I have talked about what reading books can do for us.
Almost as important (or far more important!) is what books can do for children.
There have been multiple studies showing that small children who have books read to them are more ‘school ready’ and do better than children who have been deprived of books when they were toddlers.
Dorothy Butler once wrote a book called Babies Need Books: How to Share the Joy of Reading with Your Child.
Dorothy Butler was a New Zealand children’s author, book seller and reading advocate.
Her great book was first published as long ago as 1982, but (as far as I know) it is still in print, and is still a brilliant guide into how to go about reading aloud to your young children.
I loved reading to our kids when they were little, and now that they are grown up and have families of their own, I have had the joy of reading to small children all over again as Grandpa.
It is one of the most special times you can spend with a small child.
The two of you sit side by side, you have one arm around the little child and a book balanced on your lap or in your free hand, and you read aloud while pointing out things to look for in the pictures.
It is one of those special ‘cuddling up’ times that reassure a small child that they are loved, and they are centre of your attention, and that they really matter to you.
They are never too young to read to!
(See the title of Dorothy Butler’s book.)
From the beginning the action of you reading aloud to them from picture books shows them how books work (we turn the pages from left to right, from the front of the book to the back—basic things like that).
And children are never too old to read to.
Read to them for as long as they will let you.
If they will let your read to them when they are 10 or 12 or more—then do it!
It is a great bonding time, and it is enriching their imagination and at the same time it is building up their vocabulary—helping them to think about the world and giving them the words to do so.
And toddlers need lots of books, they can never have too many.
When you are buying a gift for a small child don’t go straight to the toy department—start with the picture books.
There is no child who will not love The Very Hungry Caterpillar or the singing, swinging rhymes of the Hairy Maclary books.
I remember hearing a mother in a shopping centre once saying to the small girl beside her, ‘What do you need a book for? You’ve already got one at home.’
Horrible!
If you know small children—read to them!
As often as you can!
Give them books!
You will be making a contribution that will live with them throughout the whole of their lives.
A correction to my announcement yesterday about the latest edition of The Spectator Australia (in newsagents now) -- the cartoon on the front cover is of "four funerals and a wedding", but my latest 'Language' column is still in the back (in the lifestyle section). And as always it is packed with good writing and, hence, good reading).
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BOOKS:
* My latest book is Sherlock Holmes: 5-Minute Mysteries -- containing 50 new stories I have written about the great detective. You can find it on Amazon. Just go to Amazon and type in Sherlock Holmes: 5-Minute Mysteries in the search panel. Or use this link: h Amazon.com.au : Sherlock Holmes 5-Minute Mysteries Kel Richards
* My book "Defending the Gospel" is now in a second, fully revised, edition. You can find it here: Defending the Gospel – matthiasmedia.com.au
* If you're looking for my recent book "Flash Jim" you'll find it here -- Flash Jim, The astonis
hing story of the convict fraudster who wrote Australia's first dictionary by Kel Richards | 9781460759769 | Booktopia
* You can find all Kel's books currently in print here -- Booktopia Search Results for 'kel richards'. We sell books, hardback, paperback, audio, CDs.
* And also here -- Amazon.com.au : Kel Richards
* And you'll find more here -- Search: 4 results found for "Kel Richards" – matthiasmedia.com.au
* Many of Kel's out of print books can be found at ABE Books -- Kel Richards - AbeBooks explaining words explain the term
BY THE WAY...
If you'd like to see my A-Z list of Aussie slang, you'll find it here in the Australian Geographic website -- A-Z list of Aussie slang. Here’s the link: The A-Z of Aussie slang - Australian Geographic
The liveliest part of this website is usually the Q and A page -- be sure to check it out from time to time.
