You’re All My Favorites by Sam McBratney
The three siblings wonder which one is the parents’ favorite. They learn that baby number is the favorite No. 1 baby; baby No. 2 is the favorite second baby; and baby No. 3 three is the favorite third baby.
Can’t You Sleep, Little Bear? by Martin Waddell
Little Bear is afraid of the dark but Big Bear helps him with his scared feelings by bringing him light and understanding his feelings.
Why Do You Cry?: Not a Sob Story by Kate Klise
Little Rabbit was planning a party for his fifth birthday but no one who cried was allowed to come. All his friends had different reasons why they cried. His mom told him she couldn’t come either because she also cried, even though she was a grown-up.
How to pick a great children’s book
The selection of books is as important as the selection of toys. Young children have incomplete information for understanding the world around them, which results in what we often refer to as “magical thinking”: explanations for things that don’t make sense to adults. Magical thinking can make it difficult to know what’s going on in a child’s mind, and may lead to unexpected reactions of fear or stress.
Here are some thoughts about selecting appropriate books:
- Look for pictures that may be scary to a young child. Is there a fire? Do the animals have long sharp teeth? Are there depictions of things that you know are troubling to your child specifically?
Acierno
- Is the vocabulary suitable? Are the words scary, like yelping, snarling and hissing sounds. Are there references to violence or antisocial behavior – fighting or throwing things?
- Is it developmentally appropriate? Books for young children should be uncluttered and simple with a clear presentation of the important concepts. The first words that children learn are nouns – the objects of everyday life.
For more insights about selecting books and reading with young children, look at our original list of 100 great children’s books.
Book links go to Amazon, and will generate a small donation to Hanna Perkins Center when used to make a purchase.
APR
2021
About the Author:
Early Childhood Educator Noreen Acierno teaches preschool at Hanna Perkins School, where she has worked since 1999. She is passionate about children's books.