Try these tips when purchasing books:
1) Infants- infants will do best with soft books in bright or black and white colors. Books that have textures and/or squeaks, mirrors and crinkles inside are great choices too. Show the baby the colors and let him or her stare at each page. This will help to develop their ability to focus. Let the baby touch the pages. Some babies really like Taggies. Name the pictures in the book.
2) Toddler- hardcover, board books are best at this age. Please do not let toddlers teeth on books. As an educator, it's just disheartening.
Teach your child to point to the front cover. Don't skip the title page, if any (read the title again). Teach your toddler to read from the front cover to the back, and from the left page to the right. This is done just by modeling.
Show him or her the pictures and name them. This way the toddler will make connections between pictures, words and objects. Likewise, reinforce by naming the same pictures in your house. Accept what your child can say. If house comes out sounding like, "hurse", then simply say, "Yes! House!" very clearly.
If your child becomes attached to one book, or even one page in a book, then that is a very good thing! Do not discourage this as your child has made a connection with reading.
Also, introduce paperback books that are very short, and do not let your little one have it independently until you are confident that he or she is ready.
3) Preschool- introduce paperback books. At this age, if you have followed the advice above, children are ready to look at paperback books independently. But, do not throw or give away the board books just yet!!!
By now, if not sooner, your child will be recognizing letters in the book. Encourage this by finding and naming letters and words. Spell words too. The best books at this age are books with one word per page for practice (but again can be introduced to the advanced toddler). Revisit board books and see if your child can read the words independently.
Mostly, read, read and read with your children. Read every day and several times per day. Take them to the library at a young age, and suddenly, you will have a young one interested in, if not, reading!
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Laurie Patsalides
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Last Edited
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Nov 13 2009, 04:00 PM