Before J and T were born I started a library collection for them – simple books that could be read to babies as well as traditional picture books and even some chapter books that I loved as a child. The baby books have been read and re-read and re-read many many times, the picture books are learnt by heart and the chapter books are no waiting to be read when the time is right. But one of the ways that we love to “read” our books is by bringing the books alive.

Here’s 3 simple ways in which you can bring the books alive helping your child develop a love of books and reading as well as prepare them for entering school ready to extend their reading skills or develop them from scratch.

1. Renact scenes from their favourite books

It doesn’t how much detail you put into it you can act our their favourite books – use toys like we did with Goldilocks and the 3 bears, place yourself in the role of the characters adding props like we did with The Tiger Who Came to Tea, or even use your imagination like going on a Gruffalo Hunt in the woods.

2. Take a theme from the books and expand

When you are reading the book focus on one set theme – is it that feet play a big role in it like The Foot Book by Dr Seuss which we took the idea of left and right feet and made foot prints in the snow, is it how the animals move like in The Animal Boogie and created our own movement game.

3. Craft, play or learn with the books

Is there part of the book that lends itself to a craft, to playing with ideas or learning with – could you create a collage out of paper to make it look like the illustrations in the book as we did with The Cuckoo by Lois Ehlert.  Set up a small world play and what how the story is extend and developed further like we did with sharing a shell, or take a part of the story and develop it further with some sensory play like creating strawberries from playdough. Does the book lend itself to a science experiment like seeing what conditions ice cream melts at best to go with Wemberly’s Ice Cream Star or some subtraction and addition with Rainbow Fish Scales.

If you would like even more ideas to help Bring Books Alive then check out the guest post by Kim from The Educators’ Spin On It on Creating Activities for Books.

This is week 5 of Get Ready for K through Play and it’s all about Reading, Book and Literacy – check out more about Get Reading for K through play over on Mom to 2 posh lil divas and these other posts by the co-hosts about reading, books and literacy for your kindergarden or reception child.

10 Early Reader Books for beginning readers – Mom to 2 posh lil divas

Author

Cerys Parker

Cerys is a marine biologist, environmental educator, teacher, mum, and home educator from the UK. She loves getting creative, whether it is with simple and easy crafts and ideas, activities to make learning fun, or delicious recipes that you and your kids can cook together you'll find them all shared here on Rainy Day Mum.