Reading with Your Kids by Umariya Theskhayan

With Your

Kids

How to raise a strong reader

A GUIDE FOR PARENTS OF

0-13+

READING WITH YOUR

KIDS

Access to good books is the first step to discover the joy of reading. But how do you know which books are the right ones to bring into your home? And how to help your children discover the joy of reading? This guide offers tips and strategies to help you and your children learn how to choose good books and enjoy reading together.

What You Should Know About Your Children’s Reading Reading habits develop from childhood, as infants learn to speak and listen. Parental involvement in the children’s early years has a major impact on their future educational level; therefore, parents who are illiterate are more likely to have children with limited reading abilities. Illiteracy not only affects adults, but their children and family as well. • Reading Aloud: Children who are read to at least three times a week are almost twice as likely to score in the top 25 percent in reading than those who are read to less than three times a week. • Literacy Starts At An Early Age: Parents should begin reading to their children at the age of six months. Infants learn most through sight and sound, reading facial expressions and movements. Therefore, it is important to gesture, talk, smile, and sing to young children. They will eventually recognize that the words have specific meanings. • Toddler Years: Parents should engage them in conversation about different objects, pointing out colors, names and shapes. Books with rhymes and poems help peak children’s interest and also familiarize them with words and phrases. • School Years: Parents should expand their library to include books with more words rather than pictures. Around the age of four, children will begin to sound out words on their own. • Each Child Begins Developing Reading At Different Times: Most children are reading by the age of seven. Parents should not be discouraged if their children are reading at a later age. Keep encouraging them and remain positive. • Knowledge About Reading and Writing Go Together: As children learn one, they are learning the other. When kids are toddlers, give them crayons and paper to write on. Drawing at an early age helps build muscle control, and soon your child will begin to write letters. With the help of teachers and parents, children begin to learn the correct spelling of words. SOURCE: http://www.themoreyouknow.com/Reading_With_Your_Kids/

Make Reading a Fun Experience for the Entire Family! STEP 1:

STEP 2:

STEP 3:

READY TO READ

READING WITH HELP

READING ON YOUR OWN

Big Type and Easy Words Rhyme and Rhythm • Picture Clues

Basic Vocabulary Short Sentences • Simple Stories

Engaging Characters Easy-to-Follow Plots • Popular Topics

For children who know the alphabet and are eager to begin reading.

For children who recognize familiar words and sound out new words with help.

For children who are ready to read on their own.

STEP 4:

STEP 5:

READING PARAGRAPHS

READY FOR CHAPTERS

Challenging Vocabulary Short Paragraphs • Exciting Stories

Chapters • Longer Paragraphs • Full-Color Art

For newly independent readers who read simple sentences with confidence.

For children who want to take the plunge into chapter books but still like colorful pictures.

Visit us at: www.stepintoreading.com for a complete list of Step into Reading books.

BABIES (0 – 12 months)

Books Babies Like • Very young babies love to hear your voice. You can read anything to them, but they especially like nursery rhymes and other stories with set rhythms. • Choose board books with simple, bright pictures against solid backgrounds. • As babies learn to grasp things, pick light, washable cloth and vinyl books. • When babies are older enough to hold things, provide brightly colored board books featuring only one or two objects per page. • As babies become interested in what’s inside a book, read books with bright pictures of animals, babies, and familiar objects. • As babies begin to do activities for themselves, read simple stories about routine events – eating, taking a bath, or going to bed. • As babies begin to talk, read books that invite them to repeat rhymes, words, and phrases. • When older babies want to join in, read books with tex tures, things to touch, flaps to lift, tabs to pull, and holes where they can poke their fingers. • Babies of any age enjoy homemade books and family photo albums.

Try Introducing The Following Types Of Books To Your ChildREN • Cloth, vinyl, and board books that are durable for babies to grasp and hold • Books with big, bright, colorful pictures of familiar objects to name • Books that appeal to their senses, such as cloth books, books with textures or scents • Simple stories about a toddler’s everyday experiences • A collection of Mother Goose or other nursery rhymes

BABIES Read aloud so babies can associate reading with warm, pleasant feelings. They can hear sounds, rhythms, and words, while using their senses of listening, seeing and touching. They can make their own sounds – cooing, gurgling, babbling – which will eventually become talking.

