I’m thinking about preschoolers…
Now, there’s a topic which doesn’t often get broached on Writing YA, but preKindergarteners are young adults… just very, very, very wee ones. I have the opportunity to support a nonprofit Early Childhood Education Center by buying books for these wee young adults, ages 2 – 4! Buying books is my absolute favorite thing to do, and this Center, which serves low-income families, some of whom are non-English speaking or developmentally delayed, has a small operating budget and a bigger wishlist, as so many schools do. Now, here’s where you come in — I need help with some titles to pick up and research! Because the Center has purged itself of commercially related books (no Elmo, nor Clifford, nor any licensed character who has a doll, cartoon, video, or TV series, in other words), and is concentrating on multicultural books, including those about Earth Sciences, Social Studies, Physical Sciences, Numbers and Colors — all those good things kids need to help them get a grip on the world, this is going to take a little more research on my part.
If the Librarians Fabulosas and others have any thoughts on this, please reply — I’m making a list and already have: And Here’s to You, David Elliot, Candlewick Press; The Big Orange Splot, and a couple of others which have impressed me… but I don’t really know from PreK, so any input welcome!