Nursery World - It's all relative

In our series on building a book collection around a particular theme, Judith Stevens turns to the family - and the young reader at its centre When using themes as part of the planning process, practitioners should always identify a selection of appropriate storybooks and information texts. It is important that adults plan to share storybooks and information texts with children in small groups, pairs and individually, during planned story sessions and throughout the day.

In our series on building a book collection around a particular theme, Judith Stevens turns to the family - and the young reader at its centre

When using themes as part of the planning process, practitioners should always identify a selection of appropriate storybooks and information texts. It is important that adults plan to share storybooks and information texts with children in small groups, pairs and individually, during planned story sessions and throughout the day.

Children also need to know that books can be used independently in the book area, and that they can be used to support learning in other areas of provision within the setting.

Families and babies

'Families', 'babies' and similar topics such as 'ourselves' are perennial favourites. This is to be expected, as practitioners should plan experiences and activities based on children's interests, and there are few things children are interested in more than themselves!

Books about different sorts of families make wonderful starting points for practitioners and children to explore the wealth of similarities and differences between and within families. By their very nature, such books support children's personal, emotional and social development and often help them to consider issues they can find very difficult. These issues will include recurring events such as the birth of a new baby, sibling rivalry, the departure or death of a relative, or visiting relatives at home or overseas.

If a child and family are dealing with a difficult situation such as family breakdown, stories can help them explore it together. Practitioners should always be sensitive and work jointly with the family to support the child.

Sharing a book about separation or living in two homes will offer children the vocabulary to investigate their own fears and anxieties about what is going on around them. Books with such emotive themes will often be used on a one-to-one basis with children to meet their individual needs.

Books about babies are also helpful when helping children to understand a common situation which adults regard as exciting and a cause for celebration - the birth of a new brother or sister. For a child who has had one or two parents to themselves for their whole life, this arrival can unleash powerful emotions. Books provide opportunities to discuss the range of emotions these children are dealing with, including fear, anxiety, loss, jealousy or anger.

Books about families also support children's understanding of Knowledge and Understanding of the World - A Sense of Time, in meaningful and relevant ways. Some of the texts show the growth of babies, through childhood to adulthood, and others give children an insight into generations within a family and the passing of time.

Practitioners should welcome this opportunity to introduce children to new thematically based contemporary rhymes, which will complement the core rhymes and poems used with the children. These poems are not for children to learn, but rather to listen to, enjoy and respond to, in the same way they would high-quality picture books.

Above all, these texts give adults and children opportunities to celebrate the diversity of families today.

Judith Stevens is an early years adviser for Lewisham Education

Recommended core titles

Look out for other books by these authors

The Trouble with Mum by Babette Cole (Egmont Books, 3.99)*

Once There Were Giantsby Martin Waddell (Walker Books, 4.99)

So Much by Trish Cooke (Walker Books, 5.99)

My Dad is Awesomeby Nick Butterworth (Candlewick, Press 4.99)*

Families by Debbie Bailey (Annick Press, 10.50)

Grace and Family by Mary Hoffman (Frances Lincoln, 5.99)

Big Book of Families by Catherine and Laurence Anholt (Walker Books, Pounds 5.99)

My Mumby Anthony Browne (Picture Corgi, 5.99)