Try These Read-Aloud Tips • Hold the baby in your lap; make sure he or she can see the pictures. • Play with words, sing, and make up rhymes; include the baby’s name. • Expect babies to touch, grasp, and taste – that is how they learn. • Offer the baby a toy to hold and chew while listening to your reading. • Read one or two pages at a time; gradually lengthen the number of pages. • Let the baby turn the pages if he or she is more interested in the book than listening to your reading. He or she will still be learning about books and enjoying your company. • Point to, name, and talk about things in pictures. Describe what’s happening. • Ask the baby: “Where’s the …?” “What’s that…?” Wait for a response. • Encourage a baby to join in – moo like a cow or finish a repetitive phrase. • Stay on a page as long as a baby is interested. • Put the book away and do something else when the baby loses interest.

TODDLERS (1 – 3 years) Books Toddlers Like • Toddlers are learning to cope with feelings. Look for books with characters handling typical emotions and experiences. • Toddlers feel competent when they can participate. Read books with rhymes and predictable words they can remember. • Toddlers can pay attention – for a while – if they are interested. Read picture storybooks with brief, simple plots and only a few words per page. • Toddlers are curious. Read books about special inter ests and books about new people, places, and events. • Toddlers are increasing their vocabularies and listen ing skills. Read books a few levels above their current vocabulary that introduce new words and ideas. Also look for books with lots of pictures of things to name. • Toddlers are beginning to make sense of concepts such as size, color, shape, and time. Read simple picture concept books that reinforce their learning. • Toddlers are learning self-help skills. Read books about daily routines such as using the toilet, washing hands, and taking a bath. • Toddlers are doers. Read books with flaps to lift and textures to feel.

Try Introducing The Following Types Of Books To Your ChildREN • Durable books made of cardboard, cloth, or plastic for babies to grasp and hold • Books with big, bright, colorful picture of familiar objects to name • Books that appeal to their senses, such as cloth books, books with textures or scents • Stories told in short, simple sentences with pictures that explain the text • Poems and rhymes that are fun for parents to read aloud

TODDLERS Read aloud so toddlers can continue to associate reading with warm, pleasant feelings while learning about words and language, and expanding their listening skills. They can build their vocabularies with words they understand and can use. They will consider books as fun and valuable play materials. Through reading aloud, toddlers can link pictures and stories in books to the real world, and gain a sense of competence by ‘mastering’ repetitive rhymes and phrases. They begin to create pictures in their mind while listening to stories, and begin understanding print concepts as symbols for real things and that we read words, not pictures.

Try These Read-Aloud Tips • Read the same books again and again, if asked. A toddler will let you know when he or she has had enough of a book. • Read slowly so the toddler can make sense of what’s happening in a story. • Offer crayons and paper to occupy the toddler who finds it easier to listen when he or she is busy. • Vary your voice to fit the characters and plots. • Use puppets and other props related to the story. • Repeat interesting words and phrases. • Stop often to comment, ask questions, and look closely at the illustrations. • Encourage a toddler to join in: Turn pages, name things in pictures, make sounds, repeat rhymes and phrases, and think about what might happen next. • Talk about the pictures and point out details a toddler might miss. • Talk about the book and how it relates to a toddler’s real life experiences.

PRESCHOOLERS (3-5 years)

Books Preschoolers Like • Preschoolers feel good about their growing skills and accomplishments. As they learn new concepts and self help skills, read stories about young children who have similar experiences. • Preschoolers have good memories. Read stories with simple plots children can retell in their own words (to themselves, a stuffed animal, or a friend) and pattern books with repetitive and predictable rhymes, phrases, and story lines that let children participate. • Preschoolers are building their listening skills and attention spans. Read longer picture books and begin chapter books that last for several sessions. • Preschoolers are curious. Read information books with facts, explanations, and new people, places and things. • Preschoolers know a lot about their own world. Read books that let them use their knowledge to understand books that introduce new topics, facts, and ideas. • Preschoolers have vivid imagination. Read folk tales and books with animal characters that think and talk like humans. • Preschoolers are learning about the sounds of letters and words. Read books with rhymes and alliteration.

