In our new "Read Better Together" blog series, youth librarians will review and share picture books that are great to share as a family. The Every Child Ready to Read project recommends that children spend time every day reading, singing, playing, writing, and talking to develop pre-literacy skills. One tried-and-true way to develop these skills is to read together. Our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program challenges families to read 1,000 books before they start kindergarten. We hope this series helps you pick some unique titles for your list and bond with your little one while reading better together.
This month, our picks are all about inspirational women with reviews by Librarian Courtney. Women's History Month was established in March 1987 as a month long celebration of the contributions and accomplishments and the strength of all women throughout history. Today, institutions such as the Smithsonian Museums are working to ensure that we tell the story of women as whole-persons rather than heroes. This month, we've selected a handful of biographies about important women to inspire young readers. Below, we've got some good tips for reading nonfiction together.
Reading Nonfiction Together Tips
- Chunk It! - Nonfiction can seem daunting because of the length of the attention span of young readers. Try taking longer books just a few pages at a time like a chapter book. Use a bookmark and build interest and suspense by reading just a couple pages a night.
- Adjust the Book to Fit You! - You never have to read every word on every page. Flip through your book before sitting down with your child and choose the parts that most interest them. Or read heading and captions while discussing your favorite illustrations. Maybe there will be a question that inspires a deeper dive into the text!
- Make Connections! - Choose an illustration or page to talk about ahead of time. Challenge your kiddo to make a connection between your reading and something in your family's life. This is a great first step on the path of reading comprehension.
Book Reviews and Suggestions
Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpre by Anika Aldamuy Denise
C: As a children's librarian, I was super excited to read this one! Pura Belpre is such an incredible role model for all us. I loved how brilliantly colored the illustrations were throughout - it's bright and full of life. I also appreciated the Spanish language words interspersed throughout. From reading, I could tell that people really loved her and she had a great impact on her community. I think kids would find the pictures fun and the story short enough to follow.
Saving American Beach: The Biography of African American Environmentalist MaVynee Betsch by Heidi Tyline King
C: A local story! American Beach is located about two hours northeast of Alachua County. I was surprised by how sad this story was. MaVynee's life is so beautiful, but I think the ending of this story is a bit tragic. The book is written simply enough to read with ages 4 and up, and the images will really delight any child. I love this story for its artistry, and I think, because it's a local story, it is especially important for children in our community to read.
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca
C: I've known the name Temple Grandin for as long as I can remember, but I definitely didn't know this much about her. I enjoyed the alternate rhyme throughout; the sentences flowed well together. The book is dedicated as "for every child who's ever felt alone." The author is honest in their portrayal of Dr. Grandin's childhood struggles without making the reader feel the intensity - this is a great opportunity to talk about those moments of struggle with your child without explicitly describing the trauma. I really loved how the author clearly aligned this awful experience of being kicked out of school to Dr. Grandin finding her passion. As it goes on to details about her scientific research (which I did not know enough about her career as a woman in STEM in a time when women were not really), I think this book is good for a little older children, about 5 or 6 up to 8 years old. Overall, this was an insightful and wonderful look into the life of a woman who truly trailblazed. In her own words, "I am different, not less."
She Sang Promise: The Story of Betty Mae Jumper, Seminole Tribe Leader by Jan Godown Annino
C: Another Florida read! This one is about Betty Mae Jumper, a Seminole Tribe leader in Florida. The pictures of the Everglades at the beginning and end are so mesmerizing. Betty Mae's story is a good example of one that I would chunk. It flows between different years of her life and caregivers can pick and choose where to stop and start based on their child's level of comfort and attention. For example, you could take a break when her family arrives back home, then pick up on the next page in a day or two. This can be a great exercise for recall - you can ask your child what happened in the story the last time you read to help them develop that skill. Betty Mae Jumper is very inspirational, but it's worth noting for parents that some of the topics that arise in this story are suited for older readers, such as over 8 years old.