Dictionary For Dads

Children need stories and books to help them make sense of the world. Books can be a wonderful way for parents and children to share feelings, concerns, and emotions. For a child, nothing can be as safe and comfortable as reading a book with their Dad. Kids who learn to love books at an early age will love them when they get older. Reading is linked to childrens ability to having academic success more than any other skill. It is a gift of a lifetime to start early and reinforce reading. But choosing the right book for a pre-school child can sometimes be as difficult as finding a good mechanic!

A good story for preschool children should have a quick moving plot and an up-beat ending. A good book should not be age bias, gender bias, or  racial bias.

• The plot should be somewhat surprising and funny.  The characters should  solve a problem in an unusual ways.
• Picture books are great for children this is there first exposure to art.
• When all else fails bring a stack a week home from the library and do trial and error.

Ask the bookstore employee or librarian to recommend a book for your preschool child. Be prepared to advise them on your child's age and any specifics on what the child likes. 

Read the book yourself before buy it or taking it home. Trust your judgment.  If the book doesn't seem right for you and your child, leave it on the shelf and choose another one.

Librarians and bookstore owners will give you information about award winning childrens books.  Sometimes these awards are for the illustrations however, the story may not be as appealing as the artwork.  Regardless reading is a personal choice so no matter how many award a book has won it may not be right for you and or your children.

 Hootie & Otis 

The Stray Dog by Marc Simont
A touching book about a family that finds a scruffy, stray dog in the park. A wonderful example of the way an illustrator can enhance a story through pictures.

If You Give a Mouse A Cookie by Laura Numeroff
A funny book of zany cause and effect.  This is a surefire winner with children, who will want to hear it read over and over.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
A simple tale of a boy who wakes up to find that his world is draped in snow.  A book that has stood the test of time and still evokes a winter wonderland.

Leo The Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus
A story about a boy who's behind in nearly everything.  Read this book to children who can't do the things their friends or siblings can do.

Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
A hilarious book with wonderful character.  This book tells the story of Officer Buckle who gives deadly dull presentations to schoolchildren about safety - until Gloria, the police dog, comes along.

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
A story about cows who want to improve their working conditions.  The author has included a few big words for children to learn, but children seem to love the story anyway.

Olivia by Ian Falconer
Olivia is a high - energy pig who combs her ears and hates to take a nap. Another laugh-out-loud book with wonderful illustrations.

Julius the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes
A great book for children with a new baby in the house.  Henkes captures all the emotions of a big sister whose parents pay too much attention to the new arrival.

 The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
A very hungry caterpillar eats his way through various food items and the pages of the book itself.  Twelve million copies of this book have been sold and children still seem to love it.

Nonfiction books for young children cover a wide range of topics.  Some help children deal with a common problem-a new baby in the house, the first day of school, the death of a pet, etc. This can open up conversations with your child to address issues they may have with these topics. Others provide basic information about science, sports and other topics. A good nonfiction book takes a child on an exciting journey of discovery.