Animals help children learn to read

Getting young children interested in books is not a difficult task when enchanting animals from the land DownUnder help to play a role. In “Giraffe’s Holiday in Sydney,” youngsters and their parents can read the story about the giraffe that spent his vacation in Australia’s premier city. The book features beautiful photographs of the city of Sydney, surrounding countryside, several of Australia’s unusual animals as well as that odd African visitor.

Cow lovers will find great delight in sharing conversation about bovine topics with youngsters learning to read through the medium of another recently released children’s picture book, “This Cow These Cows.” It’s a delightful children’s picture book featuring photographs of cows contentedly going about cow business in their Australian rural habitats. The book employs basic vocabulary with visual cues, rhyme and repetition, all proven techniques supporting children’s language development.

Both books have been produced by photographer, author and former teacher, Gary Boddy whose experience spans decades working with young children as private tutor and teacher in schools in Australia and the United Kingdom including the Queen’s Church of England School in London.

“Parents can assist their children well before they commence formal schooling to develop basic language skills, a prerequisite to achieving at the highest level,” said Gary Boddy.

“Spending time with children and sharing a book, whether reading to them or helping them read to you and discussing pictures and words are all helpful strategies parents can use to assist their children’s learning. Children love photographs of animals especially when they are acting up for the camera. These books give parents many opportunities to discuss words and their meanings through images and topics that hold a child’s interest,” he said.

"Giraffe’s Holiday in Sydney" and "This Cow These Cows" can be previewed and purchased through the publisher’s website: http://stores.lulu.com/garyboddy or through Amazon and other reputable online bookstores.