“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.”
― Albert Einstein
Reading is an integral element of every child’s education while growing up. Alongside aiding cognitive development, it also broadens a child’s imagination. The emergence of the ability to think and comprehend or the construction of thought processes which includes memory, problem solving, and decision-making skills from childhood to adulthood is known as cognitive development.
Reading aloud to your child significantly provides them with background knowledge about their young world, feeding their curiosity and helping them make sense of what they see, think, hear and read.
When parents read to their children, it also provides an opportunity for one-on-one communication which sparks discussions and enables critical thinking skills as well.
Reading also prepares children for academic success as it serves as a foundation that will help them later on. Through reading, the child can relate more to the real world and can also be taught important values and morals with the help of various stories. Precisely, reading is key to lifelong learning, and if the love for reading is instilled in a child from an early age, then a promising path of lifelong learning is sure to follow.
The Adventures of Henry Turtle is a pleasure read that can be enjoyed with your child. The characters along with their pictures will lighten up your child’s imagination while giving you a one-on-one opportunity to communicate, and spend quality time with your child.
Pick the Right Book
You should choose the book keeping your child’s age and interest in mind. For example, younger children love books that have more visuals and lesser text.
Read Aloud with Expressions
Reading is an art and the way you read a given text can make all the difference to the story. You should read aloud to your child with appropriate expressions. Voicing out the characters in different tones will be the cherry on top that your child will indeed enjoy the most!
Act Out the Story
There are different ways to act out a story. You can either do it yourself or make finger puppets for the different characters. Acting out will have your child connect and relate more to the story that will further enhance his imagination.
Ask Questions
Asking questions can aid critical thinking skills while also have the child think from various perspectives. Ask questions such as:
Plan a Daily Reading Hour
To get your child used to reading, have him or her read daily. You can start this with narrating bed time stories selected by your child and gradually move toward self-reading.
If you have not purchased a copy of this fun-to-read book, you are missing out on Henry Lee Turtle’s meaningful adventure! Order your book now to share in the thoughts of this naive, yet wise little turtle. Henry Lee will surely capture your heart.
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“I think the story is sweet and I like how you wove in facts about salamanders as Sal is introducing himself. I feel children’s books are best when there is elements of learning added in not necessarily just in moral or life lessons, but also with facts that expand their knowledge.”
-Summer Campbell
“William, as an author through his story of Henry Lee Turtle’s Adventure, tells children of all ages, how important it is to keep a promise and, not judge others based on how they look, where they come from or because they act differently from them. It’s a great story and fun to read. The colorful illustrations bring the book alive.”
-Sean Burkin, Educator
Copyright The Adventures of Henry Lee Turtle ©2022 by W.D Smitherman, Sr.