Try Introducing The Following Types Of Books To Your ChildREN • Concept books, such as counting and A-B-C books • “Pattern books” with rhymes and repetition • Simple stories with predictable plots

PRESCHOOLERS

Read aloud so preschoolers can continue to associate reading with warm, pleasant feelings; learn about words and language; and expand listening skills. They will pay attention to the language of books and begin to notice how it differs from spoken language. They can listen to the sounds in words and notice how some are the same and some are different. According that, preschoolers can build their vocabularies with words they understand and can use. They start to gain background knowledge about a variety of topics, can talk about the characters, settings, and plot and relate them to their own lives. They learn more about print concepts, such as, print is spoken words written down, the letters in words are written in a certain order, and written words are separated by spaces.

Try These Read-Aloud Tips • Introduce the book; read the title, author, and illustrator; look at the cover; talk about what the book might be about; suggest things to look and listen for. • Run your finger under the text, while reading. • Answer questions related to the book; save other questions for later. • Talk about the story during and after a read-aloud session. • Use information and reference books to answer children’s questions. • Ask children to look closely at the pictures to help them understand the story and make predictions about what might happen next. • Repeat interesting words and rhymes while reading a book and at a later time. • Pause and wait so children can say the word that ends a repetitive or predictable phrase. • Stop to ask thinking questions: “What might happen next? Where did he go? Why did she do that? • Follow up on the story; invite a child to talk; draw or paint; pretend to be one of the characters; and so on.

CSR

Asia Books: The Destination for Your Book Donation Over the past 40 years, Asia Books Co., Ltd has strived to accomplish our goal in establishing bookshops to become “The Sanctuary of Imagination” as well as “The Knowledge Base” for customers of all ages and from all walks of life. With this goal, we have always supported and initiated a great number of activities for society, especially when it comes to the promotion of English language learning among young people. The promotion could encourage children and young people to gradually become fond of reading. It could also allow them to use their own imagination, boost their self-confidence in expressing thoughts and ideas and spend their leisure time in a positive way.

and other provinces with the purpose of promoting the importance of reading among Thai children and young people. Since the beginning of this project, we have donated English language books worth more than 20 million baht and thousands of those books are contributions from supportive customers of Asia Books, Bookazine and Books Outlet.

As a follow-up to achieve the goal, Asia Books Co., Ltd. has continuously conducted the “Asia Books Library for Kids” project and donated English language books to libraries in schools, universities and organizations located in Bangkok

We, Asia Books, Bookazine and Book Outlet, are truly glad to serve as:

On behalf of children and young people, we would like to sincerely thank customers and all concerned individuals who participated in this project. We hope that there will be more opportunities in the future for children to receive further contributions.

“ The Destination for Your Book Donation “

0-5

YEARS

Where's Spot? 30th Anniversary Edition 9780723264736

Peter Rabbit Little Library 9780723264521

Simple but charming little tale for children to read and lift the flaps to find Spot!

The perfect introduction for very young children to the charming world of Beatrix Potter

0-5

3-8

YEARS

Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom: The Royal Picnic

Bedtime Stories 9781405320146

9781409305330

Nine classic stories with a magical 60-minute CD

Children can read the story and put the magnets on the pages to complete the scenes

Let's enjoy reading with PENGUIN CHILDREN! 5-7

7-9

YEARS

9-11

YEARS

DK Space Encyclopedia (Reissue)

Alice's Adventure in Wonderland

Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief (Film Tie-In)

9781405346917

9780141321073

9780141329994

Encourage children to learn more about the universe with latest information and close-up photograph.

A wonderful classic in totally new look

Enjoyable and good read, being adapted into film

ELEMENTARY-SCHOOL CHILDREN (5–8 years)

Books That Elementary-School Children Like • Children are becoming independent readers. Read easy books that they can reread on their own. • Children are expanding their language skills, vocabu lary, and attention spans. Read chapter books with developed characters, plot twists, and descriptive lan guage. • Children are learning to monitor their own behavior. Read longer picture books and chapter books with mes sages about how to handle problems and cope with dif ficulties. • Children are curious about the world beyond their imme diate experiences. Read reference books that match their interests. • Children sometimes identify with characters and situa tions. Read series books featuring the same characters engaged in new experiences. • Children begin to pay attention to current events. Read junior versions of popular magazines, such as Sports Illustrated for Kids, and topical magazines written for children, such as Ranger Rick. • Children develop special interests, preferred types of books, and favorite authors. Read some books that match the child’s preferences – mysteries, science fiction, adventure stories, anything that will introduce something or someone new.

