I think we all intuitively know that reading has a dramatically larger vocabulary than spoken language and that's at least part of why we are passionate about children reading. But I recently (on a very different part of Substack) came across an academic study that actually quantifies it.
Adult speech of college graduates among friends is slightly less complex than pre-schooler books and primetime adult TV shows are substantially less complex than grade school books.
oh my goodness...of COURSE you know about Gilberto and the Wind! I was going to leave a comment about this wonderful book but there it was <3
About 15 years ago, I followed a blog that - I think - was called "Children's Vintage Books" and every month the author would do a giveaway - and Gilberto was the one I won. My husband - who rarely read to the kids at bedtime - *loved* this book and read it to my two little ones over and over. It is nearly falling apart and I will never get rid of it. It's just a perfect picture book.
Gilberto and the wind looks incredible - I just put it on hold.
I am so deeply excited to find so many people on Substack that are this passionate about children’s literature. I have not been able to find anyone in my real life that has any interest in this conversation with me (our poor librarian has to listen to me at least once a week).
I’m looking forward to making my way through your archives over the next few weeks!
Gilberto and the Wind looks divine!
It’s a very sweet little book.
Unrelated to the topic but about reading:
I think we all intuitively know that reading has a dramatically larger vocabulary than spoken language and that's at least part of why we are passionate about children reading. But I recently (on a very different part of Substack) came across an academic study that actually quantifies it.
Adult speech of college graduates among friends is slightly less complex than pre-schooler books and primetime adult TV shows are substantially less complex than grade school books.
https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fac516abf-f4b6-44c4-9346-1d5b54833736_544x550.jpeg
oh my goodness...of COURSE you know about Gilberto and the Wind! I was going to leave a comment about this wonderful book but there it was <3
About 15 years ago, I followed a blog that - I think - was called "Children's Vintage Books" and every month the author would do a giveaway - and Gilberto was the one I won. My husband - who rarely read to the kids at bedtime - *loved* this book and read it to my two little ones over and over. It is nearly falling apart and I will never get rid of it. It's just a perfect picture book.
It is! It’s hard to explain why, it’s just so deeply satisfying.
Gilberto and the wind looks incredible - I just put it on hold.
I am so deeply excited to find so many people on Substack that are this passionate about children’s literature. I have not been able to find anyone in my real life that has any interest in this conversation with me (our poor librarian has to listen to me at least once a week).
I’m looking forward to making my way through your archives over the next few weeks!
I'm glad you made your way here, Rena!
So’s my poor librarian 😂