Pages

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Read Aloud Thursday - Dinosaurs

Time for another Read Aloud Thursday over at Hope is in the Word.

My 2 1/2 year old is becoming fascinated with the wonderful world of dinosaurs. This is something that I do not mind at all as they are very interesting creatures. One book that we read (when it's not in hiding) is The Pop-Up Dinosaurs Galore!. Each page has a pop-up or a pullout that my son loves to mess with. Of course, this book can only be read in the company of an adult who can monitor what little hands are doing with the pages. It's a book told in rhyme. It does a pretty good job at just naming the dinosaurs and talking about what scientist speculate that they were made for in a manner that little kids can identify with. (e.g., the Pteranodon is labled as having a crest upon his head which makes it easier for him to glide) We are creationists so I'm a little leery of dinosaur books which peg them as having been exitinct for millions of years. This book does not do that. It just names them, presents them in a colorful cartoonish sort of way and rhymes throughout. THAT we can do (and do most happily)! However, as I said, I have to keep this book hidden as it has curious appeal.

Another of our favorite dinosaur board books is Dinosaur Roar. This book is awesome for talking about opposites. Dinosaurs are big and small, shy and scary, short and long, etc., etc. It is also told in rhyme and ends with the dinosaurs all eating lunch with a loud, "NIBBLE, NIBBLE, MUNCH, MUNCH, SCRUNC!" that cracks my son up every single time. (You have to get that part just right, which inevitably results in him asking you to read the book, "'GAIN!? 'GAIN!?")


Of course - there are puppets. (You should start expecting them.) We found the Mary Meyer Tippysaurus Dinos Finger Puppets to use in conjunction with our reading about dinosaurs. I've talked about Mary Meyer puppets before.

If you need more convincing, or perhaps just a bit of encouragement, in using puppets as you read, here is an easy Why and How-To approach to using puppets. If you google a bit you can find lots of quick and easy ideas on how to use puppets in learning and for play. Here are some additional uses for puppets. And if you are going to use puppets - well, Mary Meyer puppets are both cute (so many puppets aren't) and are of good quality. I'm really impressed with their appeal and durability. (You can purchase these puppets directly from their retail shop The Big Black Bear Shop).

Additional dinosaur books that are fun?

1. Picture Pops Dinosaur
I talked about this book previously over at 5 Minutes for Books.

2. My Big Dinosaur Book (My Big Board Books)

Do you have any that you could suggest? I'd love some tips! (If you know of some that were written for kids from a creationist perspective oh DO share!!)

******

Also, if you missed the post the first go-around, check out this giveaway featuring eeBoo's Read to Me game.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, CArrie, I'm so glad you play every week! : )

You must have quite a nice collection of puppets. That is such a neat thing to share with your little one.

I'm not very familiar with dinosaur books, but the ones you've highlighted today look like real winners. I hope someone else chimes in with some other ideas!

Thanks again for being a faithful participant!

Sky said...

Since we are vehemently opposed to the theory of evolution I always love to find books based on Creation, Ken Ham has some great Dinosaur books, our favorite is "My Creation Bible" it comes with a cd that sings the words written on the pages of the book. Fun illustrations and a great way to teach even small children the story of how "In the Beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth"!

Michelle Fluttering Butterflies said...

My son went through a phase of dinosaur books. He liked Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs (Ian Whybrow I believe) as well as How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen who does a series of dinosaurs books including eating your food, get well soon, numbers and colours.

Anonymous said...

I did a post some time back about dinosaur books for little kids too. After we went to a dino museum they were on a dinosaur book kick for a while. I should try doing puppets with my kids. I never have.

Top  blogs