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Words, Words, Words!

4/26/2018

What is in a word? A word as a unit of language is rather innocuous. It can be magical, powerful and can express emotion. It’s the words that are chosen to convey a message, however, that makes all the difference in how the message is received, and also what it says about the speaker. Do you have enough choices at your fingertips? Do you use enough of a variety to assist in your child’s vocabulary growth?

“I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word.
Sometimes I write one, and I look at it until it begins to shine.”
-Emily Dickinson-

Studies have shown that young children who are read to and spoken with will have a larger vocabulary, and having a larger vocabulary allows a child to more easily recognize and process a greater amount of information. In order for a child’s vocabulary to grow, they need to continually acquire new words. The best way to help children expand their vocabulary is through read alouds with vocabulary rich books and playing with words through various songs and games. For example: play a word rhyming game with your little one in which you recite groupings of three words, with the last word not rhyming (“duck…duck…goose!”). Either your little one will notice that the final word does not rhyme or you may stop and say something like, “Wait, does goose rhyme with duck? No, it doesn’t.” Then ask for or offer additional examples that do rhyme and continue the game with a new set of words. This type of activity works well when in the car or waiting in line at the store.

Recently we have noticed that words have garnered increased attention in public schools with the January release of Peter H. Reynolds’s book The Word Collector. In Reynolds’s book, Jerome discovers the magic of words and after reading the story, we could see so many creative ways in which the storybook could be used to encourage children to collect their own words for further vocabulary growth. One activity that jumped immediately to mind was creating poetry stacks, similar to what Jerome does in the book. (Check out this article from The Classroom Bookshelf for a whole list of activity ideas). Jerome's story also made us think of all the other picture books that have been published that celebrate words and encourage the reader to find new words to add to their lexicon. These types of books make fun reads as well as bring awareness to words and how important and powerful they can be. Search through the list we have provided below and look for additional titles on your own. Then search for other stories that have rich vocabulary such as The Absolutely Awful Alphabet by Mordicai Gerstein. Check out author and publisher websites and even Pinterest for extended activities or be creative and come up with your own. Who knows, your child might just be a budding logophile, a lover of words!

Picture Books Celebrating Words & Word Play

*Note: all images of the books are linked to Amazon. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.

The characters in these titles are absolute logophiles and, like Jerome of Reynolds's The Word Collector, they are avid word collectors. If you are looking for books that highlight the wonder to be found in the words that we encounter every day and also encourage readers to appreciate the importance and power of words, these are the stories you've been looking for. Perhaps, after hearing these stories, your child will be inspired to start their own word collection!

Hijinks and shenanigans abound in these titles as letters go missing or get rearranged creating whole new words! These books show children that just one letter has the potential to completely change a word and thus alter meaning.

These books are a hodgepodge of fun, laugh-out-loud adventures with words. Each book features different grammatical and literary devices, such as a puns in 7 Ate 9: The Untold Story and alliteration in Betty's Burgled Bakery. When introducing children to the complexities and absurdities of the English language, these books are a definite must read!

Learn about Noah Webster, the lexicographer, with these books. Webster was a true logophile who spent his life collecting and organizing the words of American English into one, comprehensive volume: the American Dictionary of the English Language.

Webster was not the only logophile who changed the way we use and think of words. Before him there was William Shakespeare, the British poet and playwright whose wording and phrases became every day facets of the English language, many of which are still used to this day. There was another lexicographer, Peter Mark Roget, who made his mark on the English language, much like Webster. Roget is famous for compiling the first book of synonyms: the Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases (also known as Roget's Thesaurus).

And, finally, to end our list of books about words and word play we have a book that celebrates the beauty of the many untranslatable words from around the world. Sometimes there are no words that can fully grasp the meaning of a word.

Do you have a favorite book about words or word play that isn't listed here? Share it with us in the comments!

Happy reading!

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Let's Celebrate Earth Day & Arbor Day!

4/16/2018

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Updated 4/22/2020

*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. All purchases made via the links provided help to support our literacy efforts!

