Terry Pendergraff

Spending a Day with Macon Maddy Terry Pendergraff

Dear Parents, If your child does not yet read, I ask that you sit down with them and read this book to them, giving them time to answer the questions. After you have finished reading the book to the child one or two times, if they are old enough to talk, ask them to read the book to you. They do not have to be able to read to do this. By listening to you read the book to them and being able to look at the pictures in the book, they will tell you a story based on their imaginary thoughts from the pictures. They will probably add in a few words that they heard you say, but may surprise you by the story they make up. Today, more than ever, it is important for the child to be read to, or to read for themselves from a real book. With all the electronic media available, many children are not being exposed to a real touchable book. It also gives you a chance to spend valuable together time with your child. If your small child never brings you a book to read to them, then you probably are not reading enough to them and allowing them to "read" the book back to you as they see or understand it. My two year old plays with her books as much as she does with all her other toys. She will fill up my lap with books and then climb up and sit on the arm of the chair and hand them to me one at a time to read. Many times when I finish, she will go get more. Sometimes I like her interpretation of the story more than the original. Terry Pendergraff