This fact sheet offers 30 suggestions for building interest in reading. While the document focuses on nurturing reading in First Nations communities, the ideas would be valuable in any setting.
This report looks at various ways of sourcing books, and providing access to books for First Nations communities. While the report focuses on efforts in Hobbema, a primarily First Nations community south of Edmonton, Alberta, the ideas it contains are relevant in many situations.
A Manual for Literacy Programs and Family Literacy Resource Programs
This manual provides the information needed to plan a series of bookmaking workshops for parents. During the workshops, parents create books for their children; learn about the qualities of good children’s books; and discover strategies they can use at home to promote reading.
The manual offers instructions for preparing five different books, with lists of required materials and templates for shapes required for each book.
This video shows a quick method for making a small book out of paper, yarn or string, and a drinking straw.
Once the book is made, an adult can fill the pages with words and drawings on a specific theme, like shapes, colours or numbers. The blank book could also be given to a child so he can write his own story.
This brief video explains why making your own reading material can help small children become enthusiastic about books. It introduces a series of videos that focus on making different kinds of books, including accordion books, foam books, and folding books.
The video shows a mother reading the book she has made for her one-year-old daughter. Each page features a photograph of a member of the family, accompanied by some simple text.
A storysack consists of a book with props, games and ideas for activities to engage children in reading. This video shows a little boy discovering Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” through a storysack.
The adult reading the book aloud uses toy food items from the sack to keep the toddler’s attention. As well, she pauses frequently to let the boy respond to the story.
This short video shows an adult and a child making a book by using sheets of craft foam, regular paper, and paper fasteners.
The project is simple enough for a child to do with a little help. Adult participation would be required as one stage of the project calls for the use of a hot-glue gun.
This video shows how to make a small book that unfolds like an accordion. The project calls for materials that are readily available, including regular paper, index cards, transparent tape, glue and ribbon.
The pages of the book can feature a specific learning theme, like colours or numbers. The format can also be adapted to make a keepsake book of photographs or other memorabilia.
