Teaching Kids Art Through Picture Books

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,...