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From: mark@cbosgd.UUCP (Mark Horton)
Newsgroups: net.kids
Subject: Re: Early reading programs
Message-ID: <591@cbosgd.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 13-Nov-83 19:37:10 EST
Article-I.D.: cbosgd.591
Posted: Sun Nov 13 19:37:10 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 15-Nov-83 00:16:35 EST
References: <761@ihuxr.UUCP>, <451@linus.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus
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Doman recommends two books as "baby's first book".  His first
choice is one he puts out, called "Who Are You", which begins
	I am me.  Who could you be?
	You could be who?  I wish I knew.
	I want to know, please tell me so.
The book is apparently 27 pages long, the first three pages are
listed above.  (Personally, I can't see teaching a baby from
this book - there are almost no concrete nouns or verbs in the
sample, and I don't see how the child is supposed to understand it
without already understanding pronouns and state-of-being verbs.
If someone understands the logic behind this, I'd like to know.)

The other book he recommends is Dr. Seuss "Hop on Pop".  We just
got it and it strikes me as excellent.  Lots of rhyming, with a
picture for each phrase showing what the phrase means.  "Mouse on
House" with a picture of a mouse on the rooftop of a house.  Next
page "House on mouse" with a mouse balancing a house on his back.
If the child can understand Seuss' artwork, it should be a win.
Haven't tried it yet, though - should be a few months off.  In
general, Dr. Seuss books teach rhyming and rhythm, at least the
"Early Learning" books, and are highly recommended.

One that I can personally vouch for is an activity book.  (I think
they may be called "cloth books", I'm not sure.)  We have a handmade
one that has activities on each page such as unbuttoning/buttoning
a button, snaps, moving clock hands, touching felt numerals, counting
buttons, zipping zippers, tying a shoelacem, and putting things in
pockets sewn on the page.  This is Matt's favorite book (at 1 year).