Benefits of a Book of the Month

6 days ago

2 min read

Is your child coming home reciting every word of a certain book?

Do you hear the same sentence repeated as you’re travelling along in the car?

Are you corrected if you misquote a sentence from a familiar book?

This is exactly why we read a book of the month.

Not only are these books being read over and over again, the books are meticulously chosen because of the repetitive nature of the text itself.

This programme enhances children’s ability to remember and recall information, boosting their memory skills. It also helps children notice sound patterns, an essential skill for phonics and learning to read.

In 2024, we launched our campaign to ensure that every child has a story book at bedtime and to bring a focus on a love of reading. We organised a lending library in the Pink Hall, a book of the month and to bring Makaton into our practice.

To repeat, repeat, repeat!

We recognise that the rhythm and repetitive pattern of sounds helps and supports a child's language acquisition.

Repetition is crucial for brain growth and development as it strengthens neural connections and lays the foundation for learning and memory.

New Vocabulary

These books expose children to new vocabulary and language structure, helping them learn and practice pronunciation, supporting language development.

A study on language acquisition found that children pick up new vocabulary quicker from repeated readings from the same book than when they encounter the same words in different new texts. (Horst, Parsons and Bryan, 2011).

Reading, rhymes and singing

Reading comprehension is also developed through rhymes and songs. Studies have shown that children who enjoy music, singing and rhyming on a regular basis tend to learn to speak more easily and use words to express themselves.

Our team believe it is important to entwine these rhymes and verses within the routine of the day, such as nappy changes, during tidy up time and when putting coats on to go outside.

In Ladybirds and Butterflies we regularly sing, initiate action rhymes, read familiar books, dance to familiar songs such as ‘Hop little bunnies’ and enjoy regular visits with Clare from Story Bears.

Practitioners particularly pay attention to the ‘serve and return’ within their practice. They notice what the baby is looking at, pointing to or trying to communicate in some way.

Our team then ‘return the serve’ with an encouraging sound, a describing word or a facial expression.

It is at this point, our team know to give the baby time, space and an opportunity to reply and react.

This is so important because it physically shapes the neural connections in the baby’s brain.

When naming objects and responding to babbles, this actually builds early vocabulary and reciprocal patterns in a conversation between two people.