The Child Book Project The Child Book Project is a hands-on activity that relate

The Child Book Project
The Child Book Project is a hands-on activity that relates to early childhood education.
Goal
The goal of this project is to help you expand your understanding of the material contained in
your textbook and study guide and to apply your knowledge to some practical situations in
an early childhood education environment.
Procedure
This is a project of discovery. You’ll choose five age- and developmentally appropriate books
that you would use with infants, toddlers, and two-year-olds.
You’re required to select books as follows:
One (1) book intended for young infants (birth-9 months old)
One (1) book for mobile infants (10-17 months old)
One (1) book for toddlers (18-23 months old)
Two (2) books for two-year-olds
Finding Books
Finding books can be done a number of ways, including through a local library, browsing
bookstores, online, and now YouTube and other websites have readings of many favorite
and new children’s books. First, look at this website for ideas on good books for infants and
toddlers: Great Books to Read for Infants and Toddlers. (www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/gr
eat-books-read-infants-and-toddlers) Don’t ignore favorites that have been around for
decades—they remain popular for a reason.
© 2021 Penn Foster Inc. Infant and Toddler Care (v2) : Lesson 6 : Page 4
Be sure to search for infant/toddler (birth-2 years) age groups on sites such as these:
Amazon (www.amazon.com/)
Barnes and Noble (www.barnesandnoble.com/)
International Children’s Digital Library (en.childrenslibrary.org/)
Storyline Online (www.storylineonline.net/)
Caldecott Medal & Honor Books, 1938–Present (www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookm
edia/caldecottmedal/caldecotthonors/caldecottmedal)
Newbery Medal Books (www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/new
berymedal)
Select your books, then read through them or search for them on YouTube or other sites for
readings so that you can fully experience the book.
NOTE: No purchase of any book is necessary to complete this assignment.
Taking Notes
For each book you select, make notes that will support your essay writing and compile the
information:
The title, author, publisher, illustrator, and year of publication. Double-check all
information for spelling and accuracy. Book titles should be identical to the book cover
and italicized in writing. For example, Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes.
A brief summary of the book’s content that provides a clear understanding of what the
book is about. This may include characters, setting plot, illustrations, rhyme, theme, and
anything else you believe your instructor should know about the book. Your summary of
the book must be written in your own words; do not copy, quote, or paraphrase the book
publisher’s or book seller’s synopsis of it.
Record at least three features of each book that you believe make it appealing. You’ll
need to identify and explain one feature for each of the following:
1. Children in the age group
2. Parents/guardians of children in the age group
3. Caregivers of children in the age group.
Be specific and share your honest assessment of the book’s appeal. The age group
© 2021 Penn Foster Inc. Infant and Toddler Care (v2) : Lesson 6 : Page 5
information provided above can be used to support you in this process.
Writing Your Paragraphs
After you’ve collected all the information for each book, begin writing your assignment. Your
completed essay will consist of 12 fully developed paragraphs of 4 to 6 sentences each. No
bulleted or numbered lists should be included in the essay.
Your essay will include:
An introductory paragraph that explains the importance of reading and using books with
infants and toddlers. This paragraph should also explain how you located and selected
your five books and include your thesis statement as the last sentence of this
paragraph. A thesis statement tells the reader what the purpose of this essay is and
provides insight into what the body of the essay will discuss.
Two paragraphs for each book (10 body paragraphs total):
A summary, in your own words, of the book selected. The summary should provide
a clear understanding of what the book is about and can include information on the
book’s characters, setting, and plot. Be specific and use the notes you took while
selecting your books to support you in this process. This paragraph should include
the title, author, illustrator, publisher, and publication date for the book and should
identify which age group the book best suits.
An explanation of specific features that make the book appealing to children in the
age group, parents or guardians of children in the age group, and caregivers of
children in the age group. Remember that you must select and discuss at least one
appealing feature for each of the above.
A conclusion that tells the reader what you learned from this assignment. What has this
project taught you about choosing books for infants, toddlers, and two-year-olds? How
will you be able to apply this information in your own personal or professional life?