Reading is a wonderful activity that can be enjoyed our entire lives. It is never too early to start reading to your children. Babies love books and the earlier we make books, reading and the library a part of babies’ every day activities the better prepared our children will be for reading in the future. Reading aloud to our kids allows us to start a fun, relaxing family tradition that provides a quiet time to bond and share.
When we share books with our babies we develop many early literacy skills that help them learn to read when they attend school. We also develop a love of learning that goes beyond formal education. Books and stories provide children with the opportunity to explore their world and the world around them, to learn new words and concepts and to interact with printed materials. By sharing books with your baby you illustrate how books work. We show them that books have covers, pages and stories, that there is a right side and upside down side to books and that books have pages that turn and are read left to right – knowledge that many grown-ups take for granted.
Board books are designed for small children. These books are sturdy with easy to turn pages and can withstand a little drool. Board books are a great way to introduce your baby to books. When selecting books for your baby look for books with the following features:
- Books with simple language, repetition, song and sound effects
- Books that illustrate your child’s life (example: bath time or nap time)
- Books that are small enough for baby hold
- Books with tricks – holes, buttons, mirrors and peekaboos
If you are still unsure what makes a great book for your baby, check out the list below or stop by your local branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library and ask the staff for suggestions.
Baby Faces Peekaboo by Dawn Sirret. The Peekaboo series is perfect for babies because it features beautiful pictures of everyday activities and flaps to lift to play peekaboo. Baby Faces Peekaboo features textured pages to feel, a mirror and an exploration of moods and feelings. All of these wonderful elements create a book that is interesting and stimulating for baby readers.
My Very First Mother Goose is an edited collection of over 60 nursery rhymes edited by Ionie Opie and illustrated by Rosemary Wells. Nursery rhymes are wonderful to share with our babies. Children that know nursery rhymes when they begin school are shown to have a learning advantage . Nursery rhymes help develop our ability to recognize patterns, understand reading and writing, and love poetry.
I Kissed the Baby by Mary Murphy is a fabulous picture book to share with babies. It features simple illustrations, repetitive text and the opportunity for kisses and cuddles.
Reading aloud to your children is a gift that they can take with them the rest of their lives, so start reading today.
