Meet BOB.

Zozie...Meet BOB.
Bob.  A funny name that Zozie could not stop laughing at in the beginning. "Bob? What's BOB?" giggle...giggle...giggggggle.
He's really really wanting to read these days.
At nearly the end of his 3rd year, the reading urge is really kicking in.
Big Time.

We have been doing phonics reading with him for a few months now, as this is the preferred Montessori method of teaching the alphabets.  Instead of reading the "Name" of the letters, the Montessori approach is to teach the "sound" of each letter.  This gives a more accurate tool for a child to use when trying to sound out a new word in a book.
"Ah, Buh, Cuh/Ccc, Duh..."


Our BOB first reader series was a total FIND at a garage sale.  But don't worry if you are not a rummage shopper, these can easily be purchased on Amazon for a decent price.  Just under $12 for a set of 10 small books!

The 1st set consist of all 3-letter words with short vowels and simple sentences.  Book 1 of Set 1 is has only 4 letters for a child to read...they were clever enough to combine these 4 letters in various ways to build a short story for a child to repeat and build literacy confidence.

It was a short "click" for Zozie to get the idea of sounding out letters in a string to form a word.  Before then, he had a rough understanding of single phonics, but piecing together for word creation is the new milestone. Now...like blowing bubble gum, or anything else worth wanting in life, it is just practice, practice, practice.

Mind you, this is a self-motivated practice.
You really can't force a toddler to do something they don't want to do already. Believe me.  I can't even get him to wear a shirt in the morning that he didn't pick out, let alone push early reading, yicks.

Below you will see Zozie's reading of Book2 in Set 1, SAM.
This was the 3rd time he read this particular book within the week.

We are careful to NEVER read these books TO HIM.

What?  So cruel?

Never!  You know we are not like that at the LAB.

This is just so he would not be given the chance to just memorize and repeat.  

Kids have spongy sharp memories and can "appear" to be reading when they have just memorized the script!  Instead, we tell him that we will read any "Storybook" to him but that these are his "Reading Books".

Reading books are ones that HE reads to US so that he too can be a storyteller!  So far, that has worked. Zo is pretty proud when he can tell us a story too.

All Done?

Note that he starts to say "ALL DONE" at the end of the clip.  Dalee is careful to cue him with the phonics of "th" to get him to look at the word itself.  Zozo then proceeds to sound out correctly "The End".

As with all FIRSTS in a toddlers life, this is actually just "The Beginning."

The ride, of course, just got more fun now with BOB in the mix...giggle.

Must say, it is a pretty funny sounding name.  

Like Zozo.

Book Worm

An early morning one day...lights on.

Found his book(s)...

Now, where's the little worm?

Books for Breakfast!

Ever wonder why...
when you walk down a supermarket isle, your child knows exactly which cereal to ask for?

The answer is simple.
It's a simple matter of product DISPLAY.

These marketing geniuses have got it down to a science.

How to get a child's attention?
Bright colors, large letters, and cute cartoon characters.
And the TOP trade secret?
Turning that cereal box to show off that fancy colorful FRONT side.

That's right.  Front.
Not sideways like library books on the shelves, but Front.

Bigger surface to catch the child's eye, FAST!

Which got me thinking...
If we display our Children's books like they display cereal, the books would be flying off the shelves like the cereals are flying into our shopping carts, no?  The options can be quite simple and inexpensive.

Book Ledge Display

 As Shown in Photo: 10 Minute $10 Book Ledge (Click Here)

Skout's Design Tip:  Instant Book Ledge!

1)  Buy a few linear feet of rain gutter from the local hardware store.

2)  Paint any color you want

3)  Nail/screw directly into wall at Child's eye level.

4)  There you have it!

One of my favorite Blogs, Penny Carnival, gives a Tutorial on making your own fabric "Book Sling."

Penny Carnival:  Book Sling

Canvas Sling Book Dispay

Another option is the canvas sling bookshelf.  Companies that make these display shelves are:  KidKraft, Tot Tutors, and One Step Ahead.  This is a $38 option that offers more book storage as well as accommodate over-size books.

Wall Hanging Book Bin

Wall book bins, or book racks are ideal next to a rocker, in a playroom or between bunk beds.  Perfect for the select bedtime collection that gets rotated out periodically.  Same idea as the book sling.




These new products give the home library that same "Cereal Appeal!"
By using the front display method, a child can see the front cover art, title, author, and some details regarding a storybook much faster than just looking at a slim binding.

As for us, we still have a bunch of Zozie's books displayed the "traditional way" in his room.  But for his homeschool area, we wanted something special for his Chinese books.

So before getting out the hammer, sewing machine, or placing an order online...it's always nice to save some money and re-purpose an unused item at home. We found the perfect display bin for Zo's classroom..an unused wicker laundry basket!

Our Front-Display Chinese Book Basket

Zozie has always loved reading.
Reading before bed, reading in bed, reading after bed.

True to the Montessori recommendation, we set up a quiet reading corner in his classroom for him.

For the "Reading Corner":
1)  Child-size chair or floor cushions
2)  Light (lamp or sunlight)
3)  Books close by (on shelf or in basket)

There was no explanation needed.

Like a moth to a flame, Zo found his Little Quiet Book Nook...

Browsing the selections...

Found a nice seat.

A Few Weeks Later... he's still at it.
It's certainly nice to have books for breakfast.