Fun facts and a list of books to get you started
Did you know that
if you read to your preschooler five times a day, they’ll hear close to 1.5
million words by the time they’re five years old?
Ohio State
University says so.
Here’s what
they’ll gain from all those reading sessions:
· To value books and stories
· A stronger imagination
· Greater curiosity
· More ability to focus and concentrate
· Social and communication skills
Source: https://raisingchildren.net.au
Who would have
thought stories could make children stronger in so many ways?
How National Children’s Picture
Book Day Got Started
Jenna Lepman, a
German journalist and author, founded Switzerland’s International Board on
Books for Young People (IBBY) in 1953. They came together to encourage children
to fall in love with the written word.
In 1967, the rest
of the world got involved in the celebration.
Each year IBBY
chooses one country to host. That country chooses a theme and hires an
illustrator to create a poster. They also have reading, writing, and drawing
competitions – with some pretty cool prizes!
Why did they
choose April 2nd? It’s Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday. Chances
are you’ve read one or more of his stories or seen one adapted into a movie!
Here are a few:
· The Little Mermaid
· The Ugly Duckling
· Thumbelina
· The Emperor’s New Clothes
· The Princess and the Pea
· The Snow Queen (Disney’s Frozen)
A Brief History of Children’s
Picture Books
Jan Komensky
published the first picture book for children under 6, Visible World in
Pictures, in 1658.
John Newberry
published the first Children’s Picture Storybook in 1744, titled A Little
Pretty Pocket-Book.
By the 1830s,
children’s picture books were selling like crazy. One of the classics from this
era is Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
In 1922 the
American Library Association awarded the first Newberry Medal to The Story of Mankind by
Hendrik Willem van Loon.
Is Writing a Children’s Picture
Book Easy?
The best
children’s picture books come with more than engaging stories and captivating
artwork. They have timeless life lessons embedded in them as well.
If you’ve ever
wondered whether writing a children’s book is easy, here are a few things the
author must do:
· Choose the book’s genre
· Research to make the story work
· Develop and choose the characters
· Build the setting for the story
· Decide how the artwork will look, and choose an artist
· Edit the book down to the absolute essentials
Margaret Wise
Brown, author of Goodnight Moon, said, “I finish the rough draft in 20
minutes and then I spend two years polishing.” Some say she polished as many as
23 books at a time!
Now that you see
the work that can go into a children’s picture book, let’s look at ten of the
most popular picture books of all time.
Where the Wild Things Are
Mischievous Max feels misunderstood at school and home. So, he goes to the
land of Wild Things, where majestic—and sometimes fierce—creatures roam. Soon they
allow Max to become their leader. He promises them a kingdom where everyone
will be happy. But as fun as this new life is, he realizes something is
missing.
Get your copy here.
Goodnight Moon
In a great green room, a little bunny is tucked in bed. He also says good
night to everything familiar: three bears sitting in chairs, the clocks and the
socks, and the mittens and the kittens. Goodnight room, goodnight moon. This
book has helped children everywhere fall asleep peacefully since 1947.
Get your copy here.
Green Eggs and Ham
"Do you like green eggs and ham," asks the main character
Sam-I-am. He's very convinced green eggs and ham are something you can enjoy in
many places with a variety of friends. Follow the rhyme as the list gets longer
and longer.
Get your copy here.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
How would you feel if food fell like rain? It might be marvelous! But then
again, it might not. See what happens when people fill their plates and their
stomachs with food from the heavens.
Get your copy here.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Follow a tiny green caterpillar as he eats his way through the book. Soon
he transforms into something totally different.
Author and Artist Eric Carle wanted this book to be a literary cocoon
for children getting ready for kindergarten. And it has - since 1969.
Get your copy here.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Help your child learn to associate color to different animals in this
easy-to-read book from Bill Martin, Jr., and Eric Carle. Encourage them to read
along and soon they'll read it to you!
Get your copy here.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Animated alphabet letters climb a coconut tree in this crazy story! The
rollicking rhyme and bold, cheerful art will have your child wanting to read
this book again and again.
Get your copy here.
Corduroy
Corduroy sits on the department store shelf, wondering when someone will
buy him. Then one day a girl named Lisa comes into the store. Will she be able
to take him home?
Get your copy here.
Are You My Mother?
A young bird hatches while his mother is away, looking for food. He goes
looking for her, asking everyone and everything he meets, "Are you my
mother?" How many will he ask before he finds her?
The Little Engine That Could
A small train filled with toys breaks down before it reaches the children.
She asks several bigger trains to help, but they all say offer reasons why they
can’t. What will she do? Can she make it over the mountain alone?
Get your copy here.
Look at our other
books right here.
Fun fact: April
is National Decorating Month. Why not brighten up your room with a new
bookshelf? See our selection here.
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