Try Introducing The Following Types of Books to Your ChildREN • Read-aloud books with plots to follow and challenging vocabulary • Easy-to-read books your child can read alone • Books in a variety of genres, including nonfiction and poetry

ELEMENTARY-SCHOOL CHILDREN

Read aloud so elementary-school children can continue to associate reading with warm, pleasant feelings; learn about words and language; build listening skills; expand vocabularies; talk about the characters, settings, and plot then relate them to their own lives; gain knowledge about a variety of topics. They can gain exposure to a variety of writing styles and structures, and discover which authors and writing styles they like. Children become more skilled independent readers and can be motivated to read on their own.

Try These Read-Aloud Tips • Set the stage before you begin reading. Discuss what you read yesterday and what might happen next. Take turns reading aloud; for example, each of you can read a page in an easy reader. • Use the tips for younger children that are also appropriate for this age group. • Defer questions until after you finish reading, if possible. This helps children get fully engaged in listening to a story. • Summarize, adapt, or skip parts of books that are too far above a child’s level of understanding. • Relate a book you are reading to one read in the past. Talk about how they are alike and how they differ. • Ask a child to imagine what he or she might do in a situation similar to that faced by a character. • Provide materials and activities that let children expand their understanding of a character, historical event, or situation. • Talk about what you have read. Books often evoke strong feelings that need to be shared. Offer your reactions and invite a child do the same. • Stop reading at a suspenseful point in the book. This encourages a child to be eager for tomorrow’s read-aloud time.

PRETEENS & TEENS

(9–12 years & 13+)

Your independent reader or preteen (9-12 years) has probably mastered basic reading skills and can read independently for pleasure. This is great time for you to keep encouraging and motivating your children to read more often. And don’t forget the importance of reading aloud to your children and participating in reading-and writing-related family activities. Your teens (13+) have a lot of competing interests that may not make reading a priority to them. Between their active social lives and extracurricular activities, it’s no wonder many adolescents choose not to be regular readers. Getting older children interested in reading remains a challenge for most parents just like you. The web links listed in To Know More section may help you find ways to encourage your adolescents to read more, the key to turning your teens into a lifelong reader.

Books Preteens And Teens Like • Preteens and teens are increasingly interested in local, national, and interna tional current events. Read editorial and articles from the newspaper and news magazines. • Preteens and teens are defining what makes them unique individuals and learn ing how they fit in the world. Read novels, set in the past and in the present, with young characters who are experiencing and coping with the challenges of growing up. • Preteens and teens question authority. Read classic and modern novels that deal with “big” issues such as when the needs of a community are more impor tant than those of individuals. • Preteens and teens are striving for independence, yet still want to be connected to their families. Read your favorite books and explain why they are important to you and read books that let you share laughter, a good mystery, an action- packed adventure, a science fiction journey. • Preteens and teens are gradually learning to think abstractly and understand the reasons behind views that differ from their own. Read books that challenge them to think “out of the box” and see the world beyond their daily experi ences. • Preteens and teens are thinking about what they will do in their lives – college, careers, and more. Read books that introduce a wide range of opportunities and experiences.

Try Introducing The Following Types Of Books To Your ChildREN • Classic fictions and other more recent novels to read aloud together • Longer chapter books for “middle readers” • Books in a variety of genres, including biography, fiction, non-fiction, and poetry

PRETEENS & TEENS Reading aloud with your preteens and teens so they can continue to associate reading with warm, pleasant feelings; learn about words and language; build listening skills; expand vocabularies; talk about the characters, settings, and plot and relate them to their own lives; gain knowledge about a variety of topics; explore social and moral issues and behaviors; become more skilled independent readers; be motivated to read on their own; discover which authors and writing styles they like. This activity can make them stay connected to their families and establish a lifelong commitment to reading.

Try These Read-Aloud Tips • Continue to read at regular times and spontaneously: “I just read a great quote about last night’s game. Can I share it?” • Respect preteens and teens by letting them keep their views to themselves, when they wish. It’s perfectly normal for this age group to want to maintain privacy about something. • Vary the read-aloud menu from light, engaging items to longer, thought-provok ing ones. • Model thinking about what you read by stopping to discuss a key point. “I never thought of it that way. What do you think?” • Stimulate discussion by asking open-ended questions that don’t have right or wrong answers, but instead, invite thinking and learning: “How do you feel about…?” “What was your take on…?” “When did you realize she was going to…?”

