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Getting Active: Children’s Book Recommendations

14 Jul 2023
Blog

With the summer holiday season approaching and with those warmer days here to stay, for July’s book recommendations we have decided to focus on healthy bodies and getting active. This month, our 3 book choices focus on helping to teach and encourage little ones to look after their bodies, the importance of moving around and mental health awareness.

These recommendations can also tie in well with our ‘Move & Groove’ programme, part of our education curriculum. It is all about getting active and moving your body!

At our nurseries, many of the activities such as Boogie Mites, Mini Mites, song and music sessions, and daily access to the outdoors will all contribute to meeting the above recommendation. Our everyday learning experiences also support the development of the gross and fine motor skills. From bones to brains and from muscles to mental health – “Moving and Grooving” will improve strength, stamina, self-esteem, social skills and support other areas of learning and educational development too. This means through our curriculum and at home reading, we are encouraging movement at nursery and at home!

Read on for our top book suggestions appropriate for nursery ages.

ABC for Me: ABC Yoga: Join us and the animals out in nature and learn some yoga! By Christiane Engel

“Pairing simplified yoga poses with alphabetized animals and objects, ABC Yoga features colorful illustrations of children and animals practicing yoga along with playful rhymes to explain each movement. A fun family read, this interactive title is perfect for teaching toddlers their ABCs, as well as introducing them to familiar animals and basic, simplified yoga poses that promote health and well-being. Each letter of the alphabet is paired with an engaging illustration mimicking the various animals’ natural movements. Clever rhymes explain how toddlers (and their parents!) can copy the poses, each of which encourage movement, physical fitness, and mental health. The 26 yoga poses, one for each letter of the alphabet, are renamed for easy understanding, while an index at the end of the book identifies the correct name for each asana (yoga pose) for the adults. The engaging illustrations and playful rhymes encourage children and their parents to get up and move, promoting physical activity, learning, and togetherness.”

Get Up and Go! By Nancy Carlson

“We all come in different shapes and sizes, and it doesn’t matter if you are tall, short, skinny, or round. Your body is your own, and you need to take care of it. Whether it’s a New Year’s resolution or simply time for a change, this book is the perfect catalyst to get readers moving. Vibrant, fun-filled illustrations and an encouraging text explain the many great reasons to exercise, from making new friends to going new places, or just because it’s good for your body. Nancy Carlson’s gleeful, kid-friendly story is sure to make readers young and old get up and exercise!”

The Busy Body Book: A Kid’s Guide to Fitness by Lizzy Rockwell

“A celebration of the amazing human machine and a life on the move!

Your amazing body can jump, sprint, twist, and twirl. Your body is built to move.

Lizzy Rockwell explains how your bones and muscles, heart and lungs, nerves and brain all work together to keep you on the go. Kids walk and skate and tumble through these pages with such exuberance that even sprouting couch potatoes will want to get up and bounce around–and that’s the ultimate goal. Through education, information, and encouragement, this book aims to inspire a new generation of busy bodies!”

We hope this month’s book recommendations have been helpful. Story time can be the perfect moment to approach specific topics of concern or curiosity with your little one and a great conversation starter to learn more about how they are feeling. We hope you enjoy our recommendations and, happy reading!

Spending even just 10 minutes a day reading and sharing stories with children can make a crucial difference to their future success and – it’s a fantastic learning experience for all involved. Together, let’s help build the bookworms of the future!

Does your little one have a favourite book? Tell us about it! Tag on social media or email [email protected] with a photo of your little one and their favourite book. Let us know why they have loved it so we can share with others.