Early Literacy
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New Titles
Early Development and Learning
155.4 H438g Herschkowitz, Norbert
A Good Start in Life: Understanding Your Child's Brain and Behavior
Authors use fictitious children of differing temperaments,as these children relate to their parents and one another, their activities at developmental milestones are described. A question-and-answer section closes each chapter. 2002
155.418 EL52p Elkind, David
The Power of Play: How Spontaneous, Imaginative Activities Lead to Happier, Healthier Children
Explains how important, unstructured play is too often replaced in modern times by organized activities, academics or passive leisure activities. Elkind explains how even toys have changed. Acknowledges that technology has its place in the classroom, but debunks computer programs marketed toward babies and preschoolers whose young brains are not yet able to fully comprehend two-dimensional representations. 2007
305.231 H615e Hirsh-Pasek, Kathy
Shows why, and how, to step away from the cult of achievement and toward a more nurturing home life full of imaginative play and love of learning. The early years are learning years, just what that means can be confusing. Ms. Hirsh-Pasek makes practical sense of the vast number of technical studies and advertising claims. It explains in clear, compelling, and scientific terms how learning really takes place. 2003
362.712 P845t Post, Jacalyn
Tender Care and Early Learning: Supporting Infant and Toddlers in Childcare Settings
Reinforces what is known about infants and toddlers in group care settings. It explains the High Scope Approach in an infant and toddler setting with its focus on Active Learning, Supportive Adult-Child Relationships and Arranging and Organizing the Environment. A resource for those interested in starting/setting up an infant or toddler classroom. 2000
372.21 P928 Sornson, Bob, Editor
Preventing Early Learning Failure
Selections on learning and readiness for school; early childhood education; and bibliographic references. 2001
372.41 F954L Fuhler, Carol J.
Literature is Back: Using the Best Books
Organized by genre (picture books, traditional literature, modern fantasy, historical fiction, realistic fiction, poetry, and nonfiction), this book places quality children's literature at the heart of literacy teaching. The authors define each genre and its values for use with students; identify exemplary texts; and provide practical, engaging research-based lessons that teach specific literacy strategies and skills to both primary and intermediate grade students. For use with Grades 1–5. 2007
372.416 G289b Gentry,Richard J.
Breakthrough in Beginning Reading and Writing: The Evidence Based Approach
Drawing on major new insights in brain research, Gentry shows how reading and writing develop in five phases, from operations with no letter knowledge to understanding of phonics chunks. The book enables teachers to identify a child's phase of development, set reasonable expectations for growth, and select the methods that will move each child forward. For use with Grades PreK–3. 2007
401.93 H251m Hart, Betty
Meaningful Differences in the Everyday Experience of Young American Children
Describes the parent-child interactions during the years of language acquisition, revealing differences in the experiences of one- and two-year-olds from families across a spectrum of socioeconomic status. The authors show how the amount of time parents spend talking to their children in the early years of life directly influences children's future accomplishments. 1995
428.4071 H615k Hirsch, E. D.
The Knowledge Deficit: Closing the Shocking Education Gap for American Children.
Includes chapters on the origins of the knowledge deficit; knowledge of language and of things; using school time productively; using tests productively; achieving commonality and fairness. 2006
428.40712 T189t Tatum, Alfred W.
Teaching Reading to Black Adolescent Males:Closing the Achievement Gap
Discussion of the turmoil and the promise of reading; black males and the reading achievement gap; reconceptualizing the role of literacy instruction; structuring curriculum to empower students; a culturally responsive approach to literacy teaching. 2005
649.1 B739i Brazelton, T. Berry, et. al.
The Irreducible Needs of Children: What Every Child Must have to Grow, Learn, and Flourish
The two childcare experts share the conviction that society is not currently meeting the basic needs of children. Each chapter is devoted to the discussion of an "irreducible" need, such as the Need for Ongoing Nurturing Relationships, the Need for Physical Protection, Safety and Regulation, the Need for Stable Supportive Communities and Cultural Continuity, and the Need to Protect the Future. After each discussion, the authors recommend ways to meet these needs. 2000
