Everyone loves a good story, especially children. Parents and children enjoy reading together. An added bonus is the enriching educational value inherent in reading. These facts make children's books great Christmas gift ideas.
Choose Books With Engaging Illustrations, Humor, and Educational Value
Silliness and humor are sure winning combinations in books for children. Kids have a great capacity for grasping the absurd and laughing without the handicap of adult-acquired inhibitions. And they take their adult cohorts along for the rollicking ride.
With the fun, though, comes the opportunity for growth and education, whether it is learning new words, concepts of right and wrong, or consequences.
Five Books Children, Parents, Teachers and Babysitters Will Enjoy From the Cradle On
It is never too early to start reading to children and showing them books. Thus, books make make great gifts for young children as well as older school age kids.
The following are five recommended gift books for baby to preschoolers and kindergarten age, called "board" books for their sturdy construction made to withstand the wear and tear of toy chests and repeated reading.
- The Going-To-Bed Book, by Sandra Boynton (Little Simon 1982)(ISBN-10: 0671449028).
Every parent has experienced the resistance of the child who does not want to go to bed. This charming book that builds on silliness to delight a child will quickly become a bedtime ritual that turns that resistance into anticipation and acceptance. This book will be a gift as much appreciated by parents as child. It is one of those books that will go from being "read to" to being "read by" children with delight.
- John Deere: Touch and Feel Tractor, by Parachute Press (DK Children 2008)(ISBN-10: 0756635241),
One need not be in a farm family to enjoy this book. Its tactile dimension provides an excellent learning feature to reading all about the John Deere tractor. But this book is not limited to the tractor. The child can feel grass and seeds and learn about the "green" world around the famous green and yellow machine that helps farmers do their work. This is a fun book that introduces a rural environment.
- My First Spanish Word Board Book/Mi Primer Libro di Palabras en Espanol, by DK Publishing (DK Preschool 2002)(ISBN-10: 0789485931).
This is one of the "My First Board Book" series introducing concepts in both English and Spanish. This book covers introductory vocabulary at the preschool level on a bilingual premise using words and pictures. It provides a picture book vocabulary approach to both languages at the age when languages are most easily learned by children. This is a great concept. Others in the series include First Colors, First Animals and First Numbers in both English and Spanish.
- The Feelings Book, by Todd Paar (L,B Kids 2005)(ISBN-10: 0316012491).
Bold colors and a touch of whimsy lend humor to acceptance that real feelings are a natural part of life. "Do you feel like dancing? Do you feel silly? Open this book and find out about all the feelings you can have" says the back cover. The youngest of children will start out enjoying the illustrations and relating to the expressions of feelings conveyed in that way. As they grow, this book will grow with them. Consider other books in Paar's series as well, such as It's Okay to Be Different.
- I Spy Little Christmas, by Jean Marzollo, Ill. by Walter Wick (Cartwheel 1999)(ISBN-10: 0439083311).
Part of the author's "I Spy" series based on the old tried and true childhood past-time of "I Spy," this book has a lot going for it in a number of ways. Start with holiday fun of finding Christmas time objects in the illustrations. Add to that game the book's verse and the developmental value of the game camouflaged in the holiday charm of such delights as cookie horses, stars, and yellow, red and blue paint pots.
With a little thought, books can make great and lasting gifts. They do not grow old. They endure. The five endearing board books recommended here are not expensive, but the fun and value they provide are priceless. They possess multi-dimensional qualities and cover a broad spectrum of subjects to engage a child's imagination.
Linda Ashar - Linda C. Ashar is a lawyer, educator, horse breeder, freelance writer, and artist. Her 25-year law practice in Avon, Ohio, focuses on ...
