OUR HOME LIBRARY (PART I)

Books are indeed a fascination that draws us like junkies…

Once into a bookstall, we seldom feel like coming out…

That’s the basic nature of book lovers.

Anybody who is interesting in reading would naturally have their own personal taste and my experience shows it’s the same with kids as well. I personally feel that the best way to kindle reading habit in children is to facilitate them to select books of their choice and help them understand the meanings or explain only when they seek help from us.

Simply let them enter the ocean of books and see them getting equipped all by themselves.

There are innumerable publishers and authors writing for kids in a superb manner. Picking the best ones is a real task.

There are many bookshops in and around Calicut. Paico, TBS, DC books, Edumart, H&C books, Chintha publishers and what not?

Our collection is noted below. It is only a guide that throws light on the wide range of materials available for different category of students.

My experience over last few years shows that children enjoy reading at all times. However to reduce their load, we can expose them to more books during vacation and simply maintain the habit during school days.

Children and library 

It is also advisable to enroll children in neighbourhood libraries that cater to a kids section. Because most books of yester years are available only there. There aren’t reprints for most classics and some excellent books are too costly too. Buying books all along for reading is not a feasible option either.

The only disadvantage is that kids may not be always at a peak with their reading habit. It hikes at times and goes down the valley at others. Adjusting our flow to suit their needs and help them row properly in the oceanic waters of the book world is definitely the duty of elders.

So many a times’ children (primary level fellows) may not keep up with the prescribed time period allotted for books from libraries. Sometimes they may not feel like parting with certain books that have caught their interest. They wish to possess such books. Always those titles may not be available on sale.

Such experiences should be handled in a child friendly manner by parents and librarians alike. This attitude is also quite essential to maintain the spirit and fire of reading in young fellows.

There are innumerable libraries also with kids section in Calicut city. From the Central Public Library, District Central Library, Chavara Cultural Centre library, S.K.Pottekad centre high tech library, Vagbadananda Library, Sanmargadarsini Vayanasala , Deshaposhini Vayanasala and so on flourish around the city.

Start reading in one's mother tongue...

It’s always better to introduce children to reading children’s literature in one’s own mother tongue. When we enroll children into English medium schools, we have to take extra care to teach them Malayalam and it’s always better to seek the help of an experienced Montessori teacher for the same. Nursery teachers are best qualified and experienced to guide students properly at the initial stages. A well laid foundation is half work done!

Here we need not worry whether kids would get bored when they learn the same later at school. Generally English medium schools give least emphasis on teaching Malayalam properly. There may be exceptions, what so ever. An idea of one’s mother tongue helps them explore for their roots, culture, traditions, literature and legend better. It also helps them realize that their own language is in no way inferior to those taught at school. It improves their self esteem in multi cultural environments.

Once they learn to read sentences, parents can support them to read popular magazines, legends and poems. Kalikudukka by Malayala Manorama; Taliru by Balasahitya Institute and now Minnaminni and Cartoon plus by Mathrubhumi are good aids for the same at Kinter garten level.

Elder facilitators at home- a necessity

Subscribing regularly to children’s magazines like Tinkle, Magic pot, Children’s Magazine, Little Words etc would also help sustain the reading habit. These cover stories, games, comics, activities, brain teasers and puzzles, mazes, arts and crafts, masks, colouring, draw along dots, counting, picture games, etc.

The interactions of parents and children with children’s magazines help them gain more confidence, and also to cover the lacuna at schools, improves skills of observation, identification, follow instructions, logical thinking, distinguish various components around them, mistakes positional concepts etc. Their recognition and perception of concepts also improve. Most of these magazines have an experience sharing part where we can understand nature of kids, their reactions etc.  

If parents or grandparents can share some quality time with their kids, it would also help elders to understand their siblings better.No school is perfect and no single teacher can facilitate holistic development of personality with the short span of time available. So, it is always advisable to spare some time amidst our busy schedules for effective grooming of our kids. Let them sustain their curiosity and help them identify heir tastes.

As advertised, it’s something that children cherish after all.

A peep into the diverse range of books around us

Here we have enlisted only those that we have picked personally. The particular websites enlist the whole range. Explore yourself to identify your range and taste.

 I have marked toddler for preschooler level (up to 7years). These books are simple and short and initially we have to read them for the kids. Then they would slowly start reading by themselves. At a particular stage they would feel that book has become so simple! At this stage we can slowly take them to the next level. This category I have named read yourself group. This is a transition phase which varies depending on language efficiency and comprehension ability. They may frequently ask us to explain the meaning or pronunciation of certain words initially but then gradually pick on their own. Some books in this set are simple to read for kids, but we may have to explain the story once to facilitate better understanding. This stage in short needs interaction depending on the evolution of our little buds. Once they have become confident we can slowly move on to the elementary group. These are mostly children of primary classes (8 to 10 or 11 years age) and they gain confidence as independent readers. From this stage we can slowly familiarize them with the activities of a library.

PART I – ENGLISH BOOKS FOR TODDLERS

BUTTERFLY BOOKS

Priority publications (pp_butterflybooks@hotmail.com)

Papa read to me the story of….

