Babies

It's never too early to read to your baby!

Start a reading tradition!

Start a reading tradition! Learning begins the moment your child is born, or, according to many experts, even earlier. Reading to, talking with, and singing to your baby will stimulate his or her brain and lay the foundation for learning and later reading success. These foundations, often called emergent literacy, enable reading to happen later in life. Even when your infant is chewing on a book, he or she is taking the first step to becoming a reader! Children should be made comfortable with the idea and feel of books from an early age. When children are read to early and regularly, they quickly acquire listening skills and the desire to hear stories. They understand the pleasures of books and develop the ability to concentrate and relax.

Sharing books with your baby is as easy as 1-2-3!

1.  Choose a time when your baby is wide awake and happy. Let your baby play with the book if he or she wants to and stop for a while if your baby gets upset. Even just a few minutes a day is important!

2.  Show your baby the book before you start reading. Point to and talk about the pictures.

3.  Have fun! Show your enthusiasm and read with animation. Hug and cuddle the entire time, associating books with positive actions.

Did you know...

Every major study of children’s school achievement shows that the most successful children were all read to for at least 20 minutes a day from early childhood.

Board Books for Babies
Picture Books for Babies
Suggested Books for Parents