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| Children will now begin the formal business of learning to read.
Most likely, no skill will be more important to a child's future than
reading. However, the process of sounding out words can remove the
enjoyment of a story. This is where listening to good books can take
on a new dimension. Stories with vivid, precise words in flowing sentences are important. They will provide a contrast to the repetitious words that are found in school texts. There is still a need for numerous illustrations to keep a child's attention and interest. Good stories can take children outside of themselves and into another world. They now are developmentally ready for greater flights of fantasy. Now that they have a firmer grasp of real and make-believe, their adventures into this world should still be a safe-scare experience. Even with this firm fix on fantasy and reality, they still love humor. It is satisfying when a young hero outsmarts the older, wiser, or stronger character. It is important to hear stories of good triumphing over evil Even though children are finding some independence, home and family should provide a solid anchor for them. Books should now provide a delicate balance between separation and attachment. Continue reading aloud, especially books that are too difficult for children to read independently. Be sure to include children in selecting books from the library, keeping in mind their interests. FOLKTALES: Every child's literary heritage should include folktales. Children now have a greater grasp of the real and make-believe. Stories that were too frightening during kindergarten are no longer intimidating to them. FAIRYTALES: Through these stories, children understand and cope with struggles in life. Characters meet obstacles and are victorious, often gaining a kingdom and along with the respect of everyone. Unlike myths that have tragic endings, or fables that teach lessons, fairy tales always end happily giving listeners hope. Even though children are ready for more sophisticated fairy tales now, they are not ready for the more gruesome ones. WORDLESS BOOKS: Children are now ready for more complex wordless books that require closer attention and examination. Details must be interpreted in order to understand what is happening. This skill is the basic ingredient of reading comprehension. INFORMATION BOOKS: At this age, children have an appetite for information about the real world of animals, people and things. They are beginning to understand the existence of faraway places. They are fascinated by what dinosaurs ate, where they lived and how they looked. While children can enjoy non-fiction books that explain how things work, information in story form will hold their interest much more. CONCEPT BOOKS: As children master letters and numbers, they enjoy books that go beyond the simple matching object with symbols. Many alphabet books are riddle-like and definitely more challenging. POETRY: Listening is still a priority rather than reading. Children enjoy the rhythmic sounds of verse and may join in and chant all or parts of a particular favorite. Children seem to enjoy nonsense verse and the fun of playing with words. EASY-TO-READ BOOKS: As children develop their reading skills, parents should read these books aloud. Eventually children will enjoy switching roles and rereading these books on their own. Never should read-aloud books be replaced by easy-to-read books; both are needed. |