by Maureen Slamer
Turner Makes a Book
“Mom, read this!” Turner yelled. He grabbed his writing book and shoved it over her laptop.
“Look I wrote too!” Mom didn’t know what to say, it looked like a jumble of letters. “You read it, love.”
“I have a loose tooth!” Turner read loudly.
Mom smiled, “Yes, you do have a loose tooth.”
Turner grinned. “You can read it, can’t you?”
“Of course I can.” Mom looked at Turner. His eyes shone with excitement.
“Turner, why don’t we turn this into a book? Then you can read it to Grandma.”
Turner looked puzzled. His brother Georgie had books he could read, but they didn’t look like this. How could he have a book he could read? Mom grabbed two sheets of paper and folded them. She stapled the folded side, twice.
She opened the ‘book’ and said, “I will write your words at the bottom of the page, like this.” 
Mom read Turner’s words. “I have a loose tooth. Now you need to draw your picture of you and your loose tooth.” And Turner did.
“Now let’s read this together.” Mom and Turner read his book. Turner was proud. He had a book just like Georgie!
Mom closed the book. She turned to Turner and said. “Books have a title and an author. What will you call your book?”
Turner responded, “Loose Tooth, and I wrote it.” Mom titled the book and wrote the author’s name. 
“Time to call grandma!” And they did.
Making a Book
INGREDIENTS:
- Your child’s writing
- Sheets plain white paper
- Pencil or pen
- Stapler
- Box of crayons, colored pencils, or water color markers.
DIRECTIONS:
- Fold two sheets of paper in half – hamburger style.
- Staple the folded side twice.
- Open the book, write your child’s words about an inch from the bottom.
- Read the words written out loud to your child.
- Your child draws the picture.
- Read the book together.
- Close the book, ask your child for a title and who wrote the book.
- Read the book to family and friends!
Turner Knows About Reading and Writing!
Turner knows …
Turner knows he can read his story to others, just like Mom reads books to him.
Turner knows his picture shows his story, just like the books Mom reads to him.
Turner reads what he wrote, just like Mom.
Turner knows letters are important, he writes like Mom.
Turner knows to start writing at the top of the page, just like Mom.
Turner uses letters to tell a story, just like Mom.
Turner knows what he wrote can be read again and again. His story won’t change. Just like when Mom reads his books over and over and the story is the same.
Wow! Turner knows about reading and writing – Thanks Mom!
Reading My Own Writing
All children have a story to tell. They are eager to share the wonders of their world. These simple stories support their memories for words and become their first books for reading. Something they can do independently. So a simple book written by a child based on their own talk becomes the easiest for them to read with success. A reader/writer is born.
