Doing activities with your children allows you to promote their reading and writing skills while having fun at the same time. These activities for pre-readers, beginning readers, and older readers includes what you need and what to do for each one.
Alma Flor Ada is the award-winning author of more than 200 books for children. She is also a poet, storyteller, educator, mother, and grandmother. With a Ph.D. in literature and a lifelong love for stories, Ada has mastered the art of retelling traditional folktales and nursery rhymes from across Latin America. A native of Cuba who has also lived in Spain, Peru, and the United States, Alma Flor Ada writes poetry, picture books, and novels that offer rich, multicultural perspectives for all children.
The author of 100 Best Books for Children and 500 Great Books for Teens, Anita Silvey has devoted 35 years to promoting books that inspire children to become enthusiastic, lifelong readers. Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Horn Book Magazine and a children’s book publisher with Houghton Mifflin), Silvey continues her role as an energetic advocate for children’s and YA literature through regular appearances on television and radio and at literacy events nationwide. Publisher’s Weekly has said, “It would be hard to find a more authoritative voice than Anita Silvey.” She has recently published her first book written for children, a work of narrative nonfiction called I’ll Pass for Your Comrade: Women Soldiers in the Civil War.
In this interview, find out what Silvey thinks about the future of the book and listen to the thrilling real-life anecdote about the creators of Curious George. As she says, “every children’s book tells a story, but every children’s book has a story behind it.”
April is a month of celebrations. Seeds, bunnies, and birds are on the move. Read about a bird that makes its new home in an unusual place and about animals as they splash in and around ponds and the farm. Join a fancy féte or two. And since April is also National Poetry Month, look for a favorite poem to read together from one of these collections. Whether you pick a poem or a poetically told tale, make the month special by sharing a book or two with someone.
Browse this rich collection of picture books for children 0-12 years old. You’ll meet writers, artists, musicians, and others who made a difference through their creativity and work. You’ll also discover stories about families and everyday life in Hispanic communities, as well as books about joyful festivals and holidays. We’ve also included some favorite folktales and beautiful poetry inspired by unique cultures, family traditions, and the landscape. Many books are written in Spanish and English. Discover many more related titles with Book Finder.
It’s spring, a poetic time of year. Look around you. The days are warmer and longer, flowers start to bloom, animals wake up. Celebrate National Poetry Month in April by remembering a real person, or learning more about the earth, or even a silly little toad. Mark Earth Day by planting a garden or even reading more about the planet on which we live. It all starts when you open a book!
Charles R. Smith is a talented children’s book author and photographer. His expressive poetry — frequently about sports and music — has been praised for its playful language and clever rhymes, while his expressive photographs beautifully illuminate the texts. Smith’s books are especially appealing for read alouds and to engage struggling or reluctant readers.
The Children’s Book Council is a non-profit trade organization dedicated to encouraging literacy and the use and enjoyment of children’s books since 1945. The CBC sponsors Young People’s Poetry Week and National Children’s Book Week each year.
Eve Bunting is a spellbinding storyteller, both in conversation and in writing. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Eve Bunting relates amusing stories from her childhood in Ireland and offers insights into her books, some of which are unflinching in tackling tough subjects.
Learn more about the fascinating history and culture of Korea — an ancient country whose history stretches back more than 2,000 years. Since 1945, it has been divided into two sovereign states: North Korea and South Korea. In these picture books, you’ll learn facts about Korea from A to Z, discover traditional Korean tales (some of them spun into modern stories), and dip into Korean cooking and the delights of “sijo” poetry. You can also explore immigrant stories from the perspective of children, and find out what it’s like to live between two cultures (American and Korean).
Have you ever wondered where your interests and passions might lead? Explore how individuals changed the history of women’s basketball, wrote poetry that touched lives, saved a brave dog from a dismal life, created museums, and more — much more.
Read about all kinds of foods! We’ve selected a delicious collection of books that give young readers a chance to taste of a wide range of genres — informational nonfiction, biography, poetry, historical fiction, fantasy, mystery, and folktales — as well as different formats (audio books, chapter books, bilingual books, and graphic novels).
This booklist supports the Reading Without Walls Challenge, a nationwide initiative launched by Gene Yang, the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.
There are incredible stories in history: tough tales, tales of bravery and resolve, of heartbreak and triumph. Some are told in poetry, others in prose, still others are told with pictures; some are true, others are fictionalized. Discover many more related titles with Book Finder.
First grade is when many children put it all together and begin to read independently. But reading aloud with first graders remains not only a pleasurable but an important activity. It encourages longer attention spans — children can focus on a page of images and words for longer periods, build their understanding of the connection between speech and print. Their sense of language develops as they are introduced to its use in different types of books ranging from poetry to nonfiction or even in a silly story that uses repeated sounds. And they can see themselves and others more readily as they read about other places and characters.
See also: Great Read Alouds for Kids: Babies to Grade 3.
The world is a big place and there’s no better to meet it than between the covers of a book shared between parents or caring adult and a child. Most children are emerging readers by now but are still building both receptive language (what they hear) as well as expressive language (what they say). They’re also expanding their interests and putting ideas together in new and different ways. Books – timeworn and new, fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose – shared aloud allows both adult and child to explore together.
See also: Great Read Alouds for Kids: Babies to Grade 3.
Explore ways of getting around through fiction and nonfiction books! We’ve selected a “wheelie” great collection of books to steer young readers toward a wide range of genres — informational nonfiction, biography, history, poetry, historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, and mystery — as well as different formats (audio books, graphic novels, and chapter books).
This booklist supports the Reading Without Walls Challenge, a nationwide initiative launched by Gene Yang, the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.
It’s the time of year when we think of sharing with others. What’s better to share than a bit of time? And what better way to share your time than by reading books together! We’ve included science and nature books, funny stories, family stories, picture book biographies, poetry, fantasy, historical fiction, graphic novels — plus the new chapter books from Kate DiCamillo, Meg Medina, Sharon Creech, and other favorite authors.
There’s a book here for every kind of young reader, learner, and snuggle-in-your-lap story lover. We’ve included stories about family and friendship, animals, dragons, adventures, art, science, music, and more. You’ll find funny books, a bit of fantasy and mystery, graphic novels, poetry, and informational books that that explore everything from whales in the ocean to telescopes in space. Happy reading this holiday season!
There are so many wonderful new books for young children just waiting to be discovered. Here’s a sampling of stories about families and friendship, mysteries and adventure tales, picture book biographies, informational picture books, a bit of poetry, and much more! Help start the young children in your life on a lifelong journey of joy and learning through reading and sharing books together.
Think outside of the box. Create. Wonder. Read. Explore. Look. See. Whether in science or at home, in poetry or prose, with or without words, creativity is all around. And stretching your imagination is a great way to start the New Year.
An interactive site with animated stories, games, poetry, music, tongue twisters, and crafts for young children. Kids can write their own poems and stories.
Jacqueline Woodson writes picture books (The Other Side) as well as books for middle graders (Locomotion) and young adults (Hush). She tackles tough issues head-on: race relations, foster care, and incarceration are just some of the issues that her characters confront. In 2014, Woodson won the National Book Award for young people’s literature, the Newbery Honor, and the Coretta Scott King Award for her memoir-in-verse, Brown Girl Dreaming.
In 2018, Woodson was inaugurated as the sixth National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature by the Library of Congress. During her tenure (2018-2019), Woodson will travel nationwide over the course of her two-year term promoting her platform, “READING = HOPE x CHANGE (What’s Your Equation?),” which encourages young people to think about how reading can help them create the hope and the change they want to see in the world. And in 2020, Woodson was named a MacArthur Foundation Fellow (the “genius grant”).
