From: gravity_rabbit
Date: Sat, 3 Aug 2002 17:21:51 -0600

I just discovered my message only went to Kathleen, so I am reposting it
(sorry Kathleen):

"Books for Babies and Toddlers"

Is it too late to begin this discussion? (It is, after all, August 2). I would like to begin by plugging a wonderful book by Dori Chaconis, illustrated by Stephen T. Johnson called ON A WINTRY MORNING. With simple rhymes and pleasant repetition it tells of a father taking his toddler daughter out on a wintry day. The pastel illustrations are soft and calming and fit the mood of the story beautifully.

My wife and I were babysitting our niece, adopted out of China. Because of institutionalized neglect while living in the orphanage, she has some developmental problems, mostly social. She has difficulty being near men. But each night before bed I would read books to her. This was one that she constantly asked for. "The baby book," she would say. While normally quiet, during the reading of this book she would chatter to me about the snow, the horse, the babies toes. Despite the theme of cold and snow, I think this book melted both our hearts.

Randall Wright

 Message----From: Kathleen Horning [mailto:horning at education.wisc.edu] Sent: Friday, August 02, 2002 10:47 PM To: Subscribers of ccbc-net Subject: [CCBC-Net] Books for Babies and Toddlers


Thanks to Randall Wright for jump-starting the Auguest discussion on Books for Babies and Toddlers! You mention two features that I think are important in writing for the very young: rhyme and repitition.

Just a little bit more about this month's topic... we plan to focus specifically on books for the very young: age 2 and under. I know many of you are there are conducting successful and innovation toddler story times. Which books have you found work particularly well?

When it comes to two year olds, for my money, there's no better author/ illustrator than Donald Crews. His books "Truck" and "Freight Train" have certainly entered the realm of classic literature for toddlers. They both have certainly stood the test of time!


Kathleen T. Horning (horning at education.wisc.edu) Cooperative Children's Book Center University of Wisconsin-School of Education 4290 Helen C. White Hall 600 North Park St. Madison, WI 53706 608&3930 FAX: 608&2I33 www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/

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Received on Sat 03 Aug 2002 06:21:51 PM CDT