649.1 ScL11e Scalafani, Joseph D.
The Educated Parent: Recent Trends in Raising Children
Compares popular beliefs to actual research results to show how parenting behaviors influence child outcomes and offers practical advice on how to be sensitive to a child's needs while dealing with everyday challenges.2004
649.123 B795f Brott, Armin
Fathering Your School-age Child: A Dad's Guide to the Wonder Years
Chapters include: Fathering your 3-year-old: bye, bye, baby; Fathering your 4-year-old: enough about you,let's talk about meeee!; Fathering your 5-year-old: ready, set, learn; Fathering your 6-year-old: your amazing, stretching child; Fathering your 7-year-old: the thinker; Fathering your 8-year-old: energy to burn; Fathering your 9-year-old: just like a real person, only shorter.2007
How Children Become Readers
371.392 L437m Lawrence, Lynn
Montessori Read and Write: A Parents' Guide to Literacy for Children
Lawrence, a leading Montessori practitioner, shows how to teach children to read and write using the famous Montessori system. Many age-specific activities and games to make learning fun. Covers first steps such as recognizing letters, sounds, and shapes through vocabulary-building and spelling competence to full reading fluency and creative writing skills. Includes a list of books that you and your child can enjoy reading together. 1999
612.82 EL44wEliot, Lise
What's Going On In There: How the Brain & Mind Develop in the First 5 Years of Life
Blending cutting-edge science with a mother's wisdom and insight, the author contributes to the nature versus nurture debate. Children's development is determined both by the genes they are born with and the richness of their early environment. This book shows parents the innumerable ways in which they can actually help their children grow better brains. 1999
649.1 Sh78hy Shore, Penny A.
How Your Baby & Child Learns: From newborn to Age 3
Written by parenting experts, this work explores a baby's learning stages and provides parents with easy-to-read tips and techniques for guiding their child's early development, 2002.
649.1 Sh78w Shore, Rima
What Kids Need: Today's Best ideas for Nurturing, Teaching, and Protecting Young Children.
Drawing on a decade of research on children up to the age of ten by top experts, challenges the belief that early risk factors and problems severely constrain a child's life chances. This book explores effective parenting techniques and social supports that really work. 2002
649.122 St23b Stamm, Jill
Bright from the Start: the Simple, Science-backed Way to Nuture Your Child's Developing Mind
Five ways every parent should know: A is for attention, why it matters; Face time, you are your baby's first toy; B is for bonding,why it matters and tuning in to one another; C is for communication, why it matters, everyday talk, and thank goodness its cheap. 2007
Tips for Raising a Reader
jR011.62 K198b Keane, Nancy J.
Looking for folktales from China? An informational children's book? A list of books on the topic of compassion? A sampling of ABC books? These lists and more can be found in this treasury of "great reading lists" for children. This versatile guide provides reproducible book lists based on the most common
needs of those who have or work with young readers. 2006
011.62 H351c Hearne, Betsy
Choosing Books for Children: A Commonsense Guide
A classic guide to children's literature and its uses. Includes annotated lists of recommended titles. 1999
j028.16 Od2g Odean, Kathleen
An annotated guide to picture-story books, fairy tales, rhyme, fingerplay and song books, 2003.
028.7 B443t Benson-Castagna, Vicki
Teaching the Information Generation
With technology, today's youngest students have a world of information at their fingertips. This book gives K–3 teachers easy-to-implement cognitive strategies for developing skills, such as identifying facts and interpreting facts, making connections to facts, and building knowledge. The author demonstrates how to model strategies and help students apply them. For use with Grades K–3, 2007.
372.218 W556 Hirsch, E. D.
What Your Kindergärtner Needs to Know: Preparing a kindergärtner for a lifetime of learning
Based on E.D. Hirsch's realization that much of the decline in America's educational standards has occurred because vague "skills," not information, are taught in the primary grades, it emphasizes fundamental knowledge in math, science, art, history, language arts, geography, and technology. E.D. Hirsch and the staff of the Core Knowledge Foundation worked with more than two thousand parents and teachers to create a book that children will enjoy while they learn. 1997
372.21 En19 Charner, Murphy, and Clark, Editors
The Encyclopedia of Infant & Toddler Activities: for Children Birth to Three
Written by teachers of early childhood education. Activity programs and infant recreation, 2006.
372.21 M478w Meisels, Samuel J.
Winning Ways to Learn, Ages 3, 4, & 5: 600 Great Ideas for Children
Tips for parents and other caregivers to support the development of the skills needed for kindergarten, 2000.
