Reading tips and our favourite new books

Your child’s early years are critical – what they do now is laying the foundation for a lifetime of learning, particularly when it comes to reading.

Here are our top five reading tips to give your child a head start.

1. Read as often as you can: Make reading a habit by reserving time for books in their night-time routine. Practice makes perfect, and the more time they spend listening to, looking at and, eventually, reading along with books, the better. Simply exposing them to print will help your child develop their reading.
2. Teach them how to interact with books: It may sound simple, but don’t underestimate the importance of introducing your children to books; how to hold them, how to turn the pages and how to read from left to right are all skills they will need to know before embarking on their reading journey.
3. Encourage tracing: Even if your child can’t read yet, tracing their finger along the words as you read them aloud is one of the best ways to develop print awareness – the understanding that shapes and letters stand for certain words.
4. Make it fun: Interaction is key, and picture books are particularly useful for having fun while reading. Make the book come alive by using different voices, encouraging participation in the story and using silly actions. This is the best way to motivate your child to interact with books.
5. Beyond the book: It’s normal to feel like you have to finish a book from start to finish, but remember it’s okay to stop when your child has had enough. You can always continue the learning by taking the time to explain or teach your child new words you see while out and about.

OUR FAVOURITE NEW CHILDREN’S BOOKS

World So Wide by Alison McGhee

A celebration of a child’s wonder-filled first experiences, and the love between parents and child, from a Pulitzer Prize–nominated, New York Times bestselling author and a talented illustrator.

Fritzy Finds a Hat by Scott Hamilton

Fritzy’s mom has cancer, which is pretty scary. But Fritzy is on a mission to find his mom the perfect hat she can wear to her treatments. What will he find?

Pig the Tourist by Aaron Blabey

Pig the Pug is back, and this time, he’s causing havoc and hilarity as he travels around the world. Everywhere he goes around the globe, Pig the Pug offends the locals and causes destruction and devastation. However, in the end, Pig’s rudeness comes back to bite him…

Narwhal’s Otter Friend by Ben Clanton

Exuberant Narwhal and skeptical Jelly test the waters of adding a new friend to their pod when they meet Otty the super-adventurous otter in the fourth book of this blockbuster early graphic novel series!

My Super Me by Todd Herman & Eevi Jones

Humans find out what they’re made of when they play with the idea of acting through the abilities of someone or something else they admire. And kids are better at it than adults.