WHOLE FAMILY

Family involvement is one of the key components of children’s success in reading. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings all serve as role models to children and can be critical to their reading success. It is important to involve the entire family in building home reading spaces, in taking time out for reading aloud and storytelling, and in participating in motivational activities that the whole family can enjoy together.

Creating A Reading Environment At Home • Make Reading Material Available: Set a corner in your home for a family library. Make reading materials be a natural part of your home and everyday life. Make sure your library includes something for everyone at every reading level. Remember that variety counts. Make books inviting everyone. You don’t need much space; a corner of a room with a bookshelf, comfortable furniture, and adequate lighting will do. • Be Reading Role Models: Most children want to be like their parents (as much as they may deny it). Their life long habits start to form at the earliest age, often by mimicking older members of the family. If they see you reading daily, they will more likely become avid readers themselves. If children see parents visiting libraries and bookstores checking out books, they will know their par ents place a high value on reading. • Read Aloud to Children: Reading to children, even for a few minutes each day, prepares them to read and encourages a positive attitude toward reading. Children who are read to at home learn to read more easily, have a higher vocabulary, and are more likely to develop a love for reading than those who are not read to on a regular basis.

• Encourage Personal Libraries: Children often want their own place to keep books that have special meaning for them. By encouraging children to set aside their per sonal favorites, you are helping them express their affec tion and respect for books. Here are some tips for help ing children set up their own collection: 1. Find a special place for books. If your children’s room doesn’t have a bookshelf or bookcase, use a box, basket, or other sturdy container. Plastic stacking cubes work well. 2. As often as possible, let your children choose the books they want to add to their collection. A book-buying trip to a yard sale or bookstore is a fun Saturday activity. 3. Take your children to the library regularly. Even a child with a well-stocked bookshelf needs a fresh supply of books. Encourage children to treat library books with the same care they show their own. 4. Give your children books or magazine subscrip tions as gifts. 5. For babies and young toddlers, choose sturdy books that will survive rough handling. Board books, for example, have thick pages that can be turned easily and wiped clean. • Limit Television, Computers, and Video Games: Limit children’s television and computer use to make time for other activities, such as reading. Try not to use televi sion and computers as rewards for reading (or denying them as punishment for not).

Source: http://www.rif.org/parents

TO KNOW

MORE Sources To Get More Information About Children Reading • Reading Is Fundamental: Provide materials and resources to enhance children and family reading and literacy http://www.rif.org/parents • Ways to Encourage Teens to Read http://www.rif.org/parents/tips/tip.mspx?View=18 • Favorite Teenage Angst Books: This interactive site pro vides blurbs about books on topics such as fitting in, mixed up families, pressure, trouble, and healing. Teens are invited to post reviews. http://grouchy.com/angst • Teen Reads: Commentary, news, interviews, and reviews from leading authors for teen readers http://www.teenreads.com/ • Young Adult Library Services Association: The mission of the Young Adult Services Division of the ALA is to “advocate, promote, and strengthen service to young adults as part of the continuum of total library service, and to support those who provide service to this population.” http://www.ala.org/yalsa • Family Literacy Foundation www.read2kids.org/readaloud.htm

‘Reading With Your Kids’ Photo Sharing & Win Free Books! Send a family photo matching with our theme ‘Reading With Your Kids’ to ...... ............................. with brief details of the picture and your contact number. Picture resolution should not be less than 800 kilobytes. 2 winning photos at the end of April, May and June 2010 will get free books worth Bt.1500 and your lovely family photos will be displayed on ‘Reading Your Kids’ photo gallery on www.asiabooks.com.

9FFBJ K<<EJ C@B<

& Adults will connect to By Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl 9780316122436

AGE 13+

"Gorgeously crafted, atmospheric, and original. I devoured it."â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Melissa Marr, NYT bestselling author of Wicked Lovely

By James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet 9780446555661

AGE 13+

The newest, most exciting Pageturner yet! WITCH AND WIZARD is full of Patterson's trademark twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end.

By Grace Lin 9780316122696

By James Patterson 9780316083133

AGE 8-12

AGE 13+

John Newbery Honor Book for 2009 and a Booklist Top 10 Science Fiction/Fantasy Book for Youth, now available in international trade paperback.

Turbulence ahead! Will the team be able to stick together through the chaos? Newest in the NYT bestselling Maximum Ride series in international trade paperback.

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