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" Randall de S\u00E8ve believes that reading with your child doesn&amp;#039;t have to be a selfless act\u2014that sharing kids books should be enjoyable for adults, too. She&amp;#039;s excited to recommend some of her favorites in this regular new column, along with fun, story-based activites to go with them.  Little Bird, by Germano Zullo and Albertine Winner of the 2011 Prix Sorci\u00E8res for illustration (the French Caldecott)  Last night, my 12-year-old daughter made another play for an Instagram account. First, she tried the &amp;quot;everyone has one&amp;quot; argument. Then, the &amp;quot;I&amp;#039;d only post nice pictures&amp;quot; one, which was followed by the &amp;quot;I&amp;#039;d never be mean&amp;quot; tactic. My husband and I heard her. We believed her, and we considered her arguments. In the end, however, we decided against it, because, for us, Instagram is just more screen &amp;quot;noise&amp;quot; \u2014 another distraction from real social interaction and experience. In short, we dinosaur parents are doing our darndest to keep our children engaged with the world, not a screen. Apparently, we are not yet an extinct breed. Case in point, Germano Zullo and Albertine&amp;#039;s Little Bird (Enchanted Lion Books, 2012), a beguiling little picture book with spare, poetic text; bright, whimsical images; and a great big message: &amp;quot;Little things [like an unexpected friendship] are not made to be noticed. They are there to be discovered.&amp;quot;  Little things \u2014 like encouraging a bird to fly \u2014 take time, and they are life&amp;#039;s &amp;quot;true treasures.&amp;quot;  &amp;quot;One is enough to enrich the moment.&amp;quot;  Or (and I won&amp;#039;t show you the surprising last picture) &amp;quot;change the world.&amp;quot; Take that, Instagram. And this: Power off your screens, and sit with your child and this gigantic little book that&amp;#039;s great for all kids, ages five and up. Try reading it aloud first without showing the pictures, and see what comes to your child&amp;#039;s mind. What are his little things? What are her &amp;quot;true treasures?&amp;quot; Now look at Albertine&amp;#039;s pictures. Compare, question, and discuss \u2014 for real. Randall de S\u00E8ve is the author of New York Times bestseller Toy Boat, The Duchess of Whimsy, Mathilda and the Orange Balloon, and Peanut and Fifi Have a Ball. She also spent many happy years teaching young children in Brooklyn, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and a very wicked dog named Henry Biscuit. You can contact Randall at her website. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.redbookmag.com/life/mom-kids/news/a15618/little-bird-germano-zullo/>