Touch, Point, and Turn
Using Books with Tiny Hands
Books get minds and fingers moving. Holding a book, turning a page, pointing to a picture, and tracing a shape with a finger are all good ways of practicing fine motor coordination and control.
- Audience
- Caregiver
- Subject
- Fine Motor Skill Development
- Age
- KindergartenPre-KPreschoolToddler
- Languages
- English
The Basics
Learning how to handle a book takes practice. And even just holding a book can be tricky for little hands. Let your child "read" a book by themselves—it’s okay if they hold it upside down to start. Invite them to turn the pages. Point to pictures together and name them. Use your fingers to help tell the story.
Books to Explore Together
Interactive Books. Flaps, tabs, and things to pull give children a chance to practice small movements with their fingers and hands. Use fingers to explore pictures, textures, and stories by tapping, rubbing, and poking.
Book suggestions:
- Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson
- My Magical Unicorn by Yujin Shin
- Mon Petit Busy Day by Annette Tamarkin
- Play This Book by Jessica Young
Pointing Books. Pointing requires careful finger control and lots of focus. Trace letters or shapes, count objects, and find hidden details.
Book suggestions:
- Underground Subway Systems Around the World by Uijung Kim
- The Odd One Out: A Spotting Book by Britta Teckentrup
- I Spy: A Book of Picture Riddles by Walter Wick
Counting Books. Counting is a great way to get fingers involved. Use fingers to count together (and maybe add some toes). Or find small objects to pick up use for counting.
Book suggestions:
- Grandma’s Tiny House by JaNay Brown-Wood
- Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews
- Ten Little Fingers, Two Small Hands by Kristy Dempsey
- One Is a Piñata by Roseanne Greenfield Thong
Books about all the ways to use fingers and hands. From clapping and waving to cooking and building, there are so many things people do with their fingers and hands. Notice all the things hands can do in a book—and then try some together.
Book suggestions:
- Busy Fingers by C.W. Bowie
- Hands Can by Cheryl Willis Hudson
- More-igami by Dori Kleber
- Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang
Bonus!
Fingerplays and Action Songs. There are lots of short songs or rhymes with hand, finger, and wrist motions, like the Itsy Bitsy Spider or the Wheels on the Bus. Children learn from the rhythm and language, as well as the motions. Add some fingerplays and action songs to your day—while waiting for the bus, standing in line, or before bedtime. What fingerplays and action songs do you remember from your childhood?
Things to Say
“Can you find the red circle on this page? ”
“Let's count together with our fingers.”
“Look what they're doing in the story, we can do that too!”
Related Resources
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