literacy & language links · • literacy begins at birth – long before children start...

• Literacy begins at birth – long before children start school.

• Even babies are ready to start learning about language and books.

• To learn to read, children need to first experience language.

• First comes experience, then comes understanding and finally language.

• Children learn language best through interaction with others. They takecues from facial expression, intonation, inflection and environment.

• Children’s earliest and best learning happens when they feel loved and cared for – at home, with their families.

• Literacy, learning and healthy child development are interconnected.

• A strong understanding of a language, not only English, is the best start for children’s literacy.

• Speak with your children, not at them.

• Use open ended questions (not just yes/no questions) with your child to find out what they think, and to check for understanding.

• Don’t forget to listen to what your child has to say!

• Rhymes, chants, songs and storytelling create a rich environment for language development. Use any language you want!

• Children learn through rhythm, rhyme and repetition.

• Book sharing is a way to explore a world of beauty, imagination and magic with children.

• By reading with children, you are helping them develop skills they will use forever.

• Literacy does not begin in school – it begins at home, in families!

• It’s never too early or too late to talk, sing, and read with your children.

Developed by the Centre for Family Literacy with support from the Parent-Child Literacy Strategy (Community Programs Branch, Alberta Learning) June 2004

SIDE 1TIP SHEET #1

Literacy & Language LinksLiteracy & Language Links

Reading:• Showing interest when someone reads

• Turning pages

• Pointing to pictures

• Pretending to read

• Naming letters

• Joining in or repeating phrases of a familiar story

• Asking what a word “says” or asking where a certain word is on a page

• Picking out letters, such as those in their names, or words on a page

Writing:• Watching closely when another person writes

• Scribbling

• Making scribbles that look a bit like letters

• Telling you what a scribble “says”

• Producing what look like “words” for others to read

• Writing labels for objects

• Making lists

• Using their own spellings for words

(*Children will show these signs of literacy growth across the preschool and early school years,depending on how much experience they have with language, books and writing.)


SIDE 2TIP SHEET #1

Signs of Reading and WritingDevelopment in Young Children.*

• There is a wide range of good children’s books available.

• Good books help children think about experiences all people have.

• Excellent illustrations support and extend stories.

• Children often like simple books – children’s books don’t need to becomplicated.

• Different topics appeal to boys and girls and to children of different ages.

• Good children’s books reflect a family’s culture and language.

• Children should be encouraged to question the information in books.

• C h i l d ren need to see books and other reading materials in their native language.

Recommended AuthorSLook for these authors and illustrators whose names are on quality children’s books.

Please use the following books and authors as guidelines rather than as musthaves. Not all of them will be available at your library or bookstore.


SIDE 1TIP SHEET #2

Choosing Quality Children’s Books

• Paulette Bourgeous• Sandra Boynton• Marc Brown• Eric Carle• Kay Chorao• Tomie de Paola• Eugenie Fernandes• Mem Fox• Bill Gillham• Mirra Ginsburg• Eric Hill• Tanya Hoban

• Shirley Hughes• Rachel Isadora• Dorothy Kunhardt• Jonathon London• Mercer Mayer• Harry McNaught• Robert Munsch• Laura Numeroff• Helen Oxenbury• Peggy Parish• Barbara Reid• Eve Rice

• Dr. Seuss• Nancy Shaw• Jane Simmons• Peter Spier• Cyndy Szekeres• Nancy Tafuri• Rosemary Wells• Cindy Wheeler• Nancy Wilcox Richards• Margaret Wise Brown• Audrey Wood• Harriet Ziefert


SIDE 2TIP SHEET #2

Board bookS:• These books are for infants

and toddlers. • The thick cardboard pages are

easier for children’s small hands andare very durable.

• These books can be wiped off,chewed on and crawled across.

• Check for safety – are there partsthat will rip off and could be achoking hazard?

