Thursday 6 September 2012

Books,books,glorious books!

Ever since my son arrived in this world he has been exposed to books, from those first black and white pattern baby first books, right up to "Pants" by Nick Sharatt.

 

Brilliant black and white rag book for a first born baby, simple white on black background picture of mummy, daddy and baby on each page, simple picture with word underneath, heck may as well get started in one of the best activities out! From www.amazon.co.uk
 

If there is one fun activity that is easy for mummy and him to do it is reading and chatting, I read to him and then he attempts to read it to me ,totally his own will.

 

In fact he and I are so interested in reading, books and chatting we are embarking in some research by a Language acquisition researcher for the university of Liverpool, Ben Aldridge, who is writing a book on "Small talk-Understanding your child's language development (and how you can help)". I have to agree with Nigel Latta, author of Politically Incorrect parenting, when on discussing baby sign language his response is "are you kidding me? Sign language for babies? What on earth could a small incontinent person who has never been anywhere, done anything of consequence, have to say that could be of any possible interest?". I see little point in learning Baby sign language at all unless you or a child is actually deaf. If we have the power of speech, verbal and non verbal gestures then why not focus on teaching that. Fortunately The Small Talk programme is all for talking! My only time I dabbled in baby sign language is when I thought it might be a useful thing to learn for the long term in communication as I myself have British Sign language qualifications. However my son decided he would just say "Apple" rather than mucking about with unnecessary energy required in signing!

 

I will let you know of our antics, fun and games in this very interesting research.

 

In the mean time the Ladybird Peter and Jane reading scheme books are out for tomorrow, my mother taught my siblings and I to read on this scheme and it still seems a timeless system to me, I can not abide the Phonetic reading system, probably because I just do not understand the science behind it being easier for a child to understand the word "apple" by phonetically pronouncing every letter of the word and the using of some ridiculous gesture that seems to go alongside with different letters in the phonetic programme. Perhaps Mr Aldridge will explain to me how this system is better than simply just route learning and perceiving words through regular exposure and use of a word in different contexts.

 

Christopher has a three tiered bookcase loaded with books, roll on the Kindle for children because it is ridiculous the amount of books lying around his bedroom by mid day, a total hazard for me on crutches! Here is a list of his favourites past and present, they are some you might want to check out in a library for free or very cheaply online!

 

Nick Sharatt has to be one of the best illustrators for children's books and the stories are just as great as the bold pictures, simple, rhyming stories. Pants is available in many good bookshops such as Amazon.co.uk
 

 

 

Just a fantastic book of child with a pet, loveable simple illustrations showing a little boy and his pet penguin initially not getting on, penguin ignores him despite the boys best attempts to get a rise from the bird, all turns out well in the end. Fun book for child and adult to read, not too long either! My sons top ten in his books. From www.walker.co.uk
 

 

 

 

Another beautifully illustrated simple book about a bored lazy shark who can't get into helping the other fish garden, at the end he gets left out for being lazy but he turns it around for happy times at the end. Short easy read for young toddlers who don't want "War and piece" bed time stories. From www.amazon.co.uk
 

Both my sisters son and ours loves this story. The fantastic illustrations followed by a great poem story just make for a great combination along with a story of emotions. From www.walker.co.uk
 

 

I found this book lurking in a dark corner of Sainsburys supermarket, a really lovely book, similar to Topsy and Tim books from days of yor only simpler and better illustrated and more updated. Great quick read for bed time. From Amazon.co.uk
 

Such a great book, brilliant bold illustrations, a fantastic story about a spider desperate to be a family pet, sparkly glitter everywhere. Just a great book to read to a child and my son just giggles and giggles when I shout "arrrrrrrrr spider",oddly cries when daddy says "arrrr spider" like a pirate! From www.littleonebooks.com.
 

Every toddler seems to get to a stage where lift the flap books are a must have feature of a book, this book has lots of them! A nice simple, old fashioned story line of a little boy going in search around his grandmas farm, for eggs. Is there any child on the planet who hasn't loved Rod Campbell books? From www.waterstones.com
 

For a baby up to one year old in age, very simple big pictures of cartoon bears with different textures to touch, this book is one of a huge series from "That's not my tractor" through to "That's not my puppy". Great simple book to read to a young baby but by the age of nineteen months the books are a bit simple. From amazon.com
Great textures book and great simple,bright bold images of vehicles with touch and feel areas on each. A fantastic book, each image of a vehicle has its word written simply in bold black writing underneath. My son still pulls this book out to look through it. From amazon.co.uk
 

Final must buy book for boy or a girl, with a little lady bird, sometimes microscopic, to find on each page, a lot of gorgeous illustrations and a fantastic poem you really can not go wrong with this book. From amazon.co.uk
 

I have to say once a child gets crawling the disabled parents job gets a lot tougher, however reading is constantly loved by a little one and gives you time to stay still for a good few minuets and read to your child. We read about fifteen books a day because trying to keep small man out of mischief is tricky when immobile and the more books we can ballance on the bed to keep him entertained, the better, sometimes the bed looks like a game of Jenga! I thank god for the library or we would be broke!!!!

 

Our son enjoying looking at a few books!
 

 

4 comments:

  1. Some of these suggestions are fantastic and will definitely be on my list for my daughter. I am a disabled parent too and my youngest daughter is disabled as well so reading to her is something I can do and enjoy. She has severe learning difficulties meaning she operates on the level of an 18m month - 2 year old (she is 9) but when I read to her she will happily sit and look at the books (while trying to grab them!) so she must get something from it.

    Thanks for the suggestions

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  2. Books really are an essential bit of parenting kit, my sister who at the time was a single parent got me to read stacks of books to her son to just give her a moment to have a shower and for him to actually sit still, now for my son they are totally required for both my hubby and I who have physical disabilities. It's the only time my husband can sit is when I am reading.
    I honestly believe that reading to a child whatever their difficulties is so important, it stimulates them, it is relaxing, a chance to cuddle up with mum and feel safe. I have to say as a physically disabled child I never really got into reading, really because I found sitting up anywhere for too long really painful and then trying to hold a book in lobster hands difficult , technology makes reading easier for me these days. Enjoy the books they really are so much better than in our day! Thanks for commenting x

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  3. All the Julia Donaldson books are good, my 18 month old and 5 year old both love them. Also check out 'the book people' website for good deals

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    1. I see book people keep coming up when I search " Children's book" so I shall do that, many thanks for the suggestion.

      The great thing about Julia Donaldson is that the books are as much fun for an adult to read to a child as they are too look at for a toddler. The ladybird book is great for those children who love to hunt for a microscopic ladybird in a big page of fun farm cartoon animals, I just can not fault the book.

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