親子共讀推薦 Parent-Child Shared Reading - 2023/7
1/ How to Find a Friend
推薦跟 3-6 歲的小朋友共讀
圖文：Maria S. Costa
版本：平裝，32頁
類別：觀察力、獨處、交友
—> 點我購買 How to Find a Friend
Recommendation for reading with children aged 3-6
Author & Illustrator: Maria S. Costa
Paperback: 32 pages
Category: Observant, Aloneness, Making Friends
—> Click here to purchase How to Find a Friend
在偌大的森林裡，兔子和松鼠各有各生活。雖然他們似乎都善於獨處，老是有自己的事忙，可是有時候就是想找個朋友交換或分享自己的興趣，偏偏走遍整個森林都沒找著其他人。在他們都在懷疑森林裡是否真的只有自己的時候，出現了一場又一場滑稽的偶遇，小朋友們都看在眼裡，可是兩位主角毫不察覺，急得小朋友們邊看邊叫，想要給兔子和松鼠提示！
很多小朋友都會說 ‘here’ ‘there’，就像上圖那條紅色蟲子一樣。但在共讀的時候，我會希望他們能多講一點，可以問他們 ‘What do you mean?’ ‘Where is the squirrel?’ 來令他們完整地使用前置詞和地方。
在書的最後有一張兔子和松鼠偶遇地點的地圖，和小朋友一起回顧一起讚嘆緣份的奇妙吧，也許他們生命中也有些偶遇而來的好友呢。
The rabbit and squirrel each had their own lives in the vast forest. Although they seemed good at being alone and always busy with their stuff, sometimes they just wanted to find a friend to exchange or share their interests with. However, they couldn't find anyone after searching the entire forest. When they were both doubting whether there were only themselves in the woods, there was one funny encounter after another. The kids saw it all, but the two little animals remained oblivious. The kids were getting anxious, watching and shouting, wanting to give hints to the rabbit and squirrel!
Kids could say 'here' and 'there’ just like the red bug in the picture. But during the story time, I hope they can say a little more by asking them, 'What do you mean?' 'Where is the squirrel?' to encourage them to use prepositions and places correctly.
At the end of the book, there is a map showing the meeting place of the rabbit and squirrel. Let's review and marvel at the wonderful fate of the rabbit and squirrel. Perhaps some unexpected encounters bring good friends into their lives too.
2/ All Sorts
推薦跟 3-5 歲的小朋友共讀
文：Pippa Goodhart 圖：Emily Rand
版本：精裝，32頁
類別：多元、秩序感、彈性
—> 點我購買 All Sorts
Recommendation for reading with children aged 3-5
Author: Pippa Goodhart Illustrator: Emily Rand
Hardcover: 32 pages
Category: Diversity, Sense of Order, Flexibility
—> Click here to purchase All Sorts
2-4 歲是小朋友的秩序敏感期，有些小朋友會持續到 5-6 歲。期間他們會建立起自己對於身邊人事物的準則，有自己心目中的秩序、組織和規則，並期望周遭的環境合符他們的秩序。有些小朋友喜歡把玩具整齊地排列，要求特定的作息時間，只有特定的人可以和他們做特定的事。
書中的主角 Frankie 正是處於秩序敏感期的小朋友，而她的特徵展現在對物件有自己的分類。雖然有時看著物件按形狀或者按顏色排列好是一件挺暢快的事，但是⋯等等，把綠色的靴子跟蔬菜一起放在冰箱不太好吧！這個故事能給小朋友機會指出 Frankie 的分類不合乎現實生活的地方，並提出指正。同時我們也可以借機問問他們，關於一些生活因為秩序敏感而常常出現的哭鬧和小脾氣，如果不按這個「秩序」會怎樣？這些是必要的嗎？你能夠容許怎樣的彈性呢？你認為我們容許其他秩序出現的話會發生甚麼事呢？
當然秩序敏感期也是小朋友去學習如何安排生活和時間，以及建立安全感的重要時期，以上一連串反思的目的，並不是要去挑戰他們的秩序，而是一些心理建設，畢竟生活有其實際的面向，並可能與他們心目中的秩序相左，這時侯他們便需要一些理性和有彈性的思維去建立另一個「新秩序」，直至他們能好好地適應和過渡這個敏感期。
Kids are sensitive to order at 2-4 years old; some may remain sensitive until 5-6 years old. During this time, they will establish their criteria for people and things around them, with their orders, organizations, and rules, and expect the surrounding environment to conform. Some children like to arrange their toys neatly, require specific routines, and only certain people can do certain things with them.
Frankie is a kid in a sensitive period of order, and her character is shown in her sorting of objects. Although seeing things arranged by shape or colour is sometimes satisfying, wait a minute... Putting green boots together with vegetables in the fridge is not a good idea! This story allows kids to pinpoint where Frankie's sorting is not practical. At the same time, we can also take the opportunity to ask them about the crying and tantrums that often occur in daily life due to their sensitivity to orders. What would happen if we didn't follow this "order"? Are they necessary? What flexibility can you allow? What do you think would happen if we let other orders happen?
Of course, the sensitive period of order is also an important time for kids to learn how to organize their lives and time and establish a sense of security. The series of reflections above is not to challenge their order but to provide psychological preparation. After all, life has its practicality and may contradict kids’ ideal order. They need rational and flexible thinking to establish a "new order" until they can successfully transition through this period.
3/ Little Nelly’s Big Book
推薦跟 3-8 歲的小朋友共讀
文：Pippa Goodhart 圖：Andy Rowland
版本：平裝，32頁
類別：相同、相異、自我認同
—> 點我購買 Little Nelly's Big Book
Recommendation for reading with children aged 3-8
Author: Pippa Goodhart Illustrator: Andy Rowland
Paperback: 32 pages
Category: Sameness, Difference, Self-identity
—> Click here to purchase “Little Nelly's Big Book”
**注意：這本書只適合已經懂得認出和分辨老鼠和大象的小朋友，以免引起混淆。**
我們都知道最小的象，也比最大的老鼠大。偏偏 Little Nelly 身為一隻象，看了一本書的純文字描述後，因為書上說的特徵而相信自己是一隻老鼠，而想要跟鼠群一起生活。友善的老鼠雖然覺得奇怪，還是接納了 Little Nelly，直到有天找到機會讓她了解自己的真正身分。
聽起來是很無稽的事，但事實上在生活中卻不斷的發生。我看過很多小朋友因為相信了朋輩的取笑而變得自卑，因為相信了家人和老師的指責而變得自暴自棄；也看過很多家長看了網絡上的文章或聽信了一些批評而對號入座，開始質疑自己的孩子是不是有甚麼問題⋯
在我們覺得 Little Nelly 很傻的時候，讓我們也警剔自己，用心看清並確信孩子的本貌，而不是讓別人的三言兩語決定我們是誰。
**Note: This book is only suitable for kids who can recognize and distinguish between mice and elephants to prevent confusion.**
We all know that the smallest elephant is still bigger than the largest mouse. But Little Nelly, being an elephant, read a book describing mice's characteristics and believed she was a mouse herself. She wanted to live with the mouse family. Despite finding it strange, the friendly mice accepted Little Nelly and let her be part of their group until, one day; they found a way to help her discover her true identity.
This kind of thing happens constantly in life. I've seen many kids become insecure because they believed the teasing of their peers, and others become despondent because they trusted the criticisms of their family and teachers. I've also witnessed parents reading articles online or listening to certain complaints and starting to doubt if there is something wrong with their children...
As we shake our heads at Little Nelly's silliness, let us also be vigilant and truly understand and believe in the essence of our children instead of letting others' words determine who we are.