FolktaleS and FairytaleS:• These can be traditional tales or

more contemporary ones. • The original stories have been

passed on from one person to thenext by word of mouth.

• Each culture has its own stories;however, many cultures havediffering versions of the same story.

Information or Concept bookS:• These books usually explore one

subject, like the alphabet, countingor shapes.

• They may use just pictures or picturesand words.

Picture bookS: • In these books, much of the meaning

comes through the pictures. • Readers can jump from words to

pictures and back. • The pictures support the printed word .

Predictable bookS: • Patterns are repeated throughout

these books.

• The reader can join in the repeatedparts and actively experience the book.

• Predicting and repetition helpchildren understand how stories areorganized.

• Read these books with a child ratherthan to a child.

Simple ThemeS and StorieS:• These books go a step beyond the

naming and pointing type of book. • They feature one main character,

few words on a page, a repetitivestyle and objects or situations thatare connected in some way.

Touch and Feel, or Tactile bookS:• These books encourage exploration. • They may have flaps to open,

buttons to push, diff e rent texture s ,noises, thicknesses and sliding pieces.

• Check for safety. Don’t give a childa book that has a long cord or apiece that could break off and beswallowed.

WordleSS bookS:• These books have few or no words.

The illustrations tell the story. • These books can lead to

conversation or story telling andencourage children to talk aboutwhat they see in the pictures.

• These are great for children andparents whose first language is notEnglish. Use your own language oruse the English words you know totell the story.

Types of Books for Young Children

Getting Started1. Let your child choose a book. Share the book with your child, reading slowly.

2. Have your child close to you when you read.

3. Tell your child the name of the book and say what it is about.

Reading along1. From time to time, as you read, move your finger along the words from left

to right so your child sees how the words work on the page. Point outdetails in the pictures to help your child understand what is happening.

2. Use your voice to hold the child’s attention. Children love it when you useexpression when you read.

3. Encourage children to repeat important phrases. This helps the child to beincluded as a reader.

4. You can try “paired reading” where you read together to help build yourchild’s confidence in reading aloud.

5. Encourage your children to act out what is being read. For example, if acharacter is swimming, pretend to swim.

Talking about it1. Talk about the story with your child.

2. Help your child connect actions, themes or characters with other books they have read.

3. Encourage children to interact throughout the story by pointing to the pictures and by asking questions.


SIDE 1TIP SHEET #3

Tips for Sharing Books


SIDE 1TIP SHEET #4

*Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.Judith Viorst. Atheneum

*Are You My Mother? P.D. Eastman. Viking

The Bears Picnic.Stan and Jan Berenstain. Random House

Blueberries for Sal. Robert McClosky. Viking

Bread and Jam for Francis.Russell Hoban. Harper Collins

*Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do yousee? Bill Martin Jr. Holt

Caps for Sale.Esphyr Slobodkina. Harper Collins

The Carrot Seed. Ruth Kraus. Harper Collins

A Chair for My Mother.Vera Williams. Greenwillow

*Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Bill Martin Jr.and John Archambault. Simon & Schuster

*Chicken Soup with Rice.Maurice Sendak. Harper and Row

Curious George. H.A. Rey. Houghton

*Each Peach Pear Plum. Janet Ahlberg. Viking

*Green Eggs and Ham.Dr. Seuss. Beginner Books

*Goodnight Moon.Margaret W. Brown. Harper Collins

*The Grouchy Ladybug. Eric Carle. Philomel

*Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed.(retold) Eileen Christlelow. Harper Collins

