Toys with Imagination: Engage toddlers and kids with interactive books

The Reading Tub is dedicated to children's literacy

About the Toys with Imagination Series: Throughout September, toys that require lots of pretend play, vast imagination and little technology will be featured.

Books are one of the best “toys” your child can play with, as it fosters a sense of exploration and takes your children into worlds they are just starting to learn about.

Terry Doherty, the Executive Director (and founder) of the Reading Tub(r), a nonprofit for literacy, says that learning to read begins at home and she helps promotes reading as a family activity well before a child knows his or her ABCs. She offers these GREAT tips for making reading and learning fun for toddlers and kids of all ages:

Let your toddler or preschooler “play” with the books. This is the audience whose world is filled with exploring: long on action, short on attention span. You'll still want to mix in some long and short stories about a variety of topics and let your child explore and “play” with the books on their own. Board books, in particular, are designed for exploring, while lift-the-flap books help satisfy that insatiable curiosity tots have for learning new things.

Size matters. Little hands need little books. Picks books that are perfectly sized for this audience as to allow for the independence of "do it myself." It also gives kids the sensation of "reading," and helps them learn how to manipulate the pages of a book themselves.

Let kids “read” to you. Let your kids read you stories and don’t correct them; you’ll have plenty of time to help them later. Now is their time for exploring language, so let them tell the story in their own way … and give them LOTS of praise.

Trigger senses. When you're looking for books for young audiences, think about all of their senses. Toddlers know "cold" and "hot" so even if they've never seen a snowflake, a story that talks about something that is "as cold as ice" will trigger their tactile senses. They can hear the squirrel that crunches leaves when he walks. They can smell a rose that tickles their nose. Find books were noises are required - pigs that oink, trains that go choo-choo, horses that clop-clop. Even if the story doesn't include the noise, you can ask your child to add in the effect.

Role play. Play reading will have more meaning for your child if you start with something s/he already likes AND you pair it with something you can do together. Also note that role playing is especially good when you have been reading books with social skill lessons. It gives kids a chance to practice in a nonthreatening way. Some suggestions:

• make a fun craft
• take a walk and talk about the things you saw in the book
• grab some sidewalk chalk (or paint, markers, or crayon) and draw something from the story
• pull out the puppets and pretend to be the characters

Doherty also recommends these "favorite" books to promote what she calls “interactive reading”:

• Anything by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle. Try The Very Quiet Cricket
• Anything by Sandra Boynton. Check out Philadelphia Chickens, and Barnyard Dance
• The Train to Timbuctoo by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Art Seiden
• Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? by Dr. Seuss
• Hey Mr. Choo Choo, Where Are You Going? By Susan Wickberg, illustrated by Yumi Heo
• Ten Little Fingers, Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
• Counting Kisses by Karen Katz
• Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
• Just Like Us series illustrated by Jess Stockham We've read four of these lift-the-flap books:Together! Having Fun! Taking it Easy! Making Friends

And if you’re looking for additional book recommendations, check out these resources recommended by Doherty too:

Reading Tub – The organization’s website offers book ideas for children ages 0-13.

Literacy and Reading Wiki- This community resource is filled with links to resources, tools, tips/ideas, and booklists for building literacy and reading skills for all children.

Visit your library - Children's librarians are a phenomenal resource and can help you select books for your child's interests, reading temperament, and level of interactivity. And don’t forget to take advantage of story time events, too!

Literacy Websites – Terry says Reading Rockets, Reading is Fundamental, First Book, and Reach Out and Read all have great book ideas and reading tips to help you connect your kids with books and prepare them to be successful readers.

Terry Doherty is Executive Director (and founder) of the Reading Tub(r), a nonprofit for literacy. Learning to read begins at home - well before kids recognize their ABCs - and the Reading Tub promotes reading as a family activity. All of the books reviewed on the Reading Tub website are read with (or by) the target audience. "It is very important that we walk the talk. Our book profile model requires the kids' opinions, not just the adult perspective you see in most reviews. I think that also gives our visitors the confidence of knowing that a book has been 'road tested' with a reader just like their son, daughter, grandchild, or student."

Learn About Me: I help small businesses grow using the power of PR. Find me online at www.ThePreparedPublicist.com. If you have a product you'd like me to feature on Examiner.com, please email me at EarlyChildhoodToyExaminer@gmail.com and check out my review guidelines on The PRepared Publicist website.