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BostonPL_Play: 9 Picture Books to Support Early Literacy

Play is one of the five early literacy practices outlined by the Every Child Ready to Read initiative. Research shows that children who have more time for child-directed play have better executive function--the part of the brain that helps regulate emotions and develop concentration. As preschoolers act out everyday scenes and explore household objects, they strengthen their narrative skills and expand their vocabularies. As they use their fingers to manipulate objects, they strengthen the fine motor skills they will need to write. As they use their imaginations, they begin to understand symbolism: A toy boat stands in for a real one, just as the word "boat" stands in for the object itself. The books on this list model, celebrate, direct, and inspire play!

Library Staff
Boston Public Library

9 items

  • Let's Play!

    Tullet, Herve,
    A lively yellow dot leads the reader through a journey through color, shape, and a child's imagination.
    Picture BookSan Francisco, California : Chronicle Books, [2016] — J PICTURE TULLET H

  • What's Next Door?

    O'Byrne, Nicola,
    All Crocodile wants to do is find his way home, but he can't get there by himself -- he needs your help! Children take part in the story and use their imaginations to guide him door-to-door.
    Picture BookSomerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press, 2018. — J PICTURE OBYRNE N

  • Big Box of Shapes

    Blevins, Wiley,
    Triangles, circles, squares. To most of us, these are just simple shapes. But in the imaginations of Lulu and Max, these shapes found in a box take on exciting new meanings. What will you see?
    BookSouth Egremont, MA : Red Chair Kids, an imprint of Red Chair Press, [2018] — J CONCEPT BLEVINS W

  • Box

    Flyte, Min,
    What can a group of preschoolers do with SO many boxes?
    BookSomerville, Massachusetts : Nosy Crow, an imprint of Candlewick Press, 2016.

  • Chalk

    Thomson, Bill, 1963-
    A wordless picture book about three children who go to a park on a rainy day, find some chalk, and draw pictures that come to life.
    BookNew York : Marshall Cavendish Children, ©2010.

  • Blocks

    Dickson, Irene,
    Ruby has red blocks. Benji has blue blocks. But what happens when they won't share?
    Picture BookSomerville, Massachusetts : Nosy Crow, an imprint of Candlewick Press, 2016. — J PICTURE DICKSON I

  • Meeow and the Pots and Pans

    Braun, Sebastien
    Meeow and his friends find all sorts of interesting things in the kitchen - a green colander, a wooden spoon, an orange frying pan. What will they do with all of these things?
    Picture BookLondon : Boxer, 2010. — PZ7.B73779 Mec 2010x

  • Except When They Don't

    Gehl, Laura,
    Illustrations and simple, rhyming text challenge the idea that boys and girls should each wear only certain colors or play with certain toys, and encourages them to be true to themselves.
    BookNew York, NY : little bee books, [2019]

  • Jeremy Draws a Monster

    McCarty, Peter
    A young boy who spends most of his time alone in his bedroom makes new friends after the monster in his drawing becomes a monstrous nuisance.
    Picture BookNew York : Henry Holt and Company, 2009. — PZ7.M47841327 Je 2009

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