Harold and The Purple Crayon.Crockett Johnson. Harper Collins

Harry The Dirty Dog.Gene Zion. Harper Collins

*Horton Hatches the Egg.Dr. Seuss. Random House

If you give a Moose a Muffin.Laura Numeroff. Harper Collins

*I Know An Old Lady. Rose Bonne. Scholastic

*“I can’t,” said the ant. Polly Cameron.Coward, McCann & Geoghegan

I Read Signs. Tana Hoban. Simon & Schuster

I Went Walking. Sue Williams. Scholastic

Ira Sleeps Over. Bernard Waber. Houghton

Leo the Late Bloomer.Robert Kraus. Harper Collins

Little Blue and Little Yellow.Leo Lionni. Asto-Honor

*The Little Dog Laughed and Other NurseryRhymes. Lucy Cousins. Dutton

*Little Red Hen. (retold) Janina Domanska. Hamish Hamilton

Little Red Riding Hood.(retold by) Paul Galdone. McGraw-Hill

*Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile.Bernard Waber. Houghton

Madeline. Ludwig Bemelmans. Puffin Books

Make Way for Ducklings.Robert McCloskey. Viking

Mr. Gumpy’s Outing.John Burningham. Harcourt

Picture booksThose marked with * have a predictable pattern


SIDE 2TIP SHEET #4

Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me.Eric Carle. Simon & Schuster

*Over in the Meadow.John Langstaff. Harcourt

Rosie’s Walk.Pat Hutchins. Simon & Schuster

The Snowy Day.Ezra Jack-Keats. Viking

Stone Soup.(retold) Marcia Brown. Simon & Schuster

The Story of Ferdinand.Munro Leaf. Viking

The Tale of Peter Rabbit.Beatrice Potter. Warner

The Three Billy Goats Gruff.(retold) Paul Galdone

There’s a Nightmare in My Closet. Mercer Mayer. Dial

*The Three Little Pigs.Paul Galdone. Seabury Press

*A Treeful of Pigs.Arnold Lobel. Greenwillow

*Too much Noise.Ann McGovern. Hougton & Mifflin

*The Very Hungry Caterpillar.Eric Carle. Philomel

*What do you do with a Kangaroo?Mercer Mayer. Scholastic

The Wheels on The Bus.Paul Zelinsky. Dutton

Where the Wild Things Are.Maurice Sendak. Harper Collins

Where’s Spot?Eric Hill. Putman

*“You look ridiculous”, said the rhinoceros to the hippopotamus.Bernard Waber. Hougton & Mifflin

Picture books (cont.)Those marked with * have a predictable pattern

The Aboriginal Alphabet for Children. Evelyn Ballantyne. Pemmican Publications Inc.

ABC’s of our Spiritual Connection. Kim Soo Goodtrack. Theytus Books

Alfred’s First Day At School. Darrell W. Pelletier. Gabriel Dumont Institute

Alfred’s Summer. Darrell W. Pelletier. Gabriel Dumont Institute

Anna’s Athabaskan Summer. Arnold Griese. Boyds Mills Press

Arctic Stories. Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak. Annick Press

Between Earth & Sky - Legends of Native American Sacred PlacesJoseph Bruchac. Harcourt Brace & Company

The Big Storm. Darrell Pelletier. Gabriel Dumont Institute

The Big Tree & the Little Tree. M. A. Tappage. Pemmican Publications

Billy’s World. Cora Weber-Pillwax. Reidmore Books

Bird Talk. Lenore Keeshig-Tobias. Sister Vision: Black Women & Women of Colour Press

The Birth of Nanabosho. Joseph McLellan. Pemmican Publications Inc.

Bobbie Bluestem. Rhonda O’Grady. Pemmican Publications Inc.

A Boy Called Slow. Joseph Bruchac. Paperstar

Selected List of Aboriginal Children’s Books

Buzzing Mosquitoes. Blaine Klippenstein. Loon Books Publishing

Byron Through the Seasons. The Children of La Loche & Friends. Fifth House Ltd.

The Canoe Race. Blaine Klippenstein. Loon Books Publishing

Caribou Hide. Alfred Masuzumi. Raven Rock Publishing

Cathy Cattail. Rhonda O’Grady. Pemmican Publications Inc.

