“The fire of literacy is created by the emotional sparks between a child, a book, and the person reading.”
~ Mem Fox, Reading Magic
Do you have fond memories of being read to as a child—curling up with an adult and sharing the adventures found within the pages of a favorite book? One of the most vital and treasured gifts you can give your child is a love of books. With every reading of a story, thousands of connections in the brain are created and strengthened. The building blocks of early literacy skills (what children know about reading and writing before they learn to read and write) are established. When kindergarteners and first graders are read to from birth, they enter school feeling familiar and comfortable with the printed word. Books already are their good friends.
But have you ever wandered through the sea of books in the children’s area of a library or bookstore and wondered: Where do I begin? How do I choose the best books for my child? Which ones are most appropriate for her? What will he enjoy?
One of my favorite tasks as a children’s librarian with an early literacy specialty is to help parents find age appropriate books and share them with their young children. Here are a few favorite tips and book recommendations. Grab a child, a book, cuddle up, and have fun!
| Books for Babies |
Books for Toddlers | Books for Preschoolers |
Books for Babies (birth to 18 months)
Books Babies Love:
- Bright, bold, realistic, & uncluttered illustrations & photos
- One complete picture on the page
- Books that reflect baby’s world—familiar objects—clothing, animals, toys; babies love photos of other babies!
- Only a few simple words on each page
- Constructed of cardboard, plastic, vinyl & cloth, textured books
Read Aloud Tips:
- Cuddle with baby in lap
- “Talk” the book: point to pictures, identify objects, use animated voice
- Maintain eye contact with baby while you read
- Don’t worry if infant doesn’t look at book. She’s still absorbing & enjoying the rhythm & language
- If baby becomes fussy or restless, put book away and try again another time. The goal is to make reading an enjoyable activity—for baby and you.
Try These Books:
- Baby Faces by Margaret Miller.
Babies will love looking at the expressive faces of the babies in this title from the “Look Baby!” series. - Hurry! Hurry! By Eve Bunting
The farm animals rush to the barnyard for an early morning surprise. - Peek-a-Baby by Karen Katz.
Play peek-a-boo as you interact with baby over the lift-the-flap pages of this board book. Look for other books by author.
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Books for Toddlers (18 months to 3 yrs.)
Books Toddlers Love:
- Lots of rhythm, rhyme, and repetition
- Familiar objects & situations. Books with objects, animals, etc. to identify.
- Bright, bold, colorful illustrations
- Simple text—not too many words on a page
- Wordless books—books without text encourage vocabulary development
- Stories that invite participation & interaction: books with flaps & moveable parts
Read Aloud Tips:
- Toddlers have short attention spans. Keep reading sessions short.
- Use story as a springboard for talk. Invite toddler to identify objects & talk about what is happening on the page.
- Allow toddler to help turn pages
- Reread favorite books often
Try These Books:
- The Everything Book by Denise Fleming
A vibrant hodgepodge of activities, this book includes several pages of common objects to identify and name. - A Good Day by Kevin Henkes
A bad day for the farm animals turns out to be a good one after all. - Moo, Baa, La, La, La! by Sandra Boynton
Whimsical animals help young toddlers practice animal sounds.
TOP
Books for Preschoolers (ages 3 to 5 years)
Books Preschoolers Love:
- A more complex storyline with longer text than books for toddlers
- Detailed illustrations
- Good characterization
- Invite conversation
- Cumulative stories (stories in which ending takes reader back to beginning of story)
- True “information” books (nonfiction)
Read Aloud Tips:
- Allow preschooler to help select books
- Provide opportunity for preschooler to talk about story. Ask questions: What will happen next? Why do you think he did that? What would happen if?
- Occasionally run your fingers under the words while you read the story
- Allow preschooler to “read” the story to you
- Make reading a part of your daily routine. A child is never too old to share a book with you.
Try These Books:
- I Stink! by Jim & Kate Mullan.
A garbage truck makes his rounds collecting garbage from A to Z. - My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann
Wherever an impulsive rabbit goes, trouble follows. - Olivia by Ian Falconer
Whether at the beach or at bedtime, Olivia has too much energy for her own good.
Visit your local library or bookstore. Ask the staff for additional recommendations.