Choosing Books for Young Children
61Everyone has heard of the benefits of reading to your children. Book stores have huge sections of books even for newborn babies. But which books are best for your baby and toddler?
Books for Tiny Babies
Babies love to sit with you, and hear your voice. They love to look at interesting pictures, and hear new words. You can read almost anything to a tiny baby. I remember reading Vogue to my infant son, the shiny photographs fascinated him and it's a lot more interesting to Mom than That's Not My Puppy.
Books designed espcially for babies are usually a waste of money, since older babies and toddlers will be bored with them. Read to your baby from anything with pictures and they will be happy.
Books for Older Babies
Older babies love stories with rythmn, repeating words and phrases, and especially rhyming books. Interesting activites include spotting a character on each page, lifting flaps, and touch-and-feel pages. Choose books with good illustrations, with lots to look at.
Books for Toddlers
Toddler enjoy the same books babies do, but in a more sophisticated way. Your toddler will probably be able to say the next word if you pause in a story. They'll also begin to understand more of the story. They can spot characters who are doing things like dancing, jumping or sleeping, and also happy, sad, scared, surprised faces. Pick storybooks you like to read, becasue your toddler will make you read her favourite 5000 times. Toddlers often enjoy story books marketed for slightly older children. My 18-month old son's favorite books all come from the age 4-8 section of the bookstore.
The answer to "Which books are best?" is any book you and your child enjoy reading together. Reading should never be a chore. Pick a variety of books, with different styles, so each book will introduce new works, new pictures, new concepts.