Charlie the Chinook. John & Betty Wilcox. Raven Rock Publishing

Children of the Great Muskeg. Sean Ferris. Black Moss Press

Children of the Yukon. Ted Harrison. Tundra Books

Chuck in the City. Jordan Wheeler. Theytus Books Ltd.

The Circle of Thanks. Joseph Bruchac. Bridgewater Books

Courageous Spirits. J. Archibald et. al. Theytus Books Ltd.

Crazy Horse’s Vision. Joseph Bruchac. Lee & Low Books Inc.

A Crow Named Joe. Peter Eyvindson. Pemmican Publications

The Crying Christmas Tree. Allan Crow. Pemmican Publications Inc.

David’s Day. Diane Brookes. Raven Rock Publishing

Revised January 2005

Developed by the Centre for Family Literacy with support from the Parent-Child Literacy Strategy (Community Programs Branch, Alberta Advanced Education) January 2005

TIP SHEET #5 SIDE 1

Did You Hear Wind Sing Your Name? Sandra DeCouteau Orie. Walker & Co.

Down the Hill. Blaine Klippenstein. Loon Books Publishing

Dreamcatcher. Audrey Osofsky. Orchard Books

Drumbeat, Heartbeat: A Celebration of the Powwow. Susan Braine. First Avenue Editions

Eagle Boy. retold by Gerald Hausman. Harper Collins

Eagle Feather - An Honour. Ferguson Plain. Pemmican Publications

The Earth Under Sky Bear’s Feet: Native American Poems of the Land. Joseph Bruchac. Paperstar

Fire Race: A Karuk Coyote Tale. Jonathan London. Chronicle Books

The First Strawberries. Joseph Bruchac. Dial Books for Young Readers

Fish for Supper. Blaine Klippenstein. Loon Books Publishing

Flour Sack Flora. Deborah L. Delaronde. Pemmican Publications Inc.

The Flower Beadwork People. Sherry Farrell Racette. Gabriel Dumont Institute

Foster Baby. Rhian Brynjolson. Pemmican Publications Inc.

Fox Song. Joseph Bruchac. Oxford University Press

Selected List of Aboriginal Children’s Books (cont.)

Frog Girl. Paul Owen Lewis. Whitecap Books

Frybread. Ferguson Plain. Ningwakwe Learning Press

Giving Thanks. Chief Jake Swamp. Lee & Low Books Inc.

Gluskabe and the Four Wishes. Joseph Bruchac. Penguin Books

The Goat in the Rug. Charles L. Blood. Aladdin Paperbacks

Gramma’s Birthday. Blaine Klippenstein. Loon Books Publishing

Grandmother’s Dreamcatcher. Becky Ray McCain. Albert Whitman & Company

Grampa & the Four Brothers. Don Sawyer. Pemmican Publications Inc.

Hats, Hats, Hats. Blaine Klippenstein. Loon Books Publishing

Hide and Sneak. Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak. Annick Press

How Chipmunk Got His Stripes. Joseph Bruchac. Scholastic Inc.

How Food Was Given. Barbara Marchand. Theytus Books

How Lone Crow Became Magpie. Kate Buchhlz. Pemmican Publications Inc.

How the Stars Fell into the Sky. Jerrie Oughton. Houghton Mifflin Company

How Turtle Set the Animals Free. Kou-Ske lowh/We Are The People. Theytus Books


TIP SHEET #5 SIDE 2

How Two-Feather Was Saved From Loneliness. C.J. Taylor. Tundra Books

I Am the Eagle Free: A Six Nations Legend. Simon Paul-Dene. Theytus Books

I Can’t Have Bannock But the Beaver Has a Dam. Bernelda Wheeler. Peguis Publishers

I Like to Help. Blaine Klippenstein. Loon Books Publishing

I Love to Play Hockey. Dale Klassen. Pemmican Publications Inc.

In the Garden. C. Mamchur. & Meguido Zola. Pemmican Publications Inc.

