Beyond Bedtime Stories: A Parent's Guide to Promoting Reading, Writing, and Other Literacy Skills from Birth to 5

by V. Susan Bennett-Armistead, Nell K. Duke, Annie M. Moses

While most parents understand the importance of promoting literacy in their young children, they often aren't sure how to do it. This book provides guidance. Taking a “literacy-throughout-the-day” approach, the authors organize the book around spaces in the home-the kitchen, bedroom, living room, and so forth-and suggest fun, stimulating activities for building children's reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in those spaces. Filled with tips, photos, milestones to watch for, and great ideas to try today, Beyond Bedtime Stories is essential reading. For use with Grades PreK-K.

Genres: Parenting

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2007

Reviews

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful resource for providers to share with families
Wealth of information presented well
Many connections to great activity that is DAP

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed their "Materials for Reading" alphabet of ideas (pages 42-51).
Alphabet & other concept books * Board Books (I'll add Birthday cards) * Computer Software (I'll add comic books) * Directions * E-Mail & other electronic texts * Flannel Boards * Guides * How-to books * Informational books (libraries call these non-fiction) * Junk mail * Kitchen magnets * Library books (I would add lift-the-flap books) * Magazines * Novelty book (I would add Nursery rhyme books) * Out-and-about books * Poems (I'll add Poetry books) * Quiz books * Recipes and cookbooks * Storybooks (I'll add Scrapbooks) * Touch-and-Feel books * Use-up books * Vinyl books * Web sites * X: maps/globes * You-make-it-yourself books * Zany books

Phonological Awareness anyone? (see pages 97-111)
This official-sounding phrase refers to playing with words and word sounds.

What if a book contains words or ideas that I find offensive? (page 135)
As the read-aloud leader of the interaction with your child, you can skip over parts, edit the wording, or stop and talk about it.

The book is filled with photographs, side-bars, recommended titles to share with children. Give it a visit.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good resource. It had a lot of good ideas for parents that are new to emergent literacy philosophy, but I felt that for me (who has read a lot on the subject) it was just rehashing the same stuff. There were a few good games in the last chapters that I mentally stored to do with my boys.

One thing about this book that was nice, was it gave pictures of kid's writing or scribbling at different stages and pointed out what was good about it. It made me realize, hey Davey or Gordon do that; they must be on the right track. It did focus more on writing then other emergent literacy books and I liked that.

[Karen (Living Unabridged) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book for parents of preschoolers with lots of reading suggestions and activities. The authors are not supporters of homeschooling, which kind of made me laugh. On one page they are telling you that no one knows your child and what that child needs better than you the parent (you are your child's best teacher) and the next they are telling you that only "professionals" could possibly teach your child how to read. Right. But that little leap of logic aside, it was an interesting book.

[Janet Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about building the foundation for a lifelong enjoyment of reading, not about teaching a child to read. It's full of practical ideas for engaging your child with all of the written materials around them (receipts at the grocery store, letters in the mail, recipes when you cook, etc.). I picked up some great ideas from this book and definitely recommend it.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has some amazing ideas for incorporating literacy into everyday life. It encourages literacy everywhere from the bathtub to the ice cream parlor. It also has great explanations of pre-literacy skills and book recommendations. I haven't read the entire book, but it is a wonderful reference for parents, preschool teachers and librarians.

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

The larger print, organization, and inset information boxes makes this book easy to read and glean information. It's slightly dry reading but very informative.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually hate "parenting books" but this was a great read, lots of good ideas and book suggestions.

[Megan Garbe · Rating 2 out of 5]

condescending.

[Jason Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

very informative book. lots of good information.