They’re tricky and they’re selfish but then they get their comeuppance in the end, hooray! Children love trickster tales, which often feature a smaller animal who, using cunning and wit, outsmarts the stronger animal who is only thinking of himself. There’s something universally appealing about these very wise human tales, which are found in all parts of the world from Ireland, to India, to Africa and the American South. You and your kids are sure to enjoy the antics in these recommended books for children ages 0-9.
Tales travel — just as do tricksters — from country to country. Some things stay the same while others may change here and there. Most of the trickiness is done by animals, but on the pages of these books, you’ll also meet a very clever boy named Wiley and his mother. Together they outwit the Hairy Man just as Turtle manages to outwit a classic trickster named Anansi.
Meet these and other tricksters as they travel from Africa to the Americas and places on the way. You’re likely to laugh out loud when you meet these crafty, sometimes outsmarted, but always enjoyable characters!
Thinking about the sounds in words is not natural, but it can be fun. Here are some games children can play to develop phonemic awareness, as well as a method for segmenting words that prevents children from distorting the pronunciation of the phonemes.
Whether a tutor is reading aloud, talking, or writing with a child, there are strategies for making these interactions even more valuable. Learn about these strategies in these tips for tutoring preschool and kindergarten children.