I See. Blaine Klippenstein. Loon Books Publishing

Jen And The Great One. Peter Eyvindson. Pemmican Publications Inc.

Just A Walk. Jordan Wheeler. Theytus Books Ltd.

Just Talking About Ourselves. Vol. 1. Marlena Dolan. Theytus Books Ltd.

Just Talking About Ourselves. Vol. 2. Marlena Dolan. Theytus Books Ltd.

Lessons From Mother Earth. Elaine McLeod. Groundwood Books

Lisa and Sam. Darrell Pelletier. Gabriel Dumont Institute

The Little Duck – Sikihpsis. Beth Cuthand. Theytus Books

Little Badger and the Fire Spirit. Maria Campbell. McClelland & Stewart

The Lonely Inukshuk. Inuglat School Students. Scholastic Canada Inc.

Loon Lake. Jonathan London. Chronicle Books

Macous Knows: The Sacred Eagle Feather. Charlene Crowe. Duval House Publishing

Many Nations: An Alphabet of Native America. Joseph Bruchac. BridgeWater Paperback

Me. Blaine Klippenstein. Loon Books Publishing

The Meaning Of Respect. Dave Bouchard. Pemmican Publications Inc.

Meet My Family. Blaine Klippenstein. Loon Books Publishing

The Missing Sun. Peter Eyvindson. Pemmican Publications Inc.

The Moccasin Goalie. W.R. Brownridge. Orca Book Publishers

Mom’s Bannock. Blaine Klippenstein. Loon Books Publishing

Morning on the Lake. Jan Bordeau Waboose. Kids Can Press Ltd.

Murdo’s Story. Murdo Scribe. Pemmican Publications Inc.

My Best Friend Leonard. Blaine Klippenstein. Loon Books Publishing

My Kind of Pup. Meguido Zola. Pemmican Publications

My Kokum Called Today. Iris Loewen. Pemmican Publications Inc.


TIP SHEET #5 SIDE 3


My Mom is So Unusual. Iris Loewen. Pemmican Publications Inc.

Nanabosho Dances. Joe McLellan. Pemmican Publications Inc.

Nanabosho. How the Turtle Got Its Shell. Joe McLellan. Pemmican Publications. Inc.

Nanabosho. Soaring Eagle and the Great Sturgeon. Joe McLellan. Pemmican Publications Inc.

Nanabosho and the Cranberries. Joe McLellan. Pemmican Publications. Inc.

Nanabosho and the Woodpecker. Joe McLellan. Pemmican Publications. Inc.

Nanabosho Steals Fire. Joe McLellan. Pemmican Publications. Inc.

The Native Stories From Keepers of the Earth. Joseph Bruchac & M.J. Caduto. Fifth House Publishers

The Night Rebecca Stayed Too Late. Peter Eyvindson. Pemmican Publications Inc.

Ningwakwe’s ABC Book. Stewart Bennett. Ningwakwe Learning Press

Northern Lights and Soccer Trails. Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak. Annick Press

Northern Storytellers II. ed by Joanne Snyder. Student Anthology Project. Fairview College

Old Enough. Peter Eyvindson. Pemmican Publications Inc.

On Mother’s Lap. Ann Herbert Scott. Clarion Books


Oodles of Noodles. Blaine Klippenstein. Loon Books Publishing

Orca’s Song. Anne Cameron. Harbour Publishing Co Ltd.

Out On The Ice In The Middle Of The Bay. Peter Cumming. Annick Press

The Pow-Wow. Darrell W. Pelletier. Gabriel Dumont Institute.

Prairie Born. Dave Bouchard. Orca Book Publishers

Raven: A Trickster Tale of the Pacific Northwest. G. McDermott. Harcourt Brace & Co.

Raven Returns the Water. Anne Cameron. Harbour Publishing Company Ltd.

Ravens Fly High. Blaine Klippenstein. Loon Books Publishing

Red Parka Mary. Peter Eyvindson. Pemmican Publications Inc.

