Choosing Children’s Holiday Books

Early Literacy | Dec 18, 2013

Susan Ramsay, Early Literacy Specialist HFL&A, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

My cell phone vibrates. I glance at the message. “running late. will text u when leaving.” My thumbs leap into action. “ok great tks.” If this spelling and grammar were in an email, report, or funding proposal, my colleague and I would both be out of a job. In the context of thumb typing, however, text messaging is built for speed using short forms, phonetic spellings, and sparing use of capitals and punctuation.

The form of text creates unspoken meaning. A table of contents in a reference book, for example, listing number 3 beside ‘Canadian Animals’ directs the reader to page 3 for information about Canadian animals. Similarly, a hand-written note beginning with “Dear Santa” creates an expectation that an important letter will soon be mailed to an H0H 0H0 postal code.

Exposure to varied forms of text helps children develop reading comprehension skills. Adults support children’s learning by asking thought-provoking questions that guide their knowledge of meaning conveyed by the way print is formatted.

Books stores and libraries are filled with seasonal books that expose children to various forms of text.

“Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Christmas” by Melanie Watt uses pictures and words in charts, tables, checklists, numbered instructions, and labelled diagrams to explain the coping strategies of a timid squirrel getting ready for Christmas. This humorous book is perfect for pausing during story time to ask questions that cause children to compare and contrast ideas, and to think about what the words mean when not written in sentences. On one two-page spread, for example, Scaredy Squirrel lists things he should NOT use for Christmas decorations. His list, categorized into a table of red and green items, includes fire hydrants, dynamite, poison ivy, and bull frogs. Help children understand tables by asking why they think Scaredy included those items in the chart and to think of other things they would add to Scaredy Squirrel’s list of unwanted decorations.

“Twelve Days of Christmas” is a song many children hear in shopping malls and elsewhere during the holiday season. “A Porcupine in a Pine Tree: A Canadian 12 Days of Christmas” by Helaine Becker is a children’s picture book modelled on this familiar song. This children’s picture book is really a numbered list that can be read or sung. It’s a great book for developing memory skills if children try to recall which crazy items are given on days 1 through 12. When children are able to say, sing or draw their suggestions for what ‘my true love’ might give on day 13 and beyond, you will know that they understand how a numbered list works as well as the pattern of quantity used to tell the story.

“The Day the Crayons Quit” by Drew Drywalt tells a story through a series of letters from individual crayons to a child artist. Each crayon has an emotional story to tell beginning with the red crayon that feels overworked drawing Santa, Valentine hearts, and fire engines. Each letter demonstrates a personal perspective. Children will relate to the emotions expressed by the crayons, and can be encouraged to talk about when they too have experienced similar feelings. They may also like help to write letters back to the crayons demonstrating their awareness that letters have a specific form and letters invite a response from the reader.

Fairy tales, information books, picture dictionaries and children’s magazines are all formatted in unique ways. Exposure to varying forms of print can help children understand and love the books you share with them this holiday season. 

Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.