TO DEMONSTRATE Are You My Mother? to the PARENT

GUIDE SHEET: BOOK

ARE YOU MY MOTHER?
BY: P.D. Eastman

Program Cycle: 1

Supporting Your Child’s Development: “Are You My Mother?”uses repetition to build vocabulary and enhance your child’s ability to sequenceeventsthrough a classic story about a baby bird in search of his mother. This supportsyour child’s cognitive development, as well as building early literacy skills. In addition, the story supports the parent-child bond, and allows your child to explore emotions connected to attachment and separation, an important part of social-emotional development. The surprises in the story will help your child with his/her predictive skillsand eventually allow your child to tell the story and “read” it to you, by using the illustrations.

TO DEMONSTRATE Are You My Mother? TO THE PARENT:

Invite the child to look and listen.
Try to sit with the child between you and the parent.
Show and read the title page.
Show and describe how to turn the pages and treat the book.
Read to the child in a clear, easy voice. Don't go too fast.
Stop at most illustrations.
Encourage
Follow the Child’s Lead and imagination

Stop at most pictures and help your child name some of these:

The names of objects: Hatchling, baby bird, nest, feathers, kitten, hen, dog, cow, udder, car, boat, plane, crane, worm
Colors: Yellow: shell, beak, eyes, dog tag and car; brown: nest, cat, bird, and smoke rings; red: kerchief, worm, waddle and comb, collar, and crane
Action Words: Smiling, sitting, flying, hatching, falling, walking, talking, running, cuddling

Emotions: Happiness, worry, fear, sadness, confidence
Relationships: Inside the nest, outside of the nest, upin the air, down on the ground, on top of the dog’s head, next to mama
Categories: Animals, machines

Help your child to learn how books and writing work:

Let your child turn the pages of the book.
From time to time, run your finger along the print as you read.
Describe actions in the book in your own words to reinforce the story.
Let the child guess what will happen next.

Relate the story to the child’s experience:

Have you ever worried about where your mama was?
Have you ever seen any of these animals pictured in the book? Which ones and where?
Do you have a pet?
Did you know that birds feed their young worms?What does your mother (father, grandmother, etc.)feed you?

For more fun with your child you might like to:

Play a game with your child by pointing out different facial featuresand ask them if they know someone else with the same features. Examples: curly or straight hair, blue or brown eyes etc.

Talk about different body parts such as beaks, udders and waddles and play the “do I have one game”? The parent asks the child, “Do you have a beak?” The child can answer,“No, I have a nose.” “Do you have wings?” “No, I have arms,” etc.

Remember throughout the home session to:

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

ASKthe child questions. HELPthe child when needed.

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