As the holidays approach, we invite you to embark on a magical journey through the world of books.
We know that children’s literature has the power to transport young readers to fantastic worlds, filled with emotions and discoveries. With each story, they explore new feelings, learn important values, and uncover little treasures of wisdom that will accompany them throughout life.
More than just stories, children’s books serve as bridges to curiosity, creativity, and the boundless world of imagination.
Reading as a family strengthens the bond between parents and children, helps children navigate their emotions, broadens their horizons, sparks imagination, and enhances language comprehension (both written and spoken) as well as memory. All of this while transforming simple moments into unforgettable memories.
Even when children can already read on their own (which should be encouraged), reading aloud remains highly beneficial up to the ages of 11 or 12.
Children’s literature positively influences the recognition and expression of emotions, as well as socio-emotional skills, particularly empathy.
More than the number of books read, what truly matters is their quality and, above all, the way the reading experience unfolds and the conversations that emerge around the story. This dialogue is essential for expanding comprehension.
Questions such as:
- Why does this character have this facial expression?
- Can you make the same face?
- What is this emotion called?
- Why is this character feeling sad/happy?
- Is this a good way to express their feelings? Why?
- Could they have done something different to feel another way?
- Do you know someone who feels like this character?
- What could you do to support them?
- Have you ever felt this way? How did you handle it? Did someone help you?
Guided reading, combined with meaningful discussion, helps children understand different perspectives, develop concern for others, increase sharing behaviors, and reduce aggressive tendencies.
By integrating cognitive and emotional aspects, mediated reading plays a crucial role in fostering children’s emotional intelligence.
To support this mission, our team has selected some wonderful books, which we are delighted to recommend:
Nursery:
- “The tiger who came for tea.” – Judith Kerr
- “Baby bear, baby bear, what do you see?” – Bill Martin
- “A Lagartinha Muito Comilona” – Eric Carle
- “O cuquedo” – Clara Cunha
- “Peek-a-who too?” – Elsa Mroziewicz
- “Rain, rain, go away!” – Caroline Church
- “Chiu! Temos um plano.” – Chris Haughton
- “Oh no, George!” – Chris Haughton
- “Um elefante que balançava.” – Marianne Dubuc
- “Sr. Caracol” – Emilia Nor
- “Beautiful Oops!” – Barney Saltzberg
- “Pete the Cat – the wheels on the bus” – Eric Litwin
- “The rabbit listened” – Cori Doerrfeld
- “O macaco rabugento” – Suzanne Lang
Kindergarden
- “The hug” – Eoin Mclaughlin
- “A melhor sopa do mundo” – Susanna Isern
- “João Timoneiro” – Madalena Moniz
- “I am a tiger” – Karl Newson
- “This is not a book” – Meagan bennett by artist Jean Jullien
- “Um dragão em brasa” – Robert Starling
- “O que fazer com uma ideia?” Kobi Yamada
- “Charlie chooses” – Lou Peacock
- “We’re going on a bear hunt” – Michael Wayne Rosen
- “Shark on the park” – Nick Sharratt
- “Não!” – Tracey Corderoy;
- “I am human” – Susan Verde
- “A squash and a squeeze” – Julia Donaldson
- “What we’ll build” – Oliver Jeffers
- “De que cor é um beijinho?” – Rocio Bonilla
- “A que sabe a lua?” – Michael Grejniec
- “I just want to say goodnight” – Rachel Isadora
- “Dear Zoo” – Rod Campbell
- “Handa´s Surprise” – Eileen Browne
- “O peso das palavras” – Luísa Sobral
Primary
- “Giraffes can’t dance” – Giles Andreae
- “Um tigre no jardim” – Lizzy Stewart
- “Depois da chuva vem o arco-íris” – Smriti Halls
- “Um tigre no hotel” – Sam Sharland
- “Stricly no elephants” – Lisa Mantchev
- “Os sentimentos mudam como o Rio” – Tom Percival
- “We´re all wonders” – R. J. Palacio
- “Dogs don´t do ballet” – Anna Kemp
- “Histórias sobre empatia” – Rocio Bonilla
- “The gruffalo” – Julia Donaldson
- “A sick day for Amos McGee” – Philip C. Stead
- “Last stop on the market” – Matt de la Peña
- “Hey, little ant” – Hannah Hoose
- “The most magnificient thing” – Ashley Spires
- “O segredo do rio” – Miguel Sousa Tavares
May this holiday season be filled with magical moments and unforgettable adventures between pages and words!