Earth Day and Arbor Day, the annual celebrations honoring our planet and trees, are fast approaching. Celebrated on the 22nd of April and the last Friday in April (the 27th this year) respectively, these days offer an opportunity for us to shine the spotlight on the wonders of the natural world and encourage everyone, both young and old, to connect with the great outdoors and live a more green life. Share the picture books below with the loved ones in your life, outside if at all possible, and then spend time appreciating all of the beauties of our Earth.

Thank You, Earth: A Love Letter to Our Planet by April Pulley Sayre
A poetic thank you note set against stunning photographs that capture the many beauties and wonders of our planet, this book pays homage to all that the Earth has to offer us and concludes with heartfelt words that will resonate with readers of all ages: “Thank you for beginnings, for endings, for lifetimes. Thank you for being our home.” An appendix in the back of the book offers activities and ideas for ways in which readers can show their appreciation for the Earth.

All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon
This book may not seem like an obvious pick for Earth Day, but the moving text and breathtaking illustrations show the wonders and beauty to be found all around us. It is a poetic celebration of the little things and a reminder to appreciate all the world.

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
While taking a walk on a drizzly day through his very gray and dreary city, Liam comes upon a tiny, struggling patch of plant life up on the old railway. He decides to tend to the little patch and become its gardener. Although Liam does not know how to be a gardener, he does his best and slowly learns all that he can about taking care of plants. Inspired by New York City’s High Line, Liam’s story shows us that anyone can be a gardener and take care of a little patch of Earth.

Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth by Mary McKenna Siddals
Have you ever wanted to start a compost pile for your garden? Have you ever wondered what can be put into a compost pile? This book is a rhyme-filled introduction to all the things that can be composted, from apple cores to zinnia heads!

Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel
Reminiscent of Dr. Seuss’s Lorax, Michael Recycle is a superhero who travels from town to town teaching the citizens how to be green and recycle. The illustrations are bright and cartoon-like and the text has a nice rhyming flow that adds to the enjoyment of reading this book aloud. At the end of the book you will find “Michael Recycle’s Go Green Tips,” which features an array of simple things you and your family can do to live a greener life.
*Extended activity: Using recyclable items and/or natural materials you collect while outside exploring, help your little one think outside of the box and make something new with the various things you have saved/found. It could be a simple piece of art or a new useful tool, the possibilities are endless!

Earth Day: An Alphabet Book by Gary Kowalski
Learning to appreciate all of the wonders of our Earth is as simple as learning the ABCs with this picture book. As readers move through the alphabet they will see animals and plants represented by each letter and gain an appreciation for our world.

It's Earth Day! (Little Critter) by Mercer Mayer
Little Critter is on a mission to reduce, reuse and recycle in order to do his part to help save our Earth.

Fancy Nancy: Every Day is Earth Day by Jane O'Connor
What does it mean to 'be green?' As Nancy explains, it means taking care of our planet and in this story Fancy Nancy learns the rules for being green. She also does all she can to make sure her family is living the green life. But does she take her newfound passion a bit too far...? This particular title is an I Can Read Level 1 book perfect for those just learning to read on their own.

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
No Earth Day book list would ever be complete without The Lorax. A timeless classic, written long before the Green Movement began, this story perfectly shows the consequences of our actions, but offers a message of hope that things can change, if we just care.
*Extended Activity: After reading the book together, snuggle up , watch the film and then make your own truffula trees likes these from Art Projects for Kids. You could even make your own truffula tree forest with these life-size ones from Mrs. Lodge’s Library!

“UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
-The Lorax-

It Starts With a Seed by Laura Knowles
Follow along as the rhyming text takes you through the life of a sycamore tree, from a tiny seed, to a young sapling and eventually a large tree. Also shown are all of the woodland creatures that call the tree their home, thus introducing young readers to the complex relationships that exist in nature. This is a factual story that feels more like an evocative poem with the most exceptional illustrations.
*Extended activity: Learn about the process illustrator Jennie Webber used by watching this video.

Trees by Lemniscates
Much like It Starts With a Seed, this book is a lyrical homage to trees and all that they do for life on Earth. As the striking illustrations help the story move through the seasons, the reader sees what happens to trees at different times of the year.

Because of an Acorn by Lola M. Schaefer and Adam Schaefer
Simple text takes the reader through the many connections present in a single ecosystem: “Because of an acorn, a tree. Because of a tree, a bird. Because of a bird, a seed."

Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson
Help a tree navigate its way through the seasons in this fun, interactive story! As in Herve Tullet’s Press Here, this book requires the help of the reader to make things happen. Follow the instructions to tap, pat, clap, wiggle or jiggle the book in order to see all that a tree undergoes as the seasons change.

As An Oak Tree Grows by G. Brian Karas
This unique book offers a time-lapse look into the life of an oak tree and how the world changes around it over 200 years. Beginning in 1775 with a little boy planting an acorn, the text and detailed illustrations show the various ways in which life altered with the advent of new technologies and increase in population.

The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever by H. Joseph Hopkins
Katherine Olivia Sessions was the first woman to graduate from the University of California with a degree in science. Having grown up amongst the towering redwoods of northern California, she decided her new home of San Diego needed trees and so she started a movement that would transform the city from a desert town to a lush, green oasis. This picture book biography offers an inspiring story about following your dreams.

Tree: A Peek-Through Picture Book by Britta Teckentrup
Peek through the hole in the cover of this picture book into the habitat of a tree. What types of animals call this tree home? How does the tree change as the seasons change? Bright, detailed illustrations bring this busy world to life and the rhyming text makes the book a delight to read aloud again and again.

Hopefully these stories will inspire you and your little ones to look at the world in a whole new light and to spend some time outdoors, enjoying all of the wonders and delights of our beautiful Earth.

Happy reading!

Kate @ BTBL

Author

We are three generations that seek a way to get back to basics. It’s not that we eschew technology, but sometimes simpler is better, especially in raising our children. Mom was a reading teacher, Amanda is an early childhood educator and Kate a children’s literature specialist and former school librarian along with the latest additions, a daughter (now 4) for Kate, and two sons (now 1 and a newborn) for Amanda. We advocate reading aloud, the simple toys that use imagination and encourage creativity and learning in the kitchen, which can be a fun mess but also teaches life skills. Join us in raising healthy, happy, inquisitive and intelligent children.

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#SaveSchooolLibrarians

4/8/2018

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April is School Library Month!

     Imagine a space, centrally located within a school, equipped with flexible, movable furniture and a variety of technologies and resources, where students can come together to collaborate with peers and staff on projects and assignments, conduct research through various print and digital mediums, learn new concepts via hands on exploration and experimentation, hear a story read aloud, sit quietly to read, reflect, write or even color.

     Imagine further that in this space there are students not sitting apart from one another, working silently and independently, but rather sitting in small groups or pairs, discussing, debating, collaborating and furthering their knowledge together. Perhaps some of these students are even taking part in a performance or presentation of some kind.

     Do you have that space in mind? Can you envision the different types of learning taking place? Can you see the vast array of materials and resources at students’ and teachers’ disposal?

     The amazing space to which I refer is the school library, sometimes referred to as the learning hub or learning commons today, and sadly it is a space rapidly disappearing from many of our schools.

     With school budgets tightening their belts, school libraries are continually finding themselves at risk of being cut out to make room for other resources. A vast number of school libraries are operating without a certified librarian present to assist and guide students with conducting research, identifying reliable sources, formatting essays and citations, or selecting books or other reading materials. While some schools do have a person employed as a library aid or paraprofessional, these people are generally not qualified or knowledgeable enough to fulfill the role of a true certified school librarian. This common practice is a disservice to both students and staff, particularly in this time of startlingly low literacy rates. It is a consistently proven fact that schools that have a fully funded library with a certified librarian have higher student achievement and reading scores and yet, far too many of our schools look to the library first when making budget cuts with no plan in place to ever return its funding or look for new funding avenues.

     Consider that in a school library students not only have the opportunity to collaborate with other students and staff in an area filled with books and various technologies, but they also get to hear fluent readers bring a story to life, thus increasing their vocabulary and building background knowledge, even in the middle and upper grades. Additionally, the school library is often the only way that some students have access to books outside of their classroom. As far back as 1740, Benjamin Franklin recommended school libraries as an essential, key element of the ideal institution of learning. So, why is it then that they are now disappearing, when they are needed more than ever?

