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Over the course of the school year, in Champittet Nyon, we work through many fun and interesting themes. A way to engage and capture children’s interest and enthusiasm is through story time. Below are some of my favourite books to read with young children. Whenever possible, I choose a pop-up or an extra-large version of a book as this allows for more interaction and greater opportunities to engage the senses.
A wonderful book for exploring emotions is The Color Monster by Anna Llenas. I love reading this book with young children as they are very quick to get involved and to link the colours to their feelings. In our classroom, we have colour monsters on the wall, and throughout the day, the children move their picture to their choice of monster. This helps them to express non-verbally how they are feeling, before engaging in a conversation about their emotions.
Next, The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson. Donaldson’s books are wildly popular and for good reason! The illustrations are incredibly engaging, and the use of repetition and rhyme is especially helpful for young children’s phonological development. The Gruffalo follows the adventures of a clever little mouse who frightens off threats using quick thinking and street-smarts. This story is a lot of fun in the classroom: children enjoy chanting along enthusiastically and laughing at the mouse’s antics!
In How to be a Lion by Ed Vere, Leonard and Marianne have a beautiful and unexpected friendship. Reading this story in the classroom always leads to lively discussions about friendship, standing up to bullies, and stereotypes. This wonderful book encourages children to follow their own path and to not feel afraid of being different.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is a must-have in any children’s collection. The story follows a famished caterpillar from egg to butterfly. The vibrant illustrations, as well as the variety of food the caterpillar devours, easily grip children’s attention and imagination.
Finally, I have chosen Amelia Earhart, from the Little People, Big Dreams series. These books follow the stories of real-life people who have invented, discovered, explored, and/or achieved remarkable things. Each book begins with the person as a young child and then follows their journey to achieving their goals. I find these stories to be a great starting point before further investigating a character or theme. When reading Amelia Earhart in the classroom, children are quick to talk about aeroplanes, maps, pilots, and their own experiences of flying – leading to endless opportunities for cross-curricular links! And, most importantly, these books inspire children to think about their own dreams and how they can achieve whatever they have set their hearts on.
An article written by Champittet Nyon Preschool Teacher, Louise
Boarding at Collège Champittet offers the opportunity to enjoy exceptional adventures not only in Switzerland, but also around the globe! Recently, a group of our boarding students travelled to Oman to spend an unforgettable two weeks immersed in culture and nature.