Baby Readers: For newborns and their parents
Our English and Spanish Baby Readers use simple language to educate parents about the importance of reading to their babies. The Readers reinforce the messages of educators and help
to establish reading traditions in new families.
The Readers use traditional rhymes because parents are often familiar with them and they help babies learn to distinguish between different sounds as they acquire language skills.
Why were the Baby Readers created?
The Baby Reader project was initiated and supported by the Rock County (MN) Friends of the Library and Rock County's Collaborative. This effort was undertaken because, although medical
and educational research consistently demonstrate the importance of reading to infants, that information wasn't reaching the people who needed to hear it most -- the young moms and dads
who aren't likely to study parenting books or to read well-meant pamphlets. On our Baby Reader pages, the recent findings of developmental research are presented in simple, encouraging
sentences alongside the read-aloud rhymes.
What is the message of the Baby Readers?
The Baby Readers stress family involvement. Their pages combine brightly illustrated classic nursery rhymes with short Parent Notes about the important "first and best teacher" role of
parents in the educational development of their children. Photographs of real parents reading to babies reinforce this theme of family involvement. The Baby Readers, started as a
project of Rock County Friends of the Library, also endorse library use and encourage families to visit libraries and continue to read together.
A Spanish-language Reader-- does Humpty Dumpty translate well?
Because Despertar a la lectura's audience is new parents who are most comfortable reading in Spanish, its Parent Notes are in Spanish. We've used traditional poems of
Spanish-language cultures (e.g., Tortillitas, Un elefante se balanceaba) as the read-aloud material for parents to share with babies. Fun, rhyming English-language
translations of the poems are also presented to allow parents to read aloud to their babies in Spanish and/or English.
September 2019
Custom Reader Updates
Board Readers
Sept 5: Deliveries of custom boards will be made either Friday or next
week to clients with a border on the Pacific Ocean (CA, OR, WA).
The rest of us await our books to arrive and clear customs at the Port of Chicago. TWB will alert you with a delivery expectation when we have that information.
Soft-Cover
Readers
We'll next be on press Nov 7th.
Photo-casting call:
Families with 0-3 yr-olds to model reading aloud for our new Somali Family Reader...
TWB is completing our Somali Family Reader over the summer here in Minneapolis. Please contact us if you know of a young family that would like to model reading aloud for that book. Any family members can participate: moms, dads*, grandparents, sisters, sisters, aunts, or uncles with their 0-3 year-olds.
*TWB loves to have dads show off their read-aloud technique.
Photo shoots are ~20 minutes, and can be held at a nearby library, school, park, home, etc. While we welcome Somali-American families, our goal is to show all families reading to young children. So, any family is welcome and invited to participate in the fun!!
The photo session is enjoyable and casual -- plus, you'll receive your own copy of the
finished board book at TWB's Publishing Party for all participants. It's a fun way for your family to make a positive difference (and become very
famous)!
Please call Cheryl (612-990-6011) for more information.
My group is considering custom Baby Readers as a part of a new initiative...
While your organization is in the planning stages, we can work with you to create a mock-up custom cover. You'll have a draft custom version so colleagues have something tangible to consider during your presentation. Contact Cheryl for more information: 612-990-6011.
Preparing for an Early Learning committee meeting?
We can send you sample copies of our Baby and/or Toddler Readers. As you discuss your community's first outreach to new parents, colleagues may review the nursery
rhymes, photos and Parent Notes.
Contact us for more information:
Third Week Books
PO Box 390771
Minneapolis MN 55439
Tel: 612 990 6011
Fax: 615 691 8896
