Babies Rock with Books - Smart Start Centre County

NOTES
Babies Rock
with
BOOKS
including books & resources for
children with diverse needs
Age Appropriate Activities, Books, Music, and Songs
16
Welcome to Babies
Rock with Books!
This booklet lists age-appropriate books, songs, activities, poetry,
and music CD’s for children from birth through toddler (0-3), and
including a special section on Books for Children with Diverse Needs
and Resources for Parents. Feel free to reproduce it, or download it
in pdf format from our website at www.smartstartcc.org.
The lists have been compiled by child care professionals and educators, and all of these resources are current and available in your local
public libraries and bookstores. Our project co-chairs are Linda
Domin and Sally Herdman, and we thank them for their tireless
efforts in bringing this booklet to you.
Please take the time to read to your child every day, no matter his/her
age. Reading to your child gives him/her a strong beginning for
language and reading. It is also a great way to bond with your child,
and to create lifelong family memories.
This booklet is sponsored by Smart Start-Centre County, a network
of individuals, businesses, and child care professionals who believe
that happy and healthy children grow up to be productive adults who
lead strong communities.
Resources for Parents
of Children with Diverse Needs
GENERAL
When Your Child has a Disability: The Complete Sourcebook of Daily and Medical
Care (2nd. Ed.)—Mark Batshaw
Kids with Special Needs: Information and Activities to Promote Awareness and
Understanding—Veronica Getskow, Beverly Armstrong & Dee Konczal
When You Worry About the Children You Love: Emotional and Learning
Problems in Children—Edward Hallowell
When a Family is in Trouble: Children Can Cope with Grief from Drug
and Alcohol Addictions—Marge Heegaard
Understanding Your Special Needs Grandchild—
Clare B. Jones, Ph.D.
Special Children, Challenged Parents: The Struggles and Rewards of Raising a Child
with a Disability—Robert Naseef
The Special Child: A Source Book for Parents of Children with Developmental
Disabilities (2nd. Ed)—Siegfried Peuschel
NOTES
Smart Start-Centre County
2790 W. College Avenue, Suite 7
State College, PA 16801
814-238-0331
e-mail: [email protected]
Executive Director: Elly Yost
website: www.smartstartcc.org
March 2004 (2nd Edition)
2
15
Resources for Parents
of Children with Diverse Needs
DOWNS SYNDROME
Understanding Downs Syndrome: An Introduction for Parents—Cliff Cunningham
Babies with Downs Syndrome: A New Parents Guide—
Karen Stray-Gunderson
Communications Skills in Children with Downs Syndrome: A Guide for Parents—
Libby Kumin, Ph.D.
A Parents Guide to Downs Syndrome: Toward a Brighter Future
(2nd. Ed.)—Siegfried Peuschel
EPILEPSY
Epilepsy Patient and Family Guide—Orrin Devinsky, M.D.
Seizures and Epilepsy in Childhood: A Guide—
John M. Freeman, M.D.
HEARING IMPAIRMENT
Signs for Me: Basic Sign Vocabulary for Children, Parents—
Ben Bahan & Joe Dennis
Caring for Young Children: Signing for Day Care Providers and Sitters—
S. Harold Collins
Sign with Your Baby: Complete Learning Kit—Joseph Garcia
SIGHT IMPAIRMENT
Do You Remember the Color Blue? And Other Questions
Kids Ask About Blindness—Sally Hobart Alexander
TOURETTE SYNDROME
Kevin and Me—Patricia Heenan
Children With Tourette Syndrome: A Parents Guide—Tracy Haerle
Tourette’s Syndrome: Finding Answers and Getting Help—Mitzi Waltz
14
TIP: Your baby might want to chew on the book. This is a normal learning process and the
way they find out that fruit tastes better than paper.
INFANT BOARD BOOKS
(These are books with hard covers and heavy paper.
They aren’t easily damaged by a baby’s hands or mouth.)
Each Peach Pear Plum — by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
Arlene Alda’s 123: What Do You See? — by Arlene Alda
Ten, Nine, Eight — by Mollie Bang
A to Z — by Sandra Boynton
Barnyard Dance — by Sandra Boynton
Birthday Monsters — by Sandra Boynton
But Not the Hippopotamus — by Sandra Boynton
Doggies — by Sandra Boynton
Hey, Wake Up — by Sandra Boynton
TIP: Even
Moo, Baa, La, La, La! — by Sandra Boynton
before babies
One, Two, Three — by Sandra Boynton
understand
Opposites — by Sandra Boynton
what your
Pajama Time — by Sandra Boynton
words mean,
Goodnight Moon — by Margaret Wise Brown
their brains
The Very Hungry Caterpillar — by Eric Carle
respond to
The Very Lonely Firefly — by Eric Carle
the sounds
Freight Train — by Donald Crews
and patterns
Where’s Spot? — by Eric Hill
of your
Counting Kisses — by Karen Katz
speech.
The Carrot Seed — by Ruth Krauss
Pat the Bunny — by Dorothy Kunhardt
Hush Little Baby — by Sylvia Long
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? — by Bill Martin, Jr.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom — by Bill Martin, Jr.
Guess How Much I Love You — by Sam McBratney
Colors: A Razzle Dazzle Book — by Chuck Murphy
My Very First Mother Goose — by Iona Opie
The Tale of Peter Rabbit — by Beatrix Potter
Good Night, Gorilla — by Peggy Rathmann
Who Said Red? — by Mary Serfozo
Who Wants One? — by Mary Serfozo
Have You Seen My Duckling? — by Nancy Tafuri
Bunny Reads Back Set: The Bear Went Over the
Mountains; BINGO; The Itsy-Bitsy Spider; and
Old MacDonald — by Rosemary Wells
Max Board Books — by Rosemary Wells
More, More, More Said the Baby — by Vera Williams
The Napping House — by Audrey Wood
3
TODDLER PICTURE BOOKS
The Gingerbread Boy — by Jim Aylesworth
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel — by Virginia Lee Burton
The Little House — by Virginia Lee Burton
Town Mouse, Country Mouse — by Jan Brett
My World and Big Red Barn — by Margaret Wise Brown
Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? — by Nancy White Carlstrom
May I Bring a Friend? — by Beatrice Schenk deRegniers
Are You My Mother? — by P.D. Eastman
Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On — by Lois Ehlert
Planting a Rainbow — by Lois Ehlert
Snowballs — by Lois Ehlert
Millions of Cats — by Wanda Gag
Henny Penny — by Paul Galdone
Is It Red? Is