"Reading is the single most important skill necessary for a happy, productive and successful life. A child that is an excellent reader is a confident child, has a high level of self-esteem and is able to easily make the transition from learning to read to reading to learn," states research published by early childhood experts affiliated with The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) based out of Bethesda, Maryland.
Numerous studies also point to the important role that family plays in a child's reading achievements. Reading is Fundamental (RIF), the largest children's literacy nonprofit organization located in Washington, D.C., states that when reading is practiced in the home on a regular basis, families are ultimately facilitating their children to become, "better readers, better listeners and better students." The RIF stresses that this special shared time spent together helps children not only to be able to learn how to, "build vocabulary and language skills, but are helping them gain knowledge about the world around them.
From a new adventure with
Flat Stanley to a beach side tale right in time for summer with that cool kitty,
Pete the Cat, these new beginning books spotlighted below are a great stepping stone to help stimulate your little ones imagination, while at the same time, promote those vital early language, cognitive and comprehension skills that will put your children on the road to reading success!
Dixie and the Good Deeds (I Can Read! Beginning 1 Reading)
This is the eighth book in the Dixie series of
I Can Read! books featuring the lovably loyal, but mishap prone dog and her faithful human companion, Emma. As our tale begins, as a part of her class assignment about helping the community, Emma has enthusiastically volunteered to help her town out with many events, and naturally, Dixie wants to come along and offer her help, too! Emma soon discovers that she might have taken on way too many projects, as each good deed ends up in various states of, "Dixie" messes (including the time when, while cleaning up the kitchen after baking cookies for the library bake sale, Dixie reaches to put away the flour for Emma, only to end up with a nice white coating on her fur)! As Emma works hard throughout the day to fulfill all of her promises, having her sweet dog along with her eventually does turn into a positive, as Dixie ends up putting her digging skills to good use in the park, helping Emma to be able to quickly plant flowers to make the park look lovely. However, when she has to leave Dixie home when she goes to perform magic tricks at Hobble Hall, things quickly go from good to bad. Will Dixie come to her rescue?
Dixie and the Good Deeds (I Can Read! Beginning 1 Reading)
(Beginning 1 Reading features simple sentences for eager new readers)
Written by Grace Gilman & Illustrated by Sarah McConnell
Publisher: Harper (An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
Website:
www.harpercollinschildrens.com
Retails for $16.99
For ages 4-8
ISBN: 978-0-06-208657-0
Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach (I Can Read! Shared My First Reading)
Taking advantage of a hot summer day (which seems very timely, with these days of record scorching temperatures across the nation), Pete the Cat, his brother Bob and their mother decide to escape to the beach to catch some cool waves and enjoy the calming sea breezes. When the trio arrives at the shore, Bob quickly grabs his surfboard and starts out towards the water. But, Pete stays behind, and its very apparent that Pete is apprehensive about heading into the water. But, later on a walk with his mother to look for seashells, Pete gets his toes wet and he quickly notices a huge difference in his temperature, which he likes, but he's still feeling nervous. Will his mom and brother's gentle encouragement help Pete in letting go of his nerves?
Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach (I Can Read! Shared My First Reading)
(Shared My First Reading is ideal for sharing together with emergent readers)
Created by James Dean
Publisher: Harper (An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
Website:
www.harpercollinschildrens.com
Retails for $16.99
For ages 4-8
ISBN: 978-0-06-211073-2
Everything Goes: Henry on Wheels (I Can Read! Shared My First Reading)
This short tale brought back fond memories from my childhood to the time cul-de-sac located on a dead end street! Henry, quite like me over 30 years ago, is ready to explore his neighborhood when his mom gives him permission to ride around the block. At first, Henry is naturally disappointed, but he keeps his promise to his mother. Join along on the ride with Henry, as he discovers all of the intriguing things and people that make his block uniquely its own.
hen I first learned how to ride my bike on my own. The new found freedom which arrived one Fall afternoon when my grandpa removed my training wheels from my shiny red Schwinn (which wouldn't be complete without my horn and tan straw basket to carry my stuffed animals in) when I could finally balance well enough on my own accord, led to exploring new horizons---namely riding up and down my block, a five home
Everything Goes: Henry on Wheels (I Can Read! Shared My First Reading)
(Shared My First Reading is ideal for sharing together with emergent readers)
Based on the Everything Goes books by Brian Biggs/Illustrations in the style of Brian Biggs by Simon Abbott/Text by B.B. Bourne
Publisher: Harper (An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
Website:
www.harpercollinschildrens.com
Retails for $16.99
For ages 4-8
ISBN: 978-0-06-195823-6
Flat Stanley Goes Camping (I Can Read! Reading 2 With Help)
Originally written as a bedtime story for his two little boys, the late author Jeff Brown's
Flat Stanley made its literary debut in 1964, featuring illustrations by artist Tomi Ungerer. In this first story, Stanley Lampchop and his brother Arthur, are given a large bulletin board by their father to display their artwork and posters. Mr. Lampchop places the bulletin board over Stanley's bed, where it stays until one night, the board falls from the wall, flattening poor, sleeping Stanley. While Stanley thankfully survived the accident, his body's shape, however, does not, as he has become, well---flattened! Stanley soon learns that his new, flat shape gives him powers that he never had before--he can now enter rooms by sliding under doors, etc.. His new altered state now enables him to travel to places far around the world in an envelope! Many adventures featuring
Flat Stanley were published after it's 1964 debut up until Mr. Brown's untimely death in December of 2009.
Now, Flat Stanley continues on with this new series of
I Can Read Books, and in this third installment,
Flat Stanley Goes Camping, our favorite, flexible boy still marvels over his physical abilities, but yet, there his still a big part of him that just wishes he could go back to when he was normal. This is most especially evident after being laughed at while spending a day at the community pool. This encounter hurts Stanley's feelings, and when his father takes the family on a spur-of-the-moment camping trip, poor Stanley's heart just isn't in it. Sensing that something is wrong with her boy, Mrs. Lampchop suggests that Stanley and his brother go take a walk around to explore the campsite. Stanley reluctantly heads off with Arthur, but when the boys encounter trouble of the small, furry yet incredibly stinky four-legged type, can Stanley's extraordinary shape help save the day?
Flat Stanley Goes Camping (I Can Read! Reading 2 With Help)
Created by Jeff Brown/Written by Lori Haskins Houran & Illustrated by Macky Pamintuan
Publisher: Harper (An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
Website:
www.harpercollinschildrens.com
Retails for $16.99
For ages 4-8
ISBN: 978-0-06-143013-8
