Celebrating books and Dr. Seuss!

Wednesday March 2nd is Dr. Seuss’s Birthday. Happy (early) birthday Dr. Seuss!

It's the perfect day to celebrate books and read to your children (or have them read to you)! Here is some great info that CMOTC mom Kathleen P. found to share with everyone. Included below is fun info on the second annual Read Across America event, info on celebrating Dr. Seuss (games, actives, books, etc) and also great suggestions on how to choose books for your kids, as well as some great titles.

Thank you Kathleen for sharing!
~~~~~~~~~

READ ACROSS AMERICA

"You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child."

What better way to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday than reading to a child? On the evening of March 2nd (Dr. Seuss's birthday), Random House and the National Education Association (NEA) urge you to participate in the second annual Read Across America and read to a child.

WHY CELEBRATE DR. SEUSS?
Dr. Seuss epitomizes a love of children and learning. Also, his use of rhyme makes his books an effective tool for teaching young children the basic skills they need to be successful. When we celebrate Dr. Seuss and reading, we send a clear message to America's children that reading is fun and important.

We've compiled some materials to help you celebrate the day.

• Click here to print out your own certificate of participation.
• Click here to print out your own Cat in the Hat door knob hanger.
• Click here to print out a Dr. Seuss read and color word search.

Need help finding the right book? You can search our Seussville catalog for your favorite Dr. Seuss story, or browse through our entire library in our http://www.seussville.com/kids/f_ms_link2.html.

For more information on Read Across America, please visit the NEA's Web site at www.nea.org/readacross.

PBS will also be running a 2 hour marathon of their new series, The Cat in the Hat Knows a lot about that! You can also check out http://www.seussville.com/ - the site has information about the author, books, games and activities.


Choosing The Best Books For Children

I Love BOOKS! It can touch people in so many ways. Each night we either read to our children, they read to us (telling about the pictures on the page) or just like to look at the pictures quietly. Reading has so many benefits - vocabulary, imagination and the sharing of time together.
So what books are good for children of all ages?

0-3 month
What to look for:

• Contrasting colors
• Black-and-white illustrations
• Books with one word on each page

Title Suggestions:

• Little Quack Loves Color By Lauren Thompson
• Baby, Boo! By Beth Hardwood

3-6 month
What to look for:

• Photos of babies making different expressions
• Textures

Title Suggestions:

• My First Taggies Book
• Pat the Bunny By Dorothy Kunhardt

6-9 month
What to look for:

• Pictures of everyday objects and familiar objects
• Lift the flap(though they may pull them off)

Title Suggestions:

• Good Night Moon By Margaret Wise Brown
• Author Sandra Boyton series
  

9-12 month

What to look for:

• Buttons that make sound
• Pictures of characters in motion

Title Suggestions :

• Little People Books By Readers Digest
• Tiny Fingers: I’m feeling …Teaching
• Baby Sign Language By Lora Heller
  

1-2 Years
What to look for:

• Sturdier books that can be handled and carried
• Few words on page or simple rhymes

Title Suggestions :

• Dr. Seuss Series (wide variety for age ranges)
• Author Eric Carle series
  

2-3 Years
What to look for:

• Silly or funny books
• Subject books (i.e. food, friends, animals)
• Simple word books

Title Suggestions:

• Guess How Much I love You By Sam McBratney
• Llama, Llama Mad at Mamma By Anna Dewdney
• My Truck is Stuck By Kevin Lewis
  

3-4 Years
What to look for:

• Books that tell simple stories with a beginning and an end
• Stories that relate to real life
• Information about children’s interests

Title Suggestions:

• The Napping House By Audrey Wood
• You give a mouse a Cookie By Laura Joffe Numeroff

5-6 Years
What to look for:

• Stories and information that encourages children’s imagination and interests
• Stories about time, feelings, uses their Kindergarten skills

Title Suggestions:

• I spy series
• The “I Can Read” series
  

Give your children the key to adventure; stop by your local library to get them signed up for their own library card and check out story time! Barnes and Noble also offers story time, check with your local store for times and dates.

Half Price Books is another great store to look for classic books at a great price. They also offer a balloon to children and look in their clearance area as books can be priced as low as a $1.00.

Happy Reading!
~Kathleen P.