I picked this up at a recent Lifeline charity book fair for only $2. It is no longer in print because it was first published in 1986, but I am sure it would have originally cost over $30 so I picked up a true bargain. I have some friends with two young granddaughters and recently their mum asked for some suggestions of poetry books to share with the girls aged three and five. This one will be perfect, and it might even have been given as a Christmas gift yesterday.
Look inside here (the cover on this site is from the paperback edition).
From the Introduction - Children have a near-genius capacity to absorb and process language between twelve months and six years of age, learning an average of nine new words a day. Research further shows us that the richer and more plentiful the language environment, the richer will be the child's vocabulary. ... Next to hugging and talking to children, reading aloud is the greatest gift we can give them. ... Unlike the toys we buy our children, poems cannot break. Their flavour will last longer than a hundred boxes of sweets. They come ready assembled and new only one battery, a reader connected to one child. And that read can start a glow that lasts a lifetime. - Jim Trelease
As you would expect this book has a title index, a first line index and an index of poets.
Two Sad by William Cole
It's such a shock, I almost screech,
When I find worm inside my peach
But then, what really makes me blue
Is to find a worm who's bit in two!
Fairies by Eleanor Farjeon
Don't go looking for fairies,
They'll fly away if you do.
You never can see the fairies
Till they come looking for you.
Silverly by Dennis Lee
Silverly,
Silverly,
Over the
Trees
The moon drifts
By on a
Runaway
Breeze
Dozily,
Dozily,
Deep in her
Bed.
A little girl
Dream with the
Moon in her
Head.
The Butterfly by Clinton Scollard
Up and down the air you float
Like a little fairy boat;
I should like to sail the sky,
Gliding like a butterly!
Reviews:
- "All truly easy to read aloud." The Horn Book Magazine
- "Bound to develop an appreciation for poetry at a very young age." School Library Journal
- "Parents will discover it is as much fun to read as it is for the little ones to hear." Chicago Tribune
- "Marc Brown's pictures of children and animals, each lovingly depicted, convey the universal childhood exuberance found in each rhyme." Boston Sunday Globe
- A Horn Book Fanfare Honor Book
- A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Book seller blurb: America's favorite children's poet and anthologist, Jack Prelutsky has selected more than 200 poems for every occasion, every event, every experience that a young child encounters, from waking up in the morning to going to bed at night, all written by popular and well-known twentieth century poets. Each poem is artfully brought to life in the bright, playful illustrations of award-winning artist Marc Brown. From cover to cover, this fantastic anthology is filled with timeless fun that will open young minds to the magic and meaning of words and enchant both parents and children for generations to come.
Here are some poetry hints from Jack Prelutsky:
1. The first few years of a child’s life are extremely important to their emotional and intellectual growth. Reading to your child during these vital years is an essential tool to provide a nurturing and language-enriched environment. In Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young, I have selected short poems with wonderful sounds to keep even the youngest child entertained while acknowledging their short attention spans.
2. Make reading a daily practice–a special time for both of you to look forward to. It could be during the afternoon to provide quiet quality time, or perhaps right before bedtime to calm the child after an active day. Find a special place in your home to sit together while you read–snuggling together while listening to a parent read makes the child feel safe, loved, and happy.
3. Read through the whole book to become familiar with the poems before choosing which ones to read to your child. This will help you pick the perfect poem that relates to the day, the weather, or an upcoming event–for example, read a poem about animals before visiting the zoo.
4. Choose rhythmic poems and vary your tone to keep the attention of very young children. While they may not understand the words yet, they will respond to the sounds. As your child gets older, begin to encourage your child to repeat the words you read to them. Point out the pictures that relate to what you are reading. If they start enjoying a particular poem you may look into other books by that poet.
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