Read, Question, Explore, & Learn

After reading these books with children share your experiences with us.  Email us at tyc@naeyc.org.  Coming soon: the Discussing Children’s Books discussion board.

Preschoolers are natural scientists—curious and full of wonder and questions about their world. They are hands-on investigators who learn as they turn over rocks to examine the bugs living underneath or plant seeds that they water and watch grow into pumpkins or tomatoes. This book answers some of children’s questions and, with your guidance, inspires them to keep asking, exploring, and learning.

Where Does Pepper Come From? And Other Fun Facts, by Brigitte Raab.
Illus. by Manuela Olten. 2006.

This book asks eight intriguing questions, including, “Why do snails carry houses on their backs?” and “Why do sheep have curly wool?” The first answer to each question is always slapstick (snails like to go camping, sheep like to wear curlers in their hair). Children love to join in with the No! on the next page, and they are eager to discover the real answers that follow (shells protect snails from predators and sun; curly wool traps air to keep sheep warm). This book is fun and factual and it teaches children to wonder about the natural mysteries around them. It ends with a surprise that reinforces children’s wonder and desire to explore. This book is a sure hit for read-aloud time. Then, to promote scientific explorations, you can:

• Keep a running list of children’s questions about the natural world and possible answers. Help the children find out the facts using hands on exploration, observation, books, other print and Internet resources, and by interviewing local experts. What new discoveries do children make?

• Offer interesting items children can explore and wonder about. 

  • Bring in dryer lint from home. Where does it come from? Where would it go if it didn’t collect in the dryer?
  • Share a bird’s nest. How do birds build their nests? What makes them strong?
  • Examine some orange peels. How long will it take them to dry? How much do the peels weight today? How much will they weigh tomorrow or next week? Why does the weight change?
    
    
• Notice the things that interest children.
  Listen to their conversations and observe their discoveries. Then provide the resources they need to explore their interests and share them with others.

More new books for preschoolers

Alligator Boy, by Cynthia Rylant. Illus. by Diane Goode. 2007.
This boy insists on being an alligator and stays in character everywhere—even at school, where being an alligator helps him confront a bully.

The Incredible Book Eating Boy, by Oliver Jeffers. 2007.
Henry discovers that the more books he eats, the smarter he gets, until one day
he realizes he’s had too much.

Wolf! Wolf! by John Rocco. 2007.
Wolf is too old to chase animals, so he plants a small garden. When the garden fills with weeds, he wonders how to get his next meal.

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Adapted from I. Baker & M.B. Schiffer, “The Reading Chair. All Interest Areas Need Books, So Spread Those Books Around,” Young Children 62 (May 2007): 44–49. Online: journal.naeyc. org/btj/200705/pdf/ReadingChair.pdf

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