If you have a beginner reader at home, I'd recommend picking up the new "You Read - I Read" books from NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KiDS. These soft cover books filled with great photos of wild life and natural settings take a co-read approach that encourages parents and children to explore reading together. These books are setup so "you" the parent reads a page followed by "I" the child reading the next. Reading through these books together provides a sense of working together in developing a child's reading abilities rather than him or her just listening to you read or your sitting back monitoring a child's independent reading. My kids often whine about a book being too long or too hard when they are supposed to be doing their twenty to thirty minutes of reading homework each night. By partnering with my kids in reading these books I found them more confident to delving into the pages and more open to asking for help with pronouncing or understanding a difficult word.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KiDS currently has two Level 1 "You Read - I Read" books available for kids who are just beginning to read on their own. Day and Night explores how as the sun rises and fallsitsimpact on animals, fish and plants in the environment. Follow Me! Animal Parents and Babies shows how even animals in the wild need to learn lessons from their parents when it comes to surviving in the world. Both of these books are filled with wonderful photography that enhances the reading experience and helps maintain the interest and attention of young readers.
On each page of these books is a bolded word that is meant to be a point of focus for helping a child build their vocabulary. For every two pages the same word will be bolded on both the "You Read" and "I Read" pages. All of the bolded words in each chapter of a book will have a similar theme. For example in Day and Night all of the bolded words in Chapter 1 relate to times of day while in Chapter 4 they are all action words. Parents are encouraged to engaged in an expanded discussion at the end of each chapter on how each of the bolded words relate to one another and to the topic of the chapter. At the end of each chapter there is also an activity to do together that reinforces that chapter's educational message. For instance in Chapter 3 of Follow Me! Animal Parents and Babies readers match pictures of animals, birds and fish to photos of their homes. I really appreciated how these books expanded beyond just being an exercise in reading to provide an enhanced educational experience.
With photographs and interesting trivia that will capture a child's attention and educational elements that will enhance children's reading and vocabulary skills, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KiDS "You Read - I Read" books get A Geek Daddy's nod of approval.
To help you sustain your child's excitement about reading after going through the "You Read - I Read" books together, I'd recommend enrolling in the free NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KiDS SUPER READER program. Parents can download and print out a poster based upon a child's reading level that is filled with images of appropriate National Geographic children's book that are available at book stores or public libraries. As kids read these books the images can be checked off the poster to earn specially designated prizes like stickers, bookmarks and fun fact cards. The SUPER READERS website also includes free learning activities, educational games and other fun stuff!
A Geek Daddy is a member of the National Geographic Kids Insider
blogger program. Insiders get a behind-the-scenes look at National
Geographic’s
resources, activities, content and projects for kids and families. They
also review copies of books, magazines and toys, and are
offered interviews with authors, explorers and editors. I do not receive any financial compensation for my participation as a National Geographic Kids Insider.
In honor of National Share Your Care Day, A Geek Daddy wanted to share with our readers some information on a KICKSTARTER campaign by a dynamic mom & pop duo who are looking to make their vision of a super hero comic book and line of toys that is age appropriate for young children a reality. Doesn't it seem like many of the comic books, movies, television shows and toys for our kids are just rehashing and recycling characters and stories from past generations? Wouldn't it be nice to see some new original and fresh content that today's generation of kids can embrace and call its own with less violent themes and more of an emphasis on addressing life lessons and promoting values? Do a good deed today and support this Kickstarter campaign that brings an action figure and comic book that celebrates children's sense of adventure, imaginations, and limitless potential to life.
Like many parents today, Crissi and Ed Boland struggled when they went shopping to find toys that their little boys both wanted to play with and that were useful with promoting the positive development of their young children in the years when they are so very impressionable. So these entrepreneurial parents created the concept of the HeroBoys - a group of "ordinary" boys brought together to do good through super powers that have been bestowed upon them by a mysterious benefactor and mentor called The Gentleman. The comic book will be a monthly serial which begins with the HeroBoys having to overcome the challenges facing a city that has been overcome by selfishness. Each issue will feature a story that emphasizes positive messaging regarding life lessons and provide teachable moments for parents to discuss with their children. The Boland's also plan for a unique 18" plush/plastic combination action figure to go along with the comic books so that kids can play out the adventures of their favorite HeroBoys characters.
The HeroBoys character traits were designed from the Boland's parenting experiences dealing with their sons and the children they interact with at school and play. From my own experiences as a parent, these HeroBoys really do seem to be relatable characters for the preschool and elementary school aged kids they are meant for. I also appreciate that these HeroBoys toys combine the comforting elements of plush doll with the articulation features of an action figure for children to play with. From reading a preview of the first issue of the comic book it appeared to be well suited to be enjoyable for both early readers and young children who may need mom or dad to read it to them.
"We wanted these comics and toys to teach honesty, loyalty, humility, compassion, and diligence," Ed Boland communicated to A Geek Daddy. "That concept may seem a little old-fashioned in today's culture that celebrates violence, narcissism, and a win-at-all-cost approach, but we think our kids could use a good, healthy dose of old-fashioned in their lives. With your support, we can bring a meaningful, thoughtful alternative into the unimaginative world of toys for boys."
Rewards for participating in the HeroBoys campaign range from a t-shirt/comic book combo for $25 to a Hero Starter Set which includes a one year monthly subscription to the comic book (print & digital editions), a t-shirt, matching cape & mask, and an 18" HeroBoy action figure. Also note that the action figure pictured is a prototype and Ed told us that the final product will have a head sculpt that more accurately reflects the illustrated images of the HeroBoys from the comic book. Hopefully if the initial launch of the comic book and toys is successful they'll be able to add some girl super heroes to the mix as well.
For more information, CLICK HERE to visit the HeroBoys Kickstarter campaign page.
