Books for Early

Readers

Series such as “I-Can-Read”, “Step Into Reading” and “Dell Picture Yearlings” were created to support the child who is starting to read without any help.

Books for early readers contain many of the same characteristics.

Usually done in cartoon style.

Provide clues to the text. Detail is often minimal. Extra objects and unnecessary backgrounds are not usually included.

Fun, artistic illustrations are still used (i.e.-Frog and Toad are Friends).

Unexpected or humorous scenarios involving the characters.

Whimsical illustrations.

Repeated Themes:Longing for and importance of friendship

Children and adults making mistakes and still being accepted

Celebration of special events (i.e.-birthday parties)

Joy of having a petReluctance to go to bedBeing afraidChildren being adventurous or creativeThe need to be taken care of, etc.

The best early reader books don't have a controlled vocabulary.

Most books have sentences no longer than twelve to twenty words.

Authors tend to repeat words over and over in the context of the story so that they make sense.

New words are used in the illustrations the majority of the time.

Frequent use of rhyme and rhythm makes books easier to read because it makes them more predictable.

Make reading more fun!

The reader can make predictions about what the next word will be.

Motivates children to figure out words.

Makes the tone light and playful.

Infuses fun into reading.

Lots of dialogue is used in early readers to carry the plot line forward.

Helps keep the action moving.

Allows much information to be conveyed in short sentences.

Encourages new readers to “chunk” or read phrases instead of individual words.

Help readers to do more than sounds out individual sounds.

Carry the heavy load of establishing the characterization as well as the setting.

Nature of the characters is portrayed through the drawings.

Show a lot about the characters and their relationships with each other.

Demonstrate the characteristics of humans.

Fun for children to see the scenarios with animals involved.

Children can easily relate to animals.

Mitchell, Diana. Children’s Literature: An Invitation to the World. 1st edition. Pearson Education, Inc., 2003.