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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2007-10-25, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2007.(MS) — Your child’s bookshelvesare brimming with boundlessopportunities to read, learn andimagine. So when it comes time toadd new books to the collection, it’simportant to keep your child’s homelibrary relevant to his or her age andreading level. This helps to maintain interest and a love for reading, and will help ensure that books come alive for your child. Not only does reading strengthen cognitive development, it also fosters the bond between parents and children. “There are so many wonderful books available for young children,” says Barry S. Zuckerman, MD, CEO of Reach Out and Read, a non-profit organization that promotes early literacy by making books a routine part of pediatric care. “Consistently adding variety and new or ‘new-to- you’ books is important to cultivating a child’s reading skills anddevelopment.”To help with the not-so-simple taskof choosing the right books, ReachOut and Read and Target havecompiled tips for parents:(Birth – 18 months):• Reading is a great way to bond with your baby while he or she is still in the womb and after birth. Books of lullabies and nursery rhymes are soothing. • Newborns learn language skills from watching parents’ facial expressions and listening to voice inflection. Choose books that you can sing to your child or that feature characters you can bring to life through voices and animated faces. • Babies show interest in books by touching, chewing or throwing them — cloth books are soft on gums and impact. As babies become more interactive, choose books that your they can hold and turn the pages, withyour help.• Books with bright pictures,familiar objects, special fabrics andtextures are very engaging. Bookslike Fuzzy Bee and Friends by RogerPriddy help keep their attention andstimulate learning by supporting speech development and increasing vocabulary. (18-36 months): • Select sturdy books for young readers. Board books are a good choice for children under three and can withstand the handling of young readers. • Choose books that follow your child’s own interests. If trucks, ponies, or princesses interest your child, select books that feature them to hold his or her attention. • Books that incorporate concepts into the story are fun and educational. Try Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. It’s a pleasure to readaloud and teaches the alphabet. • Books that have a lot of action,pictures and repetition are favorites ofthis age group.(Three to five years):• Share something special bychoosing a book that you enjoyed as a child and tell your child how you loved the book when you were his or her age. • Starting school, getting a new pet or sharing toys with a sibling? Choose books that relate to what is happening in your child’s world. • Stories about issues children face like fears, separation or new siblings can be gently addressed in well- written books like Pirates Don’t Change Diapers by Melinda Long and David Shannon. (Five to seven years): • Pop-up books, flap books, and read-along stories (books with audio cassettes/DVDs) provide goodreading fun for your child. • Locate books with characters thatare your child’s age or that share yourchild’s name. Children love charactersthey can relate to.• Explore books featuring yourchild’s favourite characters, such as Clifford, Madeline or Dora the Explorer. (Seven to nine years): • Introduce your child to new authors and genres, such as mystery, adventure and historical fiction. However, let your child decide what interests him. • Don’t overlook non-fiction. Not only do they encourage reading but they open up new worlds. • Children at this age like to collect things, so series books such as the Junie B. Jones books or the Matt Christopher sports books will appeal to them. 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To the right is the coat closet; to the left is the second bedroom and a three-piece bathroom. Ahead, past stairs to the lower level, are the great room and dining area. Both these rooms will be warmed by the great room’s fireplace during the cooler months, and the dining area’s access to a covered deck and the sundeck beyond, perfect for year-round barbecuing, will make it a room for all seasons. The kitchen is separated from the great room/dining area by an island. Acorner pantry will provide always-welcome storage space, and a U-shaped counter configuration will save steps for the cook. The master bedroom, located at the back of the house for privacy, includes an ensuite with a double basin, a shower stall and a soaker tub with a tiled surround. A large walk-in closet, with a linen closet located just outside, should be roomy enough for the most clothes- conscious couple. A door from the laundry room, which includes a closet for family gear, leads to the double garage. Exterior finishes include horizontal siding, with shakes and decorative wood detailing in the gables. Traditional pilasters with stone bases, partly mullioned windows, and painted trim complete the time-honoured look. Suitable for a lot that slopes to the back, this home measures 46 feet wide and 50 feet deep, for a total of 1,506 square feet. Plans for design 1-2-581 are available for $584 (set of 5), $661 (set of 8) and $710 for a super set of 10. B.C. residents add 7% Prov. Sales Tax. Also add $25.00 for Priority charges within B.C. or $45.00 outside of B.C. Please add 6% G.S.T. or 14% H.S.T. (where applicable) to both the plan price and Priority charges. Our 39th Edition of the Home Plan Catalogue containing over 300 plans is available for $13.50 (includes taxes, postage and handling). 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