Sprouts Article
This article was written by Marilyn and appeared in an issue of Sprouts Magazine.
Introduction (by Sprouts)
Marilyn Brocklehurst runs the Norfolk Children’s Book Centre, a bookshop built in her garden in Alby, just North of Aylsham. She cares passionately about children’s reading and has surrounded herself with 50,000 wonderful books for children and young people. When you visit you’re encouraged to sit down with a coffee, and explore the range of books just right for your child. You’re left alone to browse all day if you wish, but there’s always expertise on hand to help you find the right book.
Reading with young children
My background as a children’s librarian was a great help when I had my own children in the 1980’s, but although I knew how children became readers and which books were appropriate, I was still astonished by how quickly my babies were fascinated by books, and how easily they adopted the reading habit.
I knew that no child is too young to be read to, of course. They love the sound of their mother’s voice - after all they heard it droning on and on for months before they were born! - so the sooner you start reading aloud the better. Right from the start they begin to recognise how the process works. Most importantly there’s a cuddle for the child and the undivided attention of the adult. Pages always get turned in the same direction, there’s a special ‘storying’ voice, the words are ALWAYS the same no matter who reads the book, and the language is very different from the language a small child hears from day to day. Sometimes it bounces along ‘Each,peach pear, plum, I spy Tom Thumb’, sometimes it’s spooky - ’In a Dark Dark Wood there was a Dark Dark House, and in that Dark Dark House.. and sometimes it’s cosy and comforting ‘Big Bear put Little Bear to sleep in the dark part of the cave “Go to sleep, Little Bear” said Big Bear, and Little Bear tried.’
Children quickly become fond of favourite characters - Hairy McLarey, Daisy Duck, Lola, the Gruffallo, Mr Magnolia and the like will be as familiar as members of the family before long.
It’s great fun sharing stories with your children, and they learn so much as you read to them. They learn how stories work, how the grammar sounds and they assimilate lots of new words - picture books are full of great language ‘The blue balloon was indestructible!’ ‘Little Rabbit Foo Foo, I DON’T like your attitude!’. When children hear language they begin to use it in their own speech. Their imagination can run riot too - and they learn about people, places, a gamut of emotions and why things are the way they are. And all because you’ve sat down with them and shared a book or two.
We all know how much children want to be independent. ‘Me do it!’ is the familiar cry, whether it’s feeding themselves, climbing out of the car seat or putting on their shoes. When they see you so cleverly reading those squiggles which bring stories to life they’ll want to do it too - but it’s very difficult, so they do the next best thing. They’ll memorise their favourites, asking for them to be read again and again, and they’ll know if you cut a story short, or even change one word. If you have created a love of stories in your children you have created the perfect environment for them to grow as readers. Once they get to school and they are taught to decode, their love of books will make them determined to master the skill, and the practice they need to consolidate reading skills will be effortlessly part of a family ritual which they have grown up with.
Hopefully you will have begun the process which creates a life-long reader. In doing so you also are able to maintain a close personal relationship with your child from birth to teenage. The sharing and enjoying mustn’t stop once they learn to decode. Reading aloud will provide you with the perfect opportunity to spend precious time with your child, sharing the fun, developing favourites, being frightened and saddened as well as entertained and amused by the books you choose together - and you can look forward to that distant time in the future when your strapping 24 year old son bounds through the door and says ‘Mum, I’ve just read this brilliant book - you MUST read it..’
Scratching the Surface: Finding the Best Books:
There are 10,000 new children’s books published every year, but you don’t need to worry about how recent a books is - far better to start with books which have stood the test of time. Here are a dozen of my old favourites. These titles are always available on the bookshelves at Norfolk Children’s Book Centre, and all are available from that most wonderful of resources in a town near you - your local public library. I’m assured by Dorne Fraser from Norfolk County Library and Information Service that your babies can join the library at birth (although you might prefer to call in shortly after..) and nowadays librarians are trained to turn a blind eye if your child has had a crafty chew at a favourite book.
PEACE AT LAST by Jill Murphy is a perfect, noisy, repetitive read-aloud. The board-book version makes it perfect for the absolute youngest.
OWL BABIES by Martin Waddell is a wonderful book which deals gently with being left by Mum for the first time.
THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR by Eric Carle is a book you will have to keep replacing, it’s read so many times - an absolute classic.
MR MAGNOLIA by Quentin Blake is a zany, silly counting book which is soon learnt by heart.
GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU by Anita Jeram is romantic and soppy, but quite lovely. It’s available as a board book as well as a full-size picture book.
THE BLUE BALLOON by Mick Inkpen has magical appeal for children - and adults!
CAN’T YOU SLEEP LITTLE BEAR by Martin Waddell is the perfect, gentle, soporific bedtime story, or ideal for quietening things down after a hectic morning’s nursery.
LITTLE RABBIT FOO-FOO by Michael Rosen is violent, noisy and hilarious - a story-time essential.
WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT by Michael Rosen soon becomes a favourite, with lots of opportunities for joining in and making noises.
EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM by Janet and Allan Ahlberg is a faultless, multi-layered picture-book which never fails to charm.
DOGGER by Shirley Hughes describes the tragic loss of a favourite toy, but has a poignant, happy ending.
MIXED-UP FAIRY-TALES by Hilary Robinson provides hours of fun and hilarity for older children who are familiar with the traditional stories and enjoy changing them round.
