Words! Words! Words! Books to help children develop print awareness.

Before children learn to read on their own, the are building the foundation they will need TO learn to read. One of the things they're developing is their print awareness. Children are beginning to notice words all around them - on signs, in books, on boxes, - and that words have meaning. They're learning, too, how books and print work.

There are lots of ways to help your child develop this skill. You can point out words and say what they mean. You can look for signs and explain their meaning. But one of the best ways is, of course, by sharing books. Point out the print in these newer picture books:

EVERY MONDAY MABEL by Jashar Awan

Every Monday, Mabel gets to do something that she thinks is very special! Find out what it is (and notice the words showing the sound it makes!).

M IS FOR MANGO by Atinuke and Angela Brooksbank

Another delightful story by the author/illustrator team that brought us "B is for Baby." Find the letter M on each page.

SAY HELLO! by Rachel Isadora

A girl takes a walk with her dog and meets people who say hello in many different languages. Point out the different words for "hello."

B IS FOR BANANAS by Carrie Tillotson and Estrela Lorenço

In this second book in the series, Banana is determined to avoid bedtime by changing all the alphabet words.

OVER, BEAR! UNDER, WHERE? by Julie Hedlund and Michael Slack

This is a silly story that demonstrates how prepositions work. The print is big and noticeable.

ALL THE HULK FEELS by Dan Santat

Told in a comic book style with lots of print to point out, this story imagines what might happen if the Incredible Hulk decides he wants to feel something other than rage.

I HATE EVERYTHING! by Sophy Henn

Ghost is having a bad day. They hate EVERYTHING. Or do they? Word bubbles make the text easy to see and point out.

ONCE UPON A BOOK by Grace Lin

A girl travels through a book and finds wonders and adventure. But when the adventure has ended, she's ready to go to the best place she can imagine.