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| U Read - Make Books on Tape for Your Grandchild |
By Claudina Goss
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I am "Nina" to four grandchildren. I recently retired from 30 years in the public education field, where in addition to developing school-based dental health programs, I have actively been involved in reading advocacy and early childhood educational programs.
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| Among the Greatest Gifts You Can Give a Child |
Being a grandparent in the new millennium entails far more than loving hugs and baking cookies. Many of us are long-distance grandparents, Which is often frustrating and isolating.
When my first grandchild was born, I wanted to make sure that she would always know the sound of my voice and understand that I would be an ongoing and active part of her life.
Here is a wonderful way to share a part of every day with your grandchild--record books on tape and send the tape with the books to your grandchild.
From the moment your grandchild is born, your voice can become a familiar and anticipated part of their life. You can also create an environment where reading is a natural daily activity.
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| Here are Some Helpful Tips to Get Started |
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- Buy 60-minute blank tapes
- Use a simple hand-held or box tape recorder
- Select books appropriate for the age group
- start off with a short book
- Do not try to read all the books at once
- Introduce the book and talk to your grandchildren as if they were there
- Label the tape
- If you have more than one grandchild, make copies of the tape
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| Organize Tapes Around a Theme |
Remember to include the books you have read if possible, especially as the child gets older, they can read along with you.
Tapes can be organized around a theme.
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| I am always trying to include both classic and new books in my selection. Over the course of seven years, I have begun to find thematic grouping of books for individual tapes, including foreign folk tales, poetry, all books by a certain author, favorite books of my daughter (this was a particular favorite), pony books and holiday-themed stories. The list is endless and has opened the door to history and art and culture and social themes. |
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| Share Your Family History |
Many times, my granddaughter has asked me very specific questions directly related to a story on a tape and together we discuss her questions and the issues raised in the books.
In addition to reading books on tape, you can begin to share personal stories, music or other special audio items with your grandchild. Oral histories are a wonderful addition to the tape library for your entire family. Aunts and uncles and even the youngest members of the family can share their thoughts and stories. |
| Memorable Gifts |
| Of the many wonderful gifts that have come from sharing reading with my grandchildren, two are especially memorable. When my granddaughter was five, she wanted to make a tape of her favorite stories for her grandfather and me. She read the stories and included introductions--she was so pleased to be able to "let us fall asleep with her voice every night." |
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The second was during a visit. We had read several books and were cuddling, when she asked me to put on a tape. When I asked her if she wanted me to read another book since I was right there, she said, "No Nina, I just want you to concentrate on hugging me while we both listen to you."
I would love to hear of any special books you have shared. |
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| Additional Resources |
My favorite books:
For Babies and Toddlers
Books with colors, numbers, shapes, rhymes and animals
My Very First Mother Goose, by Iona Archibald Opie (Editor), Rosemary Wells (Illustrator)
Oh, the Places You'll Go!, By Dr. Seuss
Green Eggs and Ham, By Dr. Seuss
Richard Scarry's Best First Book Ever
As the child grows, there are endless categories of wonderful books to guide you in creating reading adventures.
Letters from Felix: A Little Rabbit on World Tour, by Annette Langen, Constanza Droop (Illustrator)
The Tub People, by Pam Conrad, Richard Egielski (Illustrator)
The Rinky-Dink Cafe, by Maggie S. Davis, John Sandford
Allumette; a fable, with due respect to..., by Tomi Ungerer
The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System, by Joanna Cole, Bruce Degen (Illustrator). Just about any one in this series of books is wonderful.
Amelia Bedelia (An I Can Read Picture Book), by Peggy Parish, Fritz Siebel (Illustrator)
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, by Betty MacDonald, Hilary Knight (Illustrator)
Madeline series, by Ludwig Bemelmans (Illustrator)
Classics are a great introduction to chapter books
Hans Christian Andersen, the Complete Fairy Tales and Stories, by Virginia Haviland, Hans Christian Andersen, Erik Christian Haugaard (Translator)
Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson, N.C. Wyeth (Illustrator)
Heidi (Children's Classics), by Johanna Spyri
Rip Van Winkle (Illustrated Stories for Children, by Washington Irving, N. C. Wyeth (Illustrator)
Beatrix Potter: The Complete Tales
Books relating to legends, folk tales and cultural systems are universal in appeal:
The Cat and the Rooster, a Ukrainian Folktale, by Ivan Malkovych, Motria Onyschuk, Kost' Lavro (Illustrator)
Peach Boy: A Japanese Legend, by Gail Sakurai, Makiko Nagano (Illustrator)
Tom Tit Tot: An English Folk Tale, by Evaline Ness (Illustrator)
The Princess Who Lost Her Hair: An Akamba Legend, by Tololwa M. Mollel, Charles Reasoner (Illustrator)
Nursery Friends from France, by Olive Beaupreau Miller
Shen of the Sea: Chinese Stories for Children, by Arthur Bowie Chrisman, Else Hasselriis (Illustrator)
If a child has special interests, pick books in that subject area
Dogs
Open Me...I'm a Dog, by Art Spiegelman
Chili Dogs (Petz Series), by Carla Tedrow
Buddy: The First Seeing Eye Dog, by Eva Moore, Don Bolognese (Illustrator)
Max Deluxe, by Maira Kalman
Horses
Black Beauty (Children's Classics), by Anna Sewell
Our First Pony, by Marguerite Henry, Rich Rudish (Illustrator)
The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses, by Paul Goble
Winni Allfours, by Babette Cole
If you travel, great souvenirs are books from countries and places visited. Reading these books to the child allows you to share your traveling experiences with them, along with expanding their knowledge of foreign lands and customs. English translations are usually available in most countries. |
Additional Lessons for Living and Learning
Parent U - Staying in Your Grandchildren's Lives
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