What to read to babies and toddlers

I'm so excited to share some book ideas I've been gathering to help families welcome new babies, siblings, cousins, etc. to their families. If you have a baby or toddler, know someone who is expecting a baby, or are invited to a baby shower, this is for you! Since I just spent the week with my daughter and son-in-law, who have three young children, I asked them to share with me the kinds of books they like best to read to their kids. For best read alouds to preschoolers, infants, and toddlers, they like books that are:

• Short
• Rhyming
• Have good illustrations/bright colors
• Have the element of texture-kids can touch and feel
• Are interactive-flaps, holes, or can act it out/sing with it

I love books that you can read over and over again  through the years and that bring beautiful art to them from day one of a child's life. Reading to babies, according to kidshealth.org: 

• teaches a baby about communication
• introduces concepts such as numbers, letters, colors, and shapes in a fun way
• builds listening, memory, and vocabulary skills
• gives babies information about the world around them

I think except for the second one, all of the above apply to elementary aged children as well as babies.

But the reason they give as most important--and this also applies to reading aloud to children of all ages, is the one I've been preaching for years. The article says it well:

"But perhaps the most important reason to read aloud is that it makes a connection between the things your baby loves the most — your voice and closeness to you — and books. Spending time reading to your baby shows that reading is important. And if infants and children are read to often with joy, excitement, and closeness, they begin to associate books with happiness — and new readers are created."

Isn't that beautiful? So get some books to give next time you have occasion to give a baby gift--you are giving a gift that a child may benefit from his or her whole life! 

Download the list now.