Various studies have shown that telling and reading stories have a significant effect on the cognitive and affective development of the children. With our new section, we would like to give you some orientation to know your way around the Hungarian book market and we recommend books to get or read at the well-equipped café or playroom of the Downtown City Centre. In this article series our professionals will share story-book recommendations and their ideas, but first we share some thoughts about the aspects of book choosing itself.
As a parent it is important in many respects to find books of high standard for our children.
When I choose a book for my children, I keep on searching at bookstores, I read a part of each book and I appreciate that in most places they don’t find me in disfavour even if I spend hours without purchasing anything. As a true-born bookworm I get lost in admiration of the smell of the books and I enjoy my time. I try to think it over what I give in the hand of my children and choose wisely.
The book jacket, the illustrations and the appearance will take effect on the taste of the children. As they see more and more higher standard editions, they get more open to newness. I remember taking my first steps in Western-European bookstores. Growing up with the story-books of Zsuzsa Füzesi in my hands, it was a real shock to discover the particular world of the French books with their extraordinary appearance. By now, luckily we can find a wide inventory of illustration styles in Hungarian as well, so anyone can find books for his/her taste starting from surreal illustrations to cute ones. From time to time it is worth it to step out of our comfort zone and take a book home that we find odd because our kids may look at them with a different point of view.
My second aspect to think over is the story itself. I don’t like books that underestimate the cognitive capacity, the emotional quotient or the receptivity of my children. I believe children are wise and there is a lot that they understand even with the lack of many experiences. It’s important to honour the children with our confidence and read them stories that have a positive effect even on ourselves, that make us think as well. We don’t always need deep messages, a story can be lovely, funny or touching in its plain simplicity as well. All that matters is whether they move us or generate feelings. In case these feelings are sad, sharing them can lead to really nice warm conversations whilst cuddling in the corner of the couch.
Expressive telling style is also a characteristic to consider when choosing a book. I think the language of a book should not be poor or modest and I also don’t like reading stories that put a sugar coat on everything and they coo, using baby-talk. Words are gifts for the children, we can enrich their vocabulary with every word they hear, even before they start to talk. We can feed them with bread, pasta, but with magical, new words as well. Not to mention that it is not enjoyable for us adults neither to repeat stories with modest language.
Last, but not least it’s also helpful to define our aim with the selected books. As I like when a book makes me laugh, I always prefer humorous books. I also like stories that make the children think, that give them a new point of view, sensitize them in a topic I consider important (e.g. tolerance, environmental protection, the elderly, etc.). Furthermore, since I really like poems, I am always happy for contemporary child poems.
Once I heard that giving a book as a present always talks about us, and not the gifted person. I find it true about the bookshelves of our children as well, they reflect what we would like to teach them.
We hope the Book Nook section will help you choose the best books and open windows to more and more exciting worlds for your children (and for yourselves). – Szirtes Szabó Kata
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