JoLIE 14:1/2021

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BOOKS AND SONGS FOR CHILDREN FOR DEVELOPING MULTIPLE LITERACIES

Zhivka Ilieva

Shumen University, Bulgaria

Abstract

Nowadays, the notion of literacy is not limited to the ability to read and write. It incorporates a multitude of competences which are important for the modern world. They are collectively referred to as multiple literacies and include social, health, environmental, visual, digital literacy, etc. All can be easily developed in the EFL (English as a foreign language) classroom by using books and songs for children. In the present article, I provide a descriptive account of books and songs for children regarding their potential for the development of children’s literacies. After reviewing the various literacy types, I refer to songs, more precisely freely accessible YouTube clips for young and very young learners, and picture books and e-books, as well as the literacy items they develop.

They all develop visual literacy, and most of them also develop social, environmental, global, digital, media and information literacy. By availing ourselves of the opportunities modern materials provide, we can work towards the development of the child as a whole by realising various integrative (cross-curricular) links between subjects.

Keywords: ELT; Young learners; Literacy development; Multiple literacies; Songs; Stories; Picture books.

References

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List of Pedagogical Resources

A Doctor–Rhymes on profession, Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFnRQn9bT8Y

Amery, H., & Cartwright, S. (2004). Tractor in trouble. London: Usborne Publishing Ltd.

Bedford, D., & Field, E. (2016). My turn. London: Little Tiger Press.

Berenstain S., Berenstain J. (1978). The Berenstain bears go to school. Random House: New York. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.kidsworldfun.com/ebooks/The-Berenstain-Bears-go-to-School.pdf

Bourgeois, P. (1999). Franklin and the tooth fairy. Columbus: Atlas Editions Inc.

Brushing Song | Brush Your Teeth Song | Good Habits Nursery Rhymes for Babies & Kids Songs. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-eqbUgsI3RQ

Carle, E. (2016). The very hungry caterpillar. London: Penguin Books Limited.

Cleanliness song for children. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MG56G9XR1k.

Dental health songs/rhymes. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.pinterest.com/zaneymom/dental-health-songsrhymes/

Donaldson, J., & Scheffler, A. (2016). Monkey puzzle. London: Macmillan Children’s Books.

Exercise songs for children | Movement songs for kids | Best of Patty Shukla | 44 Minutes. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pISwIAgGRqk

Freeman, D. (1991). Corduroy. Columbus: Atlas Editions Inc.

Fruit song for kids | The singing walrus. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfReSbQ7jzE.

Garvett, E. (2017). The odd egg. London: Macmillan Children’s Books.

Going to the Dentist Song | Original Songs | By LBB Junior. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bv5lq78yw4

Going to the doctors | Original songs | By LBB Junior. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukohMbBvSxU

Healthy food – Learning songs collection for kids and children with lyrics. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AI7lO2QP_A

Healthy food Vs Junk food song! Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE8lezHs19s

Henkes, K. (1993). Owen. Columbus: Greenwillow Books.

Henkes, K. (2000). Chrysanthemum. Columbus: Atlas Editions Inc.

Hood, S. (author), Mitchell, Ch. (illustrator). (2019). Candy king. Sooper Books, the World’s No.1 Bedtime stories website. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://sooperbooks.com/story/candy-king/.

Hood, S. (2020). The posh rat. Sooper Books, the World’s No.1 Bedtime stories website. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://sooperbooks.com/story/the-posh-rat/

Hygiene – Learning songs collection for kids and children | Baby Songs. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFL7H2197bU

Ice cream once in a while| Healthy food song for children | Debbie Doo. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ60zhvMlGk&list=RDQMoMeThx9Xvls

Inpken, C., & Inpken, M. (2014). We’re not scared. London: Macmillan Children’s Books.

Little doctor – Panda’s hospital | Nursery Rhymes | Kids Songs | BabyBus. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDeBbMRoPvk

Litton, J., & Miller, L. (2012). The best bed. Dorking: Pippbrook Books, The Templar Company Limited.

Locke, L. (2013). Wash your hands. Unite for Literacy. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.uniteforliteracy.com/unite/healthyme/book?BookId=141

Mann, P. (2001). This is the house that mouse built. Bath: Reader’s Digest Children’s Publishing Inc.

Metcalf, P., & Johnson-Isaac, C. (2015). Rabbits don’t lay eggs. London: Macmillan Children’s Books.

Monks, L. (2014). Mungo monkey goes to school. London: EGMONT.

Moore, C. (2001). Ollie’s jar. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from http://www.magickeys.com/books/ollie/index.html

Moore, C. (2010). Buzzy bee. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from http://www.magickeys.com/books/bee/index.html

Moroney, Tr. (2017). The things I love about bedtime. Richmond: Bonnier Publishing Australia.

Number Train 1 to 10 | Numbers Song Collection | Counting Songs and Numbers Songs from Dave and Ava. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ-KT0cQmik

Riddulph, R. (2017). Odd dog out. A stand out story about not fitting in. London: HarperCollins Children’s Books.

Roberts, H. (2008). The brave monkey pirate. Children’s Storybooks Online. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from http://www.magickeys.com/books/bravemonkey/index.html

Robinson, H. (author), Sanfilippo, S. (illustrator). (2013). Cinderella and the beanstalk. Crabtree Publishing Company, ISBN: 9781427192288 Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.getepic.com/app/read/7920

Robinson, L. (2014). There’s a monster under my bed. Sywell: Igloo Books Ltd.

Shoshan, B. (2008). Mess monsters. London: Meadowside Children’s books.

Song on Hygiene – Five things used for Hygiene. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh0_KjbrcBs

Stoyanova, A. (2020). Elephant Finn. Shumen: Konstantin Preslavsky University Press. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZPAtpJIo_c&feature=youtu.be

The Numbers Song – Learn to Count from 1 to 10 - Number Rhymes for Children. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea5-SIe5l7M

This Is the Way We Go to School | School Songs | Songs for Kids | The Kiboomers. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsIb5L0_pGY

Time to go to school today–Kid’s song. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcbLVwAR3kc

Top 10 Counting Songs | Learn to Count | Super Simple Songs. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D4K9oi7oBM

Wake Up! Daily Routines Song for Kids. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUXkj6j6Ezw

Wash my hands song | Teach Children Hand Washing, Toddler Learning Video, Baby Song, Nursery Rhyme. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=w2INKY48zE0&vl=en

Wash up song–“Scruba Dub Dub” – Cleanliness & Hygiene Video – Kids. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d2qM-ZmUCQ.

Wash your hands–Lottie Dottie Chicken – Kids Songs and Nursery Rhymes in English. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D15nFHWHu7Y

Wilhelm, H. (1988). Never Lonely Again. Random House: New York. Retrieved 20 April, 2021, from https://www.kidsworldfun.com/ebook-never-lonely-again.php

Yarlett, E. (2016). Nibbles. The Book Monster. London: Little Tiger Press.

Acknowledgements

This article is published with funding from project RD-08, 91/01.02.2021, Scientific Research Fund of Shumen University, Bulgaria.

How to cite this article: Ilieva, Z. (2021). Books and songs for children for developing multiple literacies. Journal of Linguistic and Intercultural Education – JoLIE, 14(1), 45-64. doi: https://doi.org/10.29302/jolie.2021.14.1.3

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