I feel
like I am one of the luckiest people in the world. As a
CLI trainer, part of my job allows me to go into first grade
classrooms in Newark, NJ, and share my favorite books with
eager eyes and young minds. I am always awed at the power
of a book. Some of the squirmiest classes become completely
enraptured and focused once the book begins. Books are powerful,
they take children to new places, expose them to new words,
which really means that they are exposed to new ways of
thinking. Books allow children to problem solve situations
that might come up in their worlds as well as fantasize
about places and events outside of their present realities.
I have
chosen ten of my favorite books to share with children.
Each one is valuable for different reasons. Several deal
with subjects that children will likely face themselves:
The Tenth Good Thing About Barney sensitively deals
with the loss of a family pet; Thank You, Mr. Falker
tells the poignant, true story of a young girl's struggle
to learn how to read; and Chrysanthemum tackles teasing.
Abuela, Aunt Harriet¹s Underground Railroad in the
Sky, Cherries and Cherry Pits, and Sukey and the
Mermaid all expose children to different cultures and
traditions. Each one of these books are books that I come
back to time and time again, each time finding something
new.
Ingnite
your little ones' imaginations! Enjoy! ~
