Guide Sheet: Book

GUIDE SHEET: BOOK

TITLE: FEAST FOR 10

BY: Cathryn Falwell

Program Year 1

Supporting Your Child’s Development: This book will teach or reinforce your child’s ability to count to ten, an important part of early numeracy, which is the foundation of math readiness. The rhyming and rhythm of the text will support your child’s early literacy development, as well. This book will also teach your child about healthy foods, while the calm predictability of the story about a family ritual will help your child feel secure, the foundation of his/her social-emotional development.

Remember the following when reading a book with your child:

· Have a good time with this book and the child!

· Invite the child to look and listen.

· Try to sit the child beside you or between you and your PCHP Home Visitor.

· Show and read the title page to the child.

· Show and describe to the child how to turn the pages and treat the book.

· Read to the child in a clear, easy voice. Don’t go too fast. Allow time for the child to think about the story.

· Stop at most illustrations to talk about them. Ask the child questions about the illustrations to help the child reason things out.

Encourage the child to point out and name:

· Colors: Red tomatoes, yellow chicken, orange carrots, green pickles

· Shapes and Sizes: Small, round tomatoes; shortest child; tallest child

· Numbers: One cart, two pumpkins, three chickens, etc.

· Relationships: The food goes into the shopping cart; the pots are on top of the stove; two children are sitting next to the grandmother

· Textures: Carrots are crunchy; mashed potatoes are soft

Invite the child to tell about experiences related to the story and pictures:

· Have you been to the supermarket? What did Mom (or Dad) buy there?

· Have you tasted beans? Chicken? Carrots? (etc.) What do you like to eat? Why?

· Who do you eat your meals with? Who sits at your table?

· Do you help Mom (or Dad) cook? What do you do?

· Do you have a favorite food? What is it? Why do you like it?

Have the child reason things out and make choices:

· Look at all the beans they bought. Which one is candy?

· Is the oven hot or cold? Is the stove hot or cold? Could you get hurt touching the oven or stove? What might happen?

· What do you use a knife for? A spoon? A fork?

· What are the ingredients that go into the pie? Why are the older children helping while the younger children are watching?

· How are the children helping their mother in the supermarket?

Remember throughout the home visit to:

ENCOURAGE the child to talk. PRAISE the child for doing well.

ASK the child questions. HELP the child when needed.

LISTEN to the child’s answers. RESPOND to the child’s answers.

Fun activities:

· Next time you go food shopping, have your child help you make a list. Draw some of the items, or cut and paste pictures of some of the items from a magazine. Then have your child come along with you to the store. She/he should be able to “read” some of the items on the list.

· Using old magazines, help your child cut out pictures of food, then sort them by categories, such as vegetables, fruits, cereals, etc. Glue the pictures into a homemade book by category.