     The school library is more than a space that houses books and computers. It is the heart of the school. Some schools call it the the “Learning Commons” or "Global Learning Center," and are recognizing that it truly is the epicenter of the school, the central hub of learning and collaboration, not just among students, but among the teachers as well. School librarians bring with them a wealth of skills and knowledge that reach far beyond simply taking care of books. In today’s technological world, school librarians are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to guide our students through the confusing realm of digitized information and communication, imparting digital literacy and citizenship skills our students must have for continued success in education and, eventually, the workforce. Even more importantly, today more and more school librarians are trained in literacy education, including reading development and instruction and are, therefore, an additional valuable school resource available to students, teachers, administration and to the community of parents as well.

     This April celebrate School Library Month by showing your support of these sacred hubs of knowledge, curiosity and collaboration. A great way to start is by signing the petition on EveryLibrary’s activism site SaveSchoolLibrarians.org and by encouraging your children and/or students to utilize their school library and by letting your schools know that you and your family value the library and its continued funding. Show your support on social media with the hashtag #SaveSchoolLibrarians!

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From Words to Poetry

4/4/2018

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"A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom."
-Robert Frost-

Words spoken or written on a page can be used to convey thoughts, ideas or some other narration but when words are giving special intensity to express feelings and ideas through a distinctive style and rhythm, it is pure poetry.

Pointless, too scholarly or just plain boring is what has been said by some about reading poetry but perhaps they just haven’t been introduced to poetry that speaks to them. Poetry can be narrative, dramatic or lyrical. It can be serious or it can be humorous. There are many types of poetry and so many poets, both classic and modern that in honor of April being Poetry Month, we are asking you to afford poetry a bit of time in your daily life. Explore and share some poetry, for reading poetry truly does enhance one’s life.

A novel can be read silently but poetry was made to be read or told out loud, even if only to an audience of one: you. An essential element of poetry is its rhythm, which when read aloud forces the reader to become more aware of prosody, the defining feature of expressive reading. Poetry is expressing an emotion that the reader needs to make the listener believe, not only through the words, but through intonation, expressions and body language. Therefore, reading and writing poetry is an excellent way to build strong readers. Consider that:

Poetry can be a quick read when time is short or listeners have short attention spans. Ideas and emotions can be conveyed within a few lines and when children wish to express their own emotions in writing, they can do so in a few lines of poetry.
Young children are instinctively drawn to rhymes and the rhythmic pattern of language in poetry and when children learn and recite poems, they are learning vocabulary, spelling, grammar and phonemic awareness.
Vocabulary improves with reading and writing poetry. Words need to fit into the rhythm and flow of the poem and those words may not always be the ones that are generally used in everyday conversation, so new words are learned from reading or sought out in writing poetry.
Memorization skills are developed naturally through listening to and reciting poetry and rhymes. As nursery rhymes, poems and verses are repeated to a child they will learn them by heart or commit them to memory and be able to recall them with ease. Memorization strengthens the power of the mind and exercises the brain. It will help an individual to build up and store a wealth of knowledge that can be called upon later in life.

Mem Fox, Australian author and educationalist specializing in literacy, stated in her book, Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever, that “experts in literacy and child development have discovered that if children know eight nursery rhymes by heart by the time they’re four years old, they’re usually among the best readers by the time they’re eight.” So check out the Back to Basics Literacy website for a list of poetry books or ask for recommendations from your local library or bookstore and make a vow this month to read aloud a poem a day.

“Every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture
and if possible, speak a few sensible words.”
-Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe-

Happy reading!

*Note: this post contains Amazon affiliate links. Each purchase made via the links provided helps support our literacy efforts!

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Back to Basics

Words, Words, Words!

“I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word. Sometimes I write one, and I look at it until it begins to shine.”​-Emily Dickinson-

Picture Books Celebrating Words & Word Play

Let's Celebrate Earth Day & Arbor Day!

“UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”-The Lorax-

Author

#SaveSchooolLibrarians

April is School Library Month!

From Words to Poetry

"A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom."-Robert Frost-

“Every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture and if possible, speak a few sensible words.”-Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe-

Author

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“I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word.
Sometimes I write one, and I look at it until it begins to shine.”
-Emily Dickinson-

“UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
-The Lorax-

"A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom."
-Robert Frost-

“Every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture
and if possible, speak a few sensible words.”
-Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe-