Which skill illustrates a child's knowledge of how to handle books?

The correct choice reflects the specific abilities associated with how children interact with books, which includes skills such as holding the book properly, turning pages, and understanding the front and back covers. These book handling skills are fundamental as they lay the foundation for effective reading habits and comprehension.

This skill is crucial in early literacy development because it demonstrates that a child is acquiring the physical and cognitive abilities necessary to engage with text. Understanding how to handle books prepares children for reading by familiarizing them with the structure of a book and the reading process itself, which involves recognizing that written text conveys meaning.

Other options, while relevant to literacy, do not focus specifically on the practical aspects of using books. Phoneme blending pertains to the ability to combine sounds to form words, which is important for phonics but does not address the physical interaction with books. Environmental print refers to the print found in everyday life and helps children recognize familiar words but does not involve book handling. Emergent literacy encompasses a broad range of early skills related to reading and writing, yet it is not specifically tied to the practical skills needed for handling books correctly.