I am so excited to have Jackie Higgins, author of the blog, Ready. Set. Read 2 Me, guest posting today! I “met” Jackie through WeTeach and greatly enjoy her literacy posts and activities.
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Books that Help Preschoolers Enjoy Reading
I often hear parents complain that their young preschoolers “just aren’t interested in books.” Friends have told me that I am “so lucky” that my kids love to read. With my first child, I was “so lucky”, he would let me read anything to him and he would sit contently by my side.
My second son was a different story. He wasn’t interested in quiet. He wasn’t interested in still. He wasn’t interested in books ** gasp**. It has taken a lot of trial and error to find books that will engage him in reading. Today I am sharing five examples of books I look for when trying to engage a child with books. Even if you can’t find the exact title, chances are you have something in your home library or your local library that meets the description.
To make reading fun, look for books with repetitive texts that encourage children to join in the reading. The child will feel successful as he has heard the familiar refrain so many times. Some other fun books that use repetitive texts:
Jump, Frog, Jump by Robert Kalan
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
Another way to make reading fun, is to get rid of quiet and boring reading times! Look for books with actions. Wiggle by Doreen Cronin can help children to see that reading isn’t always about sitting still and listening quietly. Sometimes, a book requires that we get up and MOVE! Other books that include movement:
Clap Your Hands by Lorinda Bryan Cauley
Two more movement books by Cronin:
Bounce by Doreen Cronin
Stretch by Doreen Cronin
A third way to make reading fun is to turn reading time into singing time! There are so many great books that can be sung! My children are currently obsessed with all of the Pete the Cat books. Each of these books features a song that repeats through out the book. You can even search youtube for Pete the Cat and find videos of the authors performing the songs!
Other fun books to sing:
Wheels on the Bus by Raffi
The other books in the Pete the Cat Series:
Pete the Cat, I Love my White Shoes
Pete the Cat and his Four Groovy Buttons
This book makes reading fun because the rhymes can be manipulated and the book is personalized with your child’s name. My boys think it is so funny to sing “Tyson had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb…” I particularly love Tomie DePaola’s illustrations, which is why I choose this book. Any nursery rhyme book will do. Iza Trapani’s books are wonderful for reading aloud to a large classroom of children!
Other books that can be personalized with your child’s name:
The Neighborhood Mother Goose by Nina Crews
Some of our favorite Iza Trapani books for adding a child’s name:
Baa Baa Black Sheep
Froggy Went a Courtin’
The Bear Went Over the Mountain
Finally, make reading fun by allowing your child to act out the book with puppets as you read the story. The Seals on the Bus is a funny book and fun to act out with simple hand drawn finger puppets. We also like to act out these books:
Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do You See? By Bill Martin and Eric Carle
Jan Brett’s books, like On Noah’s Ark. There are free printables of almost all of the characters in her books on her website. This makes creating puppets easy.
Try these tips to find books that engage readers. Look for books with repetative texts, books that encourage physical movement, books that can be sung, books that can be personalized, and books that you can act out. Check out some of our favorites and share some of your favorite books that help preschoolers enjoy reading time!
Thank you to This Reading Mama for inviting me into her space to share with you today!
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Thank you, Jackie, for those amazing ideas!~Becky
In my opinion you can never go wrong with Suess. I started both my kids on Cat in the Hat, Hop on Pop, and Green Eggs and Ham. In that order. Then progressed to harder works. Oh and I LOVE that this says pre-school. I can’t count the number of times I heard “but, isn’t s/he too young?”. My response “Obviously not, s/he is doing it and enjoys it.”
Love it! You’re right…you can’t go wrong with Suess! Amen to the preschooler thing. I had my own skeptics who’ve said, “But, your child will be bored in Kindergarten if you do it now.” But, how can you say ‘no’ when your kids love it and get it??
Thank you for letting me share, Becky! And thanks for mentioning We teach!! I hope everyone stops by and joins the Christian Ed. group… it has a really great leader 😉
You’re too sweet. 😉 I really did enjoy your post. You’re very creative. Your 2 boys are blessed to call you “mama”.
Great ideas here! Thanks Jackie.