Virtue and Reading: Pre- Readers
Each of the Tiny Virtue Heroes storybooks has a hidden “feature” that you’ll like knowing about. On each 2-page spread is a word or phrase that is featured in a contrasting color, and larger type. This is not just a design feature to make the book look charming. (Which, I believe, does have that effect too.) It is a strategic approach to help young children desire to learn, and feel successful, in starting to read for themselves.
When my first book, co-authored with my sister, Easter Bunny’s Amazing Day, was published, we asked the designer to add special “feature words” to emphasize certain ideas on each page spread. After receiving feedback from teachers, we found that not only did we emphasize those concepts, we also had created visual touchstones for young readers to latch on to.
Like hand-holds in a climbing wall, we gave the young readers a word that, through repetition, they could look forward to “reading” on each page. This way, the child could later pick up the book on their own and “read” it based on the highlighted words and their memory of the story. This word emphasis technique has been continued in the Tiny Virtue Hero Series. Here’s an example.
A page from The Virtue Story of Kindness in which the word “Joseph” is highlighted for children to see it, say it, and enjoy “reading” this hero’s name.
One of my greatest delights as an author was hearing a very young child “read” one of my books to her family, with page turns and everything. She largely told the story from what she remembered, but she pointed to the special words, and “read” them along the way. She showed confidence and happiness as she got to be the one doing the reading to those who typically read-aloud to her.
Intentionality and repetition are important attributes in the formation of any kind of good habit like reading …and the early development of virtues like humility, wisdom and kindness. The Tiny Virtue Heroes™ series of books give young readers, and the teachers and families who care about those little ones, a double blessing. First, as the educator, parent or grandparent intentionally points out the special featured words and pauses for the child to “read” them, the reader skill-building benefit increases. As children return to the story repeatedly, their reading skills are enhanced, and they also receive a deeper infusion of the virtues modeled by the characters. This is how we cultivate what I call: virtue literacy. With the right story, (and not just my stories) the skill of reading can become a powerful path to strengthen a child’s knowledge and practice of virtue!
I pray that the practical and spiritual benefit of the Tiny Virtue Heroes™ books are richly experienced by everyone who encounters them. If you notice a young child who “reads” one of the TVH stories with help from the feature words, let me know! I’d really enjoy hearing about it!
Article by Virtue Heroes creator, Cathy Gilmore.
Find out more about Cathy and perhaps make plans for her to visit to your church or school, with this LINK.