 Baby's World - At Home. Photographs by Geoff Dann.
Preschool / Ages 1 - 3.
** /4
|
 Baby's World - Outdoors. Photographs by Geoff Dann.
Preschool / Ages 1 - 3.
** /4
|
Board books can play an important, early role in developing young readers. While parents and other adults can acquaint newborns and toddlers with the sounds of language via oral reading, eventually young children must make independent physical contact with books. Given the limited digital dexterity of this age group, the thin paper pages of children's books are at risk of being accidentally torn and crumpled. The thick, stiff pages of board books, however, are ideal for those fingers which are just learning to turn pages. As well, many a child has discovered a "taste for reading" while using board books as substitute teething rings.
The simplest board books are those that present youngsters with common, everyday objects which the children are invited to name, thereby reinforcing language development. In At Home and Outdoors, each page contains colourful photographs of four objects with each object being presented against a white, square backdrop. Under each object is a one or two word label to identify the item. Most of the articles should be familiar to the average child though the adult "reading" the text will have to "translate" a few of the British terms, eg. "pushchair" becomes "stroller," "biscuit" is "cookie,"and "dressing gown" is transformed into "robe" (or whatever you call it at your home).
While most of the photos are unambiguous in what they are to represent, some demand that child viewers stretch beyond the obvious if their answers are to match the "correct" label beneath the object. A red jar, for example, is labelled "jam" while four plastic keys on a ring constitute a "rattle." Likely few children, when they first see two teddy bears on a wooden swing, will say "swing," and the pictures of a clump of sod, i.e. "grass," and the green "rubber ring" may just evoke silence. Nonetheless, creative adults can work around these shortcomings.
Recommended with reservations.
Dave Jenkinson, the father of three adult children, is getting a second chance to look at board books in his role as a grandfather.
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Copyright © 1998 the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.
Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364
TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - JANUARY 2, 1998.
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