Rolly’s Bear. Ferguson Plain. Pemmican Publications Inc.

A Salmon for Simon. Betty Waterton. Groundwood Books

The Sacred Eagle Feather. Charlene Crowe. Duval House Publishers

Sayings of the Elders. John Friesen. Detselig Enterprises

Selu And Kana’Ti - Cherokee Corn Mother And Lucky Hunter. Red Earth. Mondo Publishing

Seya’s Song. Ron Hirschi. Sasquatch Books

TIP SHEET #5 SIDE 4


The Skating Rink. Blaine Klippenstein. Loon Books Publishing

Skipping Stones. Blaine Klippenstein. Loon Books Publishing

Skysisters. Jan Bourdeau Waboose. Kids Can Press

Songs Are Thoughts - Poems of the Inuit. ed. by Neil Philip. Doubleday Canada Ltd.

The Spring Celebration. Tina Umpherville. Pemmican Publications Inc.

Springtime Mud. Blaine Klippenstein. Loon Books Publishing

The Star Maiden. B.J. Esbensen. Little. Brown & Co.

Stories from Kohkum. ed. by Sylvia Vicq. READ

The Story of Blue Elk. Gerald Hausman. Clarion Books

Thirteen Moons on Turtle’s Back. J. Bruchac & J. London. Putnam & Grosset Group

This Land Is My Land. George Littlechild. Children’s Book Press

Those Tiny Bits of Beans. John Weier. Pemmican Publications Inc.

The Trip to Town. Blaine Klippenstein. Loon Books Publishing

Turtle Island: Tales of the Algonquian Nations. Jane Louise Curry. Margaret K. McElderry Books

Two Pairs of Shoes. Esther Sanderson. Pemmican Publications Inc.


Up and Down. Blaine Klippenstein. Loon Books Publishing

Very Last First Time. Jan Andrews. Douglas & McIntyre Ltd.

The Vision Seeker. James Whetung. Stoddart Publishing Co. Ltd.

Wesakejack and the Bears. Bill Ballantyne. Bain & Cox

Wesakejack and the Flood. Bill Ballantyne. Bain & Cox

West Coast Rhymes. Jenny Nelson. Gage Educational Publishing Co.

What’s The Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses? Richard Van Camp. Children’s Book Press

Where Did You Get Your Moccasins?Bernelda Wheeler. Peguis Publishers

Where I Live. Blaine Klippenstein. Loon Books Publishing

Where Only The Elders Go: Moon Lake Loon Lake. Jan Bourdeau Waboose. Penumbra Press

Wisahkecahk Flies to the Moon. Freda Ahenakew. Pemmican Publications

The Yesterday Stone. Peter Eyvindson. Pemmican Publications Inc.

TIP SHEET #5 SIDE 5



TIP SHEET #5 SIDE 6

Questions to ask when choosing an Aboriginal Children’s Book:1. Is this book truthful?

2. Is this book respectful?

3. Is there anything in this book that would embarrass or hurt a Native child?

4. Is there anything in this book that would foster stereotypic thinking in a non-Indian child?

(Oyate, 1996: p.1)Used with permission.


TipS to parentS:1) Be sure to share books in your home language too!

2) Wordless picture books are one way to share books with your children, andyou can talk about the pictures in your home language and in English.

