obsessed

I am obsessed with children's books. So much that I already have a collection that takes up 1/4 of my book collection. 1/4 is a lot when I love to read and have tons of adult books. And yep 1/4 are children's books. The author I have most of? David Shannon. Actually, I also have books he only illustrated and did not write. I love him. In second would either be Karen Katz or Eric Carle.... oh, and can't forget Jean Marzollo (I SPY BOOKS), I have at least a dozen of those.

Who I have is not really that important. The reason I have so many (besides the fact that I love the smell of a new book, the glossy pages, and the entertaining illustrations) is because books are so important. I love reading a new book in class everyday and I purchase the books because I plan on doing the same thing with my own children one day.

Reading to children is vital. A bedtime story is just as (if not more) important as brushing teeth and eating dinner. I know first hand the difference between a child who has been read to and a child who is just now being exposed to books. Books stimulate the imagination, introduce new vocabulary, and give parents an opportunity to spend quality time with their children.

Every month about $30-$40 of my teaching income goes to Scholastic Book Club book orders (and that goes a loooooong way with Scholastic Book Clubs). I want my students and future children to have a library that will expand their knowledge and imagination. By the age of 5 children should already have had 1,000 books read to them.

So if anyone, anyone at all reads this blog please spread the word to families with little ones and families that are expecting. It is very important.

Feel free to ask for recommendations. I know which ones make them laugh, which ones teach them valuable lessons and which one bore the snot out of both them and me.

This weeks book selection:
Monday: "Slugs in Love"
Tuesday: "Henry in Love"
Wednesday: "Olive My Love" and "One Heart"
Thursday: "Love Splat" (I love this cat) and "Valentine Mice"
Friday: "Raining Hearts"(Felicia Bond, also the illustrator to: "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie") and "Bernstein Bears: Funny Valentine"

Next Week:
Tuesday: "Our Abraham Lincoln"
Wednesday: "Barack" (in looove with this children's book about our prez)
Thurs: "John, Paul, George and Ben"