TumbleBook Library via JPL
TumbleBook Library is a fantastic online resource that offers talking picture books with animation so young children can be read to aloud or read along with the text. Our city's public library (JPL) offers TumbleBook Library free to it's patrons, and I highly recommend teachers and parents taking advantage of this resource if you have beginning readers. I use it with my own children at home, and they enjoy almost all of the books in the collection that they select.
Reasons for Using TumbleBook Library Routinely:
Offers a variety of categories including Story Books, Chapter Books/Read-Alongs, Language Learning in Spanish and French, Non-fiction, and a Playlist option.
Subtle for all types of learners.
Quick substitute for a different narrator to read to your child when you have another task to complete (i.e. cooking dinner).
Makes reading exciting to children who might otherwise be reluctant to listen or read.
What you need to get started with TumbleBook Library:
Active public library card (must be logged into your account)
Access to the Internet & minimum tech requirements here
Click here for the link to JPL's TumbleBook Library subscription.
User Guide if you need help
Below is an image of TumbleBook Library viewed by subject:
Recommended Daily Reading Time from Birth until Elementary School:
The recommneded amount of time a child should be read to can start as little as 3 minutes a day as an infant to 15 minutes a day as a toddler. By the time your child is in kindergarten, he or she should be read to and/or reading independently 15-20 minutes per day for a number of reasons. Oral language and the appropriate use of vocabulary along with improving print concepts are just some of the ways reading improve these abilities. A recent study in September 2015 by the American Academy of Pediatrics concluded, "In preschool children listening to stories, greater home reading exposure is positively associated with activation of brain areas supporting mental imagery and narrative comprehension,..." (Article).
Disclaimer:
Electronic books should not be used 100% or even the majority of the time your child is read to, read with, or reading independently each day. Screen time has been under much scrutiny in recent years because of the immergence of tablets and smartphones. It is clear that we live in a fast paced world and feel the need to accomplish more in our day than is actually possible. Parents giving their child an electronic device to fill the wait time is becoming a common occurance, but I warn you to plan ahead and have non-electronic alternatives for your child to be active and have unlimited opportunities to learn and grow. In this post, I am promoting the use of TumbleBook Library, but I want to make it clear that it should only be used in addition to reading a traditional book. Think about the health of your eyes when looking at a screen, and ask yourself if this environment is healthy for you or not so much???
For additional reading and ideas for making home reading successful in your home, try these links from KidsHealth.org:
