The Importance of Early Childhood Education and the Role of our Librarian

Early childhood education is critical for a child's development and future success. It lays the foundation for academic achievement, emotional and social development, and lifelong learning. As such, it is essential to expose young children to a wide variety of experiences, including reading and language development.

Ms. Eman is our Librarian at our Gharaffa campus. She explains that “As a librarian, I have the privilege of helping children develop their reading skills and foster a love of books. The library should always be a peaceful place where children can find inspiration, information, and connect with the world around them. I am passionate about sharing knowledge and promoting literacy, and being a part of the community in which I serve”.

“One of my favourite collections for young children is "Aesop's Fables." These stories teach valuable lessons about sharing, kindness, honesty, hard work, and other essential values. They are easy to understand and engaging for young children, helping spark their imagination, creativity, and develop their language and listening skills”.

In addition to "Aesop's Fables," she has several favourite books that teach kindness, including "Last Stop on the Market," "The Hundred Dresses," "Stick and Stone," "One," "The Big Umbrella," "Nerdy Birdy," "A Sick Day," "The Girl and the Bicycle," and "If You Plant a Seed." Ms. Eman tells us that these books provide a valuable lesson on empathy and kindness, helping to instil these essential values in young children.

There are also several authors that she admires and enjoys sharing with students, including Julia Donaldson, Oliver Jeffers, and Roald Dahl. These authors' books offer engaging characters, imaginative stories, playful illustrations, and moral and ethical lessons. They teach imagination, creativity, resilience, kindness, empathy, and courage.

“As a librarian, I also love recommending books for students based on their age and reading level. For early years to Year 2, some of my top recommendations include "Goodnight Moon," "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," and "Where the Wild Things Are." For Year 3 to Year 4, I recommend "Charlotte's Web," "The Chronicles of Narnia" series, and "Harry Potter" series. For Year 5 to Year 6, I recommend "Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief," "The Hunger Games," "Wonder," and "A Wrinkle in Time." These books are engaging, well-written, and have been enjoyed by generations of children”.

In the library, she sees the students show great interest in the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" by Jeff Kinney, "Magic Tree House" series by Mary Pope Osborne, and "The Adventures of Captain Underpants" by Dav Pilkey. She finds that these popular collections provide students with exciting and imaginative stories, promoting their love for reading and learning.

In conclusion, Ms. Eman explains that early childhood education is critical for a child's development and future success, and reading and language development is an essential part of this. She is passionate about sharing knowledge and promoting literacy, being part of the community, and helping students develop their reading skills and a love of books. It is her wish that the books and collections she has shared inspire students to read, learn, and grow.