WordleSS Picture BookS:


SIDE 1TIP SHEET #6

Books and Tips Reflective of Different Cultures

A Boy, a Dog, and a Frog.Mercer Mayer. Dial Press

Alligator’s Toothache.Diane De Groat. Crown Books

Bobo’s Dream. Martha Alexander. Dial Press

Changes, Changes.Pat Hutchins. Simon & Schuster

Deep in the Fore s t . Brinton Turkle. Dutton Pre s s

First Snow. Emily Arnold McCully.Harper Collins Canada

Frog Goes to Dinner. Mercer Mayer. Dial

Frog On His Own. Mercer Mayer. Dial

Good Dog, Carl.Alexandra Day. Green Tiger Press

Have You Seen My Duckling?Nancy Tafuri. Greenwillow Books

Kitten for a Day.Ezra Jack Keats. Penguin USA

Little Red Riding Hood.John S. Goodall. Simon & Schuster

Look What I Can Do.Jose Aruego. Simon & Schuster

Moonlight. Jan Ormerod. Frances Lincoln

Pancakes for Breakfast.Tomie de Paola. Harcourt Brace

Picnic. Emily Arnold McCully. Harper Collins Canada

Rain. Peter Spiers. Harcourt Press

Rosie’s Walk. Pat Hutchins. Macmillan

School. Emily Arnold McCully. Harper Collins Canada

Sunshine. Jan Ormerod. Frances Lincoln

The Hunter and the Animals. Tomie de Poalo. Holiday House

The Silver Pony. Lynd Ward. Houghton Mifflin

The Surprise Present.Nick Ward. Oxford University Press

Topsy-Turvies. Mitsumasa Anno. Putnam Publishing

Where is Monkey?Dieter Schubert. Beaver Books


SIDE 2TIP SHEET #6

Amifika. Lucille Clifton. Viking Press

Africa Dream.Eloise Greenfield. Harper & Row

All the Colors of the Earth.Sheila Hamanaka. Mulberry Books

Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions.Margaret Musgrove. Dial Press

Baby Says.John L. Steptoe. Lothrop

BREAD BREAD BREAD.Ann Morris. Scholastic

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain: Anansi Tale. Verna Aardema. Dial Press

Brothers.Debbie Bailey. Annick Press

Count Your Way Through Africa.Jim Haskins. Carol Rhoda

Dark Night, Sleepy Night.Harriet Ziefert. Puffin

Dim Sum For Everyone.Grace Lin. Dragonfly Books

Elephants Aloft.Kathi Appelt. Harcourt Brace Co.

Families.Debbie Bailey. Annick Press

Gathering the Sun, An Alphabet in Spanishand English. Alma F. Ada. Harper Collins

Greedy Zebra. Mwenye Hadithi. Hodder & Staughton Children’s Books

Hand in Hand, Multicultural Experiences forYoung Children Series. Addison Wesley:

All TogetherC is for CommunityCelebrationsFood is for SharingFun with ClothesMany Ways to TravelOne Nose, Two HandsRainy Day FriendsWiggle Like a Puppy

Jaha and Jamil Went Down The Hill.Virginia L. Kroll. Charlesbridge Publishing

Lots of Dads.Shelley Rotner. Picture Puffins

My First Canadian 123. Scholastic

My First Canadian ABC. Scholastic

1, 2, 3, Go! Huy Voun Lee. Henry Holt and Co.

Tell Me a Story, Mama.Angela Johnson. Watts

The Black Snowman.Phil Mendez. Scholastic

The Playground.Debbie Bailey. Annick Press

The Small Good Wolf.Mary Rayner. Macmillan Publishing Ltd.

Tortillitas Para Mama.Margot C. Griego et al. Henry Holt and Co.

Yoko. Rosemary Wells. Hyperian Books for Children

Multicultural Books


SIDE 1TIP SHEET #7

A Northern Alphabet.E. (Ted) Harrison. Tundra Books

Amos’s Sweater.Janet Lunn. Groundwood Books

And You Can Be The Cat.Hazel Hutchins. Trade Paperback

Architect Of The Moon.Tim Wynne-Jones. Groundwood Books

Are You My Mother?Phillip D. Eastman. Viking

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Bill Martin, Jr.and John Archambault. Simon & Schuster

Goodnight Moon.Margaret Wise Brown. Harper Collins

Harry, the Dirty Dog. Gene Zion. Harper Collins

Have You Seen Josephine?Stephane Poulin. Tundra Books

Kele’s Secret. Tololwa M. Mollel. Dutton

Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse.Kevin Henkes. William Morrow & Company

