed making paint blot clouds and cotton clouds after we read this book.  We also spread a big blanket on the grass in the backyard and watched clouds drift by...

This story has a predictible text pattern, with rhymes and repetition.  Great for toddlers, preschoolers or kindergartners!

IT LOOKED LIKE SPILT MILK by Charles G. Shaw.  









Your little meteorologist might also like:


LITTLE CLOUD by Eric Carle

THE CLOUD BOOK by Tomie dePaola

CLOUDS by Anne Rockwell

IN PRAISE OF PICTURE BOOKS

According to a recent article in the New York Times, picture books have become unpopular ("Picture Books No Longer a Staple for Children"). Bookstores, such as Borders and Barnes & Noble are apparently selling less picture books.  Some have "rearranged display space so that some picture books are enticingly paired with toys and games".  (Hmm...what goes around comes around - more on that later). 


The truest point the author makes is that young adult fiction (such as the TWILIGHT series, graphic novels, and other paranormal inspired romances) is universally growing by leaps and bounds.  Retailers make space for what customers are buying, creating less space for picture books.  This fact alone is cause for major concern and one of the main reasons why I started my blog!


The journalist who wrote the article noted that publishers are scaling back on picture books.  Their reasons?  He stated that the economy could be a major factor, but an additional reason is that "Parents have begun pressing their kindergartners and first graders to leave the picture book behind and move on to more text-heavy chapter books. Publishers cite pressures from parents who are mindful of increasingly rigorous standardized testing in schools."


So what's going on here? The quote above surprised me, because I think most parents and schools know the value of quality picture books and how they increase a child's desire to learn to read, help develop their vocabulary, and are a great introduction to art appreciation.  Also, the majority of picture books are targeted at preschoolers through second or third graders, so why the perceived push for "text-heavy" chapter books for that age?


HERE'S WHAT I THINK ABOUT BOOKSTORE SALES:
Yes, the economy is down, so people are buying less in general - not just less picture books!  But yes, picture books are expensive (especially hardcovers). Parents of young kids make great use of libraries for picture books.  They also shop online websites that offer used books, which are a better value.  Parents might be finding ways to get picture books at less expense, but that doesn't mean picture books are becoming unpopular!  So what about the "little (children's book)shop around the corner"?

Have you seen the movie YOU'VE GOT MAIL?  It's about how big new bookstore chains took a lot of the book buyers away from the small bookshops.  The chains could buy in bulk, thus driving the price of their merchandise down for consumers.  But there are some drawbacks for consumers (parents and children, in this case).  Because of the bulk of merchandise in large chain-bookstores, picture books are no longer displayed with their covers facing out (other than a select few), but on deeper shelves with their binding out.  Now parents and children don't see the covers.  Also, employees of the chain-stores generally aren't as well versed in children's literature as the owners of small bookshops.


HERE'S WHAT I THINK ABOUT PUBLISHERS:
The publishers are directly affected by waning bookstore sales, but there may be another reason why picture books are not flying off the shelves and why publishers must scale back.  I'm not super-impressed with some of the newer picture books (aimed at 4-8 year olds) that publishers are pursuing and putting on the market today...many are written with a lot of sarcasm and cynicism - and the humor seems to be aimed more at parents and adolescents! (for more about this, read a post by my friend, Jane Meyer).


Parents need to search for good quality writing and artwork.  We vote with our purchases.  Which is why the classics have stuck around!  Thankfully, publishers often re-issue the classics that have gone out of print (Lois Lenski's books, for example.), so those are usually available at bookstores, not just at libraries or online websites with used books, such as Amazon or Better World Books.


WHAT I THINK ABOUT CHAPTER BOOKS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN:
No doubt about it, there is a time when a child is starting to read on his/her own, that he/she should be encouraged to read chapter books.  Silent sustained reading is easier done in a chapter book than through picture books. And with fewer pictures, a child can't depend on the illustrations to decipher the story for him.


But don't leave picture books behind and don't stop reading aloud once your kids are reading chapter books on their own.  Also, before your children are reading on their own, and still love snuggling up with you and a good picture book, don't hesitate to snuggle up with them and read aloud a fun chapter book!   


Remember, there is a difference between "reading level" and "listening level".   Readers might love pouring through an almost wordless Peter Spier picture book (R.L. ages 4-8) with you, as much as non-readers might enjoy hearing you read aloud a chapter book like LITTLE HOUSE IN THE BIG WOODS (R.L. ages 9-12).  Publishers and bookstores/booksites could really help parents out by making this distinction more apparent!


SO, IN PRAISE OF PICTURE BOOKS...
HERE'S WHAT PARENTS NEED TO REMEMBER ABOUT PICTURE BOOKS:
"A picture book is text, illustrations, total design...a social, cultural, historical document; and, foremost, an experience for a child. As an art form, it hinges on the interdependence of pictures and words, on the simultaneous display of two facing pages, and on the drama of the turning of the page. On its own terms, its possibilities are limitless." -Barbara Bader, from AMERICAN PICTUREBOOKS.


1 - Children are exposed to excellent works of ART in quality picture books!
2 - Picture books increase language development.
3 - Children are exposed to a variety of writing styles through picture books.
4 - Kids are introduced to literary elements, such as plot, characterization, setting, theme and style at an early age through quality picture books.
5 - Being introduced to beautiful picture books increases a child's desire for independent reading.
6 - Picture books are great extentions to art, drama, music, math and science activities.


So to parents and writers and illustrators, publishers and booksellers:  we need good books, but especially good picture books, to start our innocent, young non-readers on the road to reading & learning, and to continue to inspire and guide them as readers to stay on the road that can lead to strength of character, thoughtfulness, and creativity.