372.4 M179g McGuinness, Diane
Growing a Reader: Your Child's Path from Language to Literacy
About reading, the basic code, suggestions for further reading, and parent programs for home use with beginning readers. 2004
372.4 Op3d Opitz, Michael
Don't Speed Read! 12 Steps to Fluency
The author dispels the misinformation that has arisen about fluency since the National Reading Panel named it as a key element of reading and helps teachers explore and understand their role in supporting students who read with appropriate speed, accuracy, expression-and comprehension. The book equips teachers to make reliable professional judgments about students' fluency and provides a step-by-step plan with an array of instructional options. For use with Grades K–5. 2008
372.4 R177p Ranweiler, Linda
Preschool Readers and Writers: Early Literacy Strategies for Teachers
Based on the findings of recent studies, this book presents research-based, classroom-tested practices for bringing the magic and joy of reading to young children. Explains how children's reading and writing develop in the preschool years and what adults can do to encourage these processes. It has tips, activity ideas, materials lists, photos, and classroom examples. Covering both the whys and hows of early literacy learning, it focuses on eight key dimensions of early literacy. 2004
j372.4 Sch33c Schiller, Pam
A comprehensive resource to develop a strong foundation for pre-readers. Provides teachers and parents with the tools to teach pre-reading skills with over 1000 activities, games, finger plays, songs, tongue twisters, poems, and stories for the letters of the alphabet. 2001
372.4 T353t Thogmartin, Mark B.
Includes chapters such as: The "great debate", acquiring language and learning to read; Early readers: what can they teach us?; What works?; One successful program; Using "real books" in your program; Learning about letters, sounds, and words. 1996
372.41 H147s Hall, Susan and Louisa Moats
Straight Talk About Reading: How Parents Can Make a Difference During the Early Years.
While this book addresses the need to read aloud to children as infants, the primary focus is on the needs of preschool and elementary school children. The authors recommend early exposure to reading in order to aid children in their cognitive development and familiarize them with a wide range of vocabulary, the structure of printed words, and story development. A discussion of the phonics vs. whole-language approaches is provided.
j372.452 B726c Bradbury, Judy
Lv. Pre-K - K 2006
649.1 R319u Ruethling, Ann
Under the Chinaberry Tree: Books and Inspirations for Mindful Parenting
An engaging useful book for parents making reading decisions or gathering tips on sharing communication with their children. 2003
649.58 F832r Fox, Mem
Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever
Fox explains that babies are born learners, discusses the importance of books in the home, and stresses the value of a read-aloud ritual. She also includes a chapter on how to read aloud, which novice readers will find useful. Anecdotal stories and "success stories" might intimidate parents whose children do not learn to read by age five, even with mom or dad reading aloud to them. Theories provided do not include reference to supporting research. 2001
Community Resources
j027.625 M623b Maddigan, Beth
The Big Book of Stories, Songs, and Sing-alongs: Programs for Babies, Toddlers and Families
Designed to promote lifelong reading and library use. 2003
Web Resources
Greater Grand Rapids Reads, a coalition of community leaders working to reduce illiteracy in Kent County, believes that literacy is the key to our community's quality of life, economic, self-sufficiency and family stability.
Million Dollar Babies: Why Infants Can't Be Hardwired for Success, by Sara Mead
Discussion of issues related to applying the findings of brain research to very young children or applying results of animal research to humans.
National Center for Family Literacy
Family literacy helps parents and children form a learning partnership that ends the cycle of poverty and low literacy. NCFL works to find solutions that build on the family to create a new cycle of ongoing learning and mutual support.
National Institute for Literacy
A Child Becomes a Reader: Birth Through Preschool
A good resource for parents that includes important information on how children learn to read and write, tips on what you can do with babies and young children to help them become readers.
Reach Out and Read (ROR) is a national non-profit organization that promotes early literacy by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud in pediatric exam rooms across the nation.
The web site of the nation's oldest and largest nonprofit children's literacy organization. Includes information for parents, educations and RIF community coordinators.
A national non-profit organization dedicated to developing parent education materials, connecting parents, and fighting for issues such as early education, health care, and quality, affordable childcare.
Web site for a national initiative that disseminates research-based information on helping children become readers.
Categories: Kids | Parenting | Research