 This is an excellent series for beginners (toddlers). It’s good for those who enjoy hearing an exciting story read aloud. At this stage, kids enjoy when parents can sit with them read and discuss all along. The titles in the series are:

•    The elves and the shoe maker
• ·         Pinocchio
• ·         Jack and the Beanstalk
• ·         The Six swans
• ·         The Ginger bread man
• ·         Peter and the Wolf
• ·         The Goose girl
• ·         The three little pigs
• ·         Tom thumb
• ·         The Enormous turnip
• ·         The Secret Garden
• ·         The sly fox and the little red hen

KIDDZ BOOKS

Creations for Children International, Belgium. (www.c4ci.com)

Van Gool’s most famous classic fairy tales are a joy to read and will enchant all young readers. The titles in the series are:

• ·         Aladdin
• ·         Pinocchio
• ·         The little mermaid
• ·         Beauty and the beast
• ·         Goldilocks and the three bears
• ·         Snow white and the seven dwarfs
• ·         Little red riding hood
• ·         The three little pigs
• ·         Jungle Book
• ·         Cinderella

This is also a good series for toddlers.

My Kids World Publications

(Division of Dhingra Book house; kidsworld12k4@rediffmail.com)

Golden fairy tales for children edited by Shilpi and Deepti; the series contain the following.

• ·         Three rare gifts
• ·         The bold little tailor
• ·         The fisherman and the genie
• ·         The Jungle Book
• ·         The big pancake
• ·         Wolf and the seven little goats
• ·         The selfish giant
• ·         Snow white and rose red.

Octopus fairy tales is another series by this team. The elements are:

• ·         Alice in wonderland
• ·         The three wishes
• ·         Gulliver’s travels
• ·         The Magic pot
• ·         Cinderella
• ·         The fox and the little hen
• ·         The King Midas and the golden touch
• ·         Three Billy goats

Sweet fairy tales for children

• ·         The ugly duckling
• ·         Aladdin and the magic lamp
• ·         The emperor’s new clothes
• ·         The little mermaid
• ·         Goldilocks and the three bears
• ·         The story of a chicken
• ·         Little red riding hood
• ·         Snow white and the seven dwarfs.

Amazing fairy tales

• ·         The little tin soldier
• ·         The pied piper
• ·         Alibaba and 40theives
• ·         Jack and the beanstalk
• ·         The wild swans
• ·         Puss in boots
• ·         Rapunzel
• ·         The Gingerbread man

Simple fairy tales for children

• ·         Hansel and Gretel
• ·         The emperor’s nightingale
• ·         The magic horse
• ·         The merchant and the genie
• ·         Pinocchio
• ·         Sindbad the sailor
• ·         The three little pigs
• ·         The blue bird

All these series are good for toddlers.

H&C PUBLISHING HOUSE

The books published from this house are so vast. Their collection for toddlers is cheap compared to others listed above. Kids love them too.

• ·         Jack and the beanstalk
• ·         Unity
• ·         The foolish lion
• ·         A harvest of gold coins
• ·         Friends
• ·         The frog prince
• ·         Wise frogs (moral stories)
• ·         Origin of the prayer
• ·         Folk tales from Bengal
• ·         Folk tales from Punjab
• ·         Folk tales from Rajasthan
• ·         The prince of beauty
• ·         Wisdom is strength

LADY BIRD BOOKS

Its get ready- for- bedtime in the dragon household. Everyone is busy. The little dragons brush their teeth, drink their goodnight drinks, put on their pyjamas and hop into bed for a snuggle up story. Titles in the Snuggle up series range are:

• ·         Bedtime for little dragons (by Irene Yates)
• ·         What’s the matter Millie?
• ·         Here comes Dad
• ·         Goodnight little bunny
• ·         Sweet dreams Josephine
• ·         Snuggle down ducklings
• ·         Little chick
• ·         Grandma Hippo’s visit

IMPULSE

Amazing books…Amazing prices

Classic readers are stories which will take children into enchanting magic lands and on exciting adventure trips with loveable characters like Mowgli, Simba, Ariel- the little mermaid and many others. Interesting stories and eye catching illustrations will make the child reach out for the books again and again.

Disney series

• ·         Aladdin
• ·         Jungle cubs
• ·         Tarzan
• ·         Cinderella
• ·         Pooh
• ·         Peter Pan
• ·         Pinnocchio
• ·         Sleeping beauty
• ·         The little mermaid
• ·         The lion king
• ·         The jungle book
• ·         Beauty and the beast

Noddy by Enid Blyton

A series of 12 books, it’s an enjoyable read for kids and it helps them understand the series when viewed on television (POGO) better.  Even adults can enjoy the same in Toyland.

SHANTI PUBLICATIONS

Little kids story books- series has many books. Some of them are:

• ·         Doggle finds a ball
• ·         Micky and his toys
• ·         Greeny and the guava
• ·         Chimpu and the red cap
• ·         Little Balu bear and Pussy cat
• ·         Mambu the elephant
• ·         The elephant and the ant
• ·         Selfish Riku
 

Part II to be continued...