About the Holiday
National Family Literacy Month was established in 1994 to encourage parents and other adults to read together with the children in their life. Studies show that children who are read to are better prepared to read on their own and do better in school. Cuddling together before bedtime or during special story times with favorite books instills a love of reading that can last a lifetime. As children begin learning to read, they benefit from reading to family, friends, and even a pet or friendly therapy dog. To celebrate, plan some special reading-related activities and schedule extra reading time, especially with grandparents or other family members who may be visiting for the holidays.
Dogs Love Books, Too
By María Coco
If your family has a dog (or two), you may have noticed that they become extra excited or, perhaps at bedtime, more snuggly when the books come out. As María Coco observes and then wonders, “Dogs love books! But why?” She proposes that it might have something to do with “the smell of the pages.” Or maybe for those dogs who like to take a chomp, the pages taste like fine cuisine.
Copyright María Coco, 2024. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.
Could it be that they like hearing their people read aloud? Do they, too, like to imagine far-off places or drift into magical dreams? It could be one or all of these, but Coco thinks one reason stands above the rest: “I think dogs love books because they make us feel like we are not alone.” But does that feeling apply to dogs only? What do you think?
Copyright María Coco, 2024. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.
María Coco’s short and evocative story, accompanied by engaging illustrations, is a perfect read for so many occasions and readers. With a single sentence written in a non-serif font created by Coco herself on each page or spread, the text invites emergent and new readers to join in on recognized sight words or read the story themselves. Hesitant readers will respond to the confidence-building inherent in the story. Coco also leaves the text open-ended to encourage readers of all ages to talk about why they love to read.
Copyright María Coco, 2024. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.
Coco’s layered and textured illustrations are full of humor, imagination, and—in answer to the question Coco first poses—camaraderie. Images of children and their canine friends are warm and heartfelt, and the final spread, in which five kids from the story gather with their dogs to read, is a true picture of the contentment books can bring.
Dogs Love to Read, Too is a natural choice for bedtime or other home story times as well as for any Read-to-a Dog program at schools, libraries, humane societies, or through other organizations.
Ages 2 – 5
Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2024 | ISBN 978-1547613656
About the Author/Illustrator
Maria Coco is a Mexican designer, illustrator, and storyteller. She has a degree in Graphic Design and an MA in Children’s Book Illustration from the Cambridge School of Art. Her artwork has earned praise from The Templar Illustration Prize, The Macmillan Prize for Children’s Picture Book Illustration (UK), the Faber Andlyn BAME Prize, and the Salariya/Stratford Literary Festival Children’s Picture Book Prize. Connect with her on Instagram @mariacoco and at her website maria-coco.com.
National Family Literacy Month Activity
Books to Love, Books to Read Book Bag
True book lovers can’t go anywhere without a book (or two or three) to read along the way. With this easy craft you can turn a cloth bag into a kid-size book bag perfect for the car, the library, or anywhere you read!
Supplies
- Printable Templates: Books to Read Template | Books to Love Template
- Small cloth bag, available from craft or sewing stores—Recyclable Idea: I used the bag that sheet sets now come in
- Cloth trim or strong ribbon, available from craft or sewing stores—Recyclable Idea: I used the cloth handles from shopping bags provided from some clothing stores
- Scraps of different colored and patterned cloth. Or use quilting squares, available at craft and sewing stores
- Pen or pencil for tracing letters onto cloth
- Scissors
- Small sharp scissors (or cuticle scissors) for cutting out the center of the letters
- Fabric glue
- Thread (optional)
- Needle (optional)
Directions
- Print the sayings and cut out the letters
- Trace letters onto different kinds of cloth
- Cut out cloth letters
- Iron cloth bag if necessary
- Attach words “Books to Read” to one side of bag with fabric glue
- Attach words “Books to Love” to other side of bag with fabric glue
- Cut cloth trim or ribbon to desired length to create handles
- Glue (or sew) handles onto the inside edge of bag
You can purchase Dogs Love Books, Too at these booksellers
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop (to support your local independent bookstore)
Picture Book Review
celebratepicturebooks.com 