Weekend Wonder: Book Edit
Disclaimer: this Weekend Wonder is for YOU to execute, most likely alone - though it will help your child tremendously. Fair warning, if you try to edit books with your child’s collaboration, you may not get very far!
A book is a precious and powerful thing - a transmitter of information through imagery and language.
Children’s books - in general - are best approached with conscientious consideration.
Parents underestimate the outsize importance of the book choices they offer in the early years.
This book edit is about offering your child meaningful material for learning - not mere organization.
Does your young child need a book about nonsensical characters, imaginary princesses, or intergalactic conflicts?
About fantasy when they haven’t yet understood reality?
About other planets when they haven’t yet understood their own?
Young children need books that help them better understand this world and real experiences within it.
Books that help them make sense of lived experiences - human, animal, even plant.
Books that help them develop knowledge of and positive relationship with the world they inhabit.
Unfortunately, many choices at your local library, bookstore, or good old Amazon storefront don’t honor these needs.
Here are some questions to ask yourself in considering what books to offer your child.
I encourage you to start by using these prompts with the books you have and read frequently at home.
Does this book help my child understand real experiences in the world?
What would I hope my child is taking from this book? Am I seeing any evidence that these take-aways are happening? Is this book the best way to offer those lessons?
Is the book relevant to my child’s learning at this time, taking into consideration their current age and life experience? Why or why not?
What quality of language and vocabulary is offered in this book?
What about the quality of the art and imagery?
Your child will consume and absorb learning from books, much as they consume and absorb nutrition from food. Just because your child loves candy - and asks for it consistently - does not mean that you’re serving candy for dinner.
The same should be true for books. Just because your child wants to read something of low learning potential - to check it out at the library or purchase it at the bookstore - does not mean that it’s what you should be reading at bedtime.
If you’re looking for good choices, our Meaningful Book Club selections are a great start (they are time-tested and vetted by both teachers and children!). We will share more books in the weeks ahead to include in your holiday wish lists. These make lovely gifts to request from grandparents and other family members.
You might have a bit of time during Thanksgiving break to set aside for editing your books before the arrival of winter holiday gifts.
Would you consider editing your child’s bookshelf?
It really is one of the best things you can do.