Since children develop the critical language and early reading skills necessary to enter kindergarten between birth and age five, reading aloud is one of the most influential steps librarians, teachers, parents, and caregivers can take to foster preschoolers' literacy skills. Early exposure to books heavily influences vocabulary knowledge, which…

Reports a strong, highly specific relationship between young children's knowledge of nursery rhymes and the development of phonological skills, which remained significant when differences in IQ and social background were controlled. Measures of nursery rhymes and alliteration were related to early reading skills. (Author/NH)

Over 100 pages of nursery, nonsense, and nature rhymes for the preschool and primary-grade Spanish-speaking child are presented. Included are patio plays, riddles, and outdoor games. All rhymes are given in English on one page and Spanish on a corresponding page. Additionally, each page contains color illustrations in the 3 sections: rhymes,…

Provides guidelines for using action (pop-up) books of rhymes and tales to help children develop prereading skills and a sense of story structure. (AEW)