Beginning Reading

How to begin:

There are lot of Baby Concept Books, with lots of interesting pictures, to attract the babies. There are number of touch and feel books, with popped up pictures and flip-flap books.  You can start introducing books at a very early stage, babies are never too young to feel and see the picture books. 

 

Picture Dictionaries:

Picture Dictionaries are great way to start introducing wide range of vocabulary, esp. I love the Times Publications1000 Words series.

 

Slowly you can start reading books with large prints and lots of pictures.  Then you can read along taking turns with your child. 

Reader Level:

We can choose appropriate books according to children’s reading level using the ‘Reader Level’. Reader Levels are guided reading Levels, here is an example provided by Penguin Young Readers – this can be a general guideline.

 Level 1 – Beginning Reading

 

• Simple vocabulary
• Word repetition
• Picture clues
• Predictable story and sentence structures
• Familiar themes and ideas

 

Level 2 – Reading with help

• Longer sentences
• Simple dialogue
• Picture and context clues
• More in-depth plot development
• Nonfiction and fiction

 

Level 3 – Reading Alone

• Multi-syllable and compound words
• More dialogue
• Different points of view
• More complex storylines and characters
• Greater range of genres

 

Level 4 – Advanced Reading

 

• More advanced vocabulary
• Detailed and descriptive text
• Complex sentence structure
• In-depth plot and character development
• Full range of genres

 

Award Winning Books:

 

You can look for Award Winning books and read to them. Generally award winning books carry a message or more to educate and inspire the readers to be thoughtful and kind. These books provide great opportunity for us to instil values among children.

 

The popular awards are:

Newbery Medal

Caldecott Medal

Michael Printz Award

Moonbeam Children’s book award

Caldecott Honor Book

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Popular Children’s book Publishers:

 

I’ve given a list of Popular Publishers who publish Children’s Books, both Fiction (imaginative stories) and Non-fiction (true/based on facts) Categories. You can look for books from these Publishers. You can find interesting collections from these Publishers. I've given their logos, for easy location. I've also included some of their popular books.

 

Usborne Publishing

Dorling Kindersley

Ladybird Books

Puffin Books

Scholastic, Inc.

HarperCollins Children’s Books

Penguin Young Readers

Usborne Publishing:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 







Dorling Kindersley:

 

 

 

 
 


 

 

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 







Ladybird Books:

 

 
 
 

Ever Popular Ladybird Classics:


 

 

 
 
 
 

 

 

 
 
Puffin Books:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very Popular Charlie and the Chocolate Factory from Puffin

 
 

 

 

Scholastic, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

HarperCollins Children’s Books:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Award winning Book from Harper Collins
 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 





Award winning book by Beverly Cleary - a Harper Collins Publication

Penguin Young Readers:

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 
 

 

 Enjoy the books with kids, Happy Reading!

National Library Board - a boon to Singapore/Oru Varaprasadham!

NLB is a boon to Singapore, 'Varaprasadham' in Tamil. It provides excellent opportunities to create 'Voracious Readers' and 'Readers for Life'.

The first time I visited NLB, years ago - I was speechless. You get the same 'wow' factor time and again, each time you browse through the extensive collection. We get to read numerous books, which are otherwise almost impossible to buy and read. You name it, they have it.

If you become an ordinary Member, you are eligible to borrow 8 books at a time, including CDs. But I always prefer books. You will get 21 days for books and 14 days for Magazines. Now we have renewable facilities, which enable you to retain the books for another 21/14 days respectively. For renewals, just go to the NLB website, go to Check your Account, from Quick links category, log in with your Membership ID or Your IC. You can see your loan status and renew accordingly. During holidays NLB will double up the loan quota, we can borrow 12 instead of 8 books.

To avoid unnecessary fines for overdue books, we can opt for reminder service provided by NLB. Just log in to NLB account and provide your email-id, to get reminders via e-mail or provide your Mobile phone number to get reminders via SMS, or both.

If you would like to borrow a particular book and you are not able to get it, you can book reservation, through your NLB account via Internet or at any of the library. NLB will reserve it for you and inform when it is ready. (If you are not sure about the procedure, you can approach the library staff, they will guide you.)

My son is so obsessed with Geronimo Stilton series, we bought few books for him, then I said get from NLB, we are not buying anymore. Now we visit number of libraries, to find the much wanted collection. He can't even wait to reserve and read. He's almost through the entire series now, thanks to NLB.

Try to visit Library with your kids as often as possible. Make it as an enjoyable trip. Spend at least an hour or two, so that you and your kids have enough time to browse through and choose the books leisurely.

If possible allow some quiet reading time in the library before or after borrowing books. I've seen some parents spend time with their kids for half-a-day, during holidays. Holiday is a wonderful time to inculcate reading habit. Trip to Library can be like any other outing; if possible 2 or 3 friends can join together. But avoid too many friends, because we may lose focus. Children also tend to play rather than read/choose the books.

Initially, you can choose books for them and read to them. Gradually you can allow them to choose 1 or 2. They may not know, but still allow their quota, say you can choose 3 out of 8 Soon it will be time for them to choose more. Still you keep guiding them to pick variety of books. Otherwise they will end up borrowing stereotyped books.
There will be a time, when they are obsessed with one particular Author or one particular series. It's perfectly alright; slowly they will graduate to other types of books.

Soon, they will cover so many series and authors. Once they are independent, they don't want us to interfere. This happens esp. with teenagers. However, we can keep track of their books and their content. We can continue to guide them and introduce new authors. Though they may appear to be picky, they will still be open to new ideas.

We can observe a beautiful transition from their language usage, articulation and style of writing. As a mother I enjoy these phases in their lives. I hope you guys will join me!

For more details about NLB, visit their website:

http://www.nlb.gov.sg/

Enjoy Reading!