Lizzy’s Lion. Dennis Lee. Stoddart Publishing

Mabel Murple. Sheree Fitch. DoubledayCanada

Matthew And The Midnight Tow Truck.Allen Morgan. Annick Press

Moonbeam On A Cat’s Ear.Marie-Louise Gay. Stoddart Publishing

Morgan The Magnificent.Ian Wallace. Douglas & McIntyre

My Arctic 1,2,3. Michael ArvaarlukKusugak. Trade Paperback

Pigs Aplenty, Pigs Galore! David M. McPhail. Dutton Children’s Books

One More Pet.Eugenie Fernandes. Scholastic Canada

Queen Nadine.Maryann Kovalski. Trade Paperback

Red Is Best. Kathy Stinson. Annick Press

Roses Sing On New Snow: A Delicious Tale.Paul Yee. Vancouver Art Gallery

Sheep in a Jeep. Nancy Shaw. Thomas Allen & Son Ltd.

Shells. M. Starters

Simon And His Boxes.Gilles Tibo. Tundra Books

Sky Full Of Babies.Richard Thompson. Annick Press

Something From Nothing.Phoebe Gilman. Scholastic Canada

Something Might Be Hiding.Celia Barker Lottridge. Groundwood Books

Stella, Star of the Sea.Marie-Louise Gay. Groundwood Books

Sweet Potato Pie.Anne F. Rockwell. Random House Canada

Take Me Out to the Ballgame.Maryann Kovalski. Scholastic Canada

The Lie That Grew And Grew.Mark Thurman. NC Press

The Party.Barbara Reid. Scholastic Canada

The Snow Cat. Dayal Kaur Khalsa. Tundra Books

The Tree That Grew To The Moon.Eugenie Fernandes. Scholastic Canada

The True Story of The 3 Little Pigs.Jon Scieszka. Zebra Bouquet

The Very Hungry Caterpillar.Eric Carle. Philomel

Books for Toddler to Pre-school


SIDE 2TIP SHEET #7

The Wildlife ABC & 1, 2, 3: A Nature Alphabet & Counting Book.Jan Thornhill. Maple Tree Press

Three Cool Kids.Rebecca Emberley. Little, Brown & Company

Two Too Many.Jo Ellen Bogart. Scholastic Canada

Where the Wild Things Are.Maurice Sendak. Harper Collins

Would They Love A Lion?Kady Macdonald Denton. Kingfisher

Books for Toddler to Pre-school(cont.)

SIDE 1TIP SHEET #8

Act out a story with your child.

Babies enjoy looking at pictures with bright colours and faces.

Connect what happens in the book to your child’s life.

Decide to make time to read with your child.

Even babies enjoy snuggling up with you to share a book.

Find comfortable places to re a d .

Go for a walk and read the signs along the way.

Help your child explore the world of numbers and word s .

If you read to your child, he’ll likely become a good re a d e r.

Jump in and play with your child.

Keep TV time to no more than one hour a day.

Let your child see you reading for yourself.

Make a pretend store and count out the change together.

Family Literacy – An for Parents


SIDE 2TIP SHEET #8

Notice the words in your home. Read them together with your child.

Open a book and read with your child every day.

Put books in easy-to-reach places.

Questions your children ask are a bridge to understanding.

Read a variety of books to your child.

Support your child in her efforts to become a good re a d e r.

Take time to talk about what you read in a book.

Use events that happen every day to teach your child about the world.

Visit your local library and let your child choose a book.

Write a letter or a shopping list together.

‘Xpect your child to be a re a d e r.

Your baby loves to hear you talk, sing and read to him.

Zzz – a good time to read is just before bed.

Family Literacy – An for Parents


literacy & language links · • literacy begins at birth – long before children start...

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