Two rural child care professionals test out and provide insights on SelectBooks from our children’s collection
Lindsey Frazier and Emily Harger of A Home Away from Home, a licensed child care center in Douglas County, took time to review our SelectBooks children’s collection — reading each with the kids in their care and sharing their reflections on the content and possibilities for learning. We hope their insights will inspire you to read these books with the youngest learners in your life!
SELECTBOOKS: Look Where We Live!
“I love that this book talks about the community garden, as every year the children and I work hard on our garden and sometimes even get to bring home the foods we’ve grown. Giving their hard work to their families, putting it in their meals, makes them feel accomplished and that their hard work does pay off.”
SELECTBOOKS: Mabel and the Fire
“Growing up here in Douglas County it’s sad to say we have a hefty fire season, and sometimes it takes a toll on the homes and livelihoods of humans and animals alike—displacing families from their homes. Not only can this book be used for a family who has been displaced due to fires, but the story’s general idea can be adapted to speak to different scenarios of homelessness.”
SELECTBOOKS: The Magical Yet
“When discovering one’s self comes with frustration, the Magical Yet goes into how we can always work towards the future we seek. Building skills over time, allowing room for mistakes, and accepting where you’re at now are all parts of building the ‘yet’ to come. I can use this book when introducing new concepts that can be harder to grasp at the beginning.”
SELECTBOOKS: Holdin Pott
“Toddlers are new to this world and have yet to learn the skills necessary to cope with the battles of growth. Our job as adults is to model healthy coping techniques so they can learn what to do when negative emotions arise. Reading this book can help children understand that it’s okay to be upset and angry, but how to let that out in a way that isn’t going to hurt yourself or others.”
SELECTBOOKS: Me on the Map
“This book can be used to talk with children about how our friends and their families live in different places – or when friends or relatives move away. As children get older, they begin to become more aware of where others live and how they live. Depending on the child’s age, you can have them draw or model a map of their room, and for younger children, you can have them make rooms from small toys. You can talk about how sometimes we share rooms, sometimes we have our own space, and sometimes we are between homes.”
SELECTBOOKS: Bunny to Bunny (Sing Me Your Song)
“This book talks about how love is the direct bridge to learning. It would be good to give to parents, especially, to read with their children. As caregivers, we find the rhymes are great for toddlers, as they’re simple and can be used in play. For example, the ‘Bunny Up’ rhyme would be good for jumping or when we’re picking up babies and doing narration.”
SELECTBOOKS: Josie Girl and Blueberry Blue
“Every person will experience grief in their lifetime whether it be over a person, an animal, or even a physical object, like Josie’s Blueberry Blue balloon. You can read this book before grief takes place personally, talking about how we can support friends or family who go through these hard times. And when children actively go through grief, we can use this book to show how we can support them and help them know they’re not alone.”
With appreciation
We’re grateful to Lindsey Frazier and Emily Harger for sharing their thoughts on these SelectBooks.
We are always to hear from our readers, so please remember to order a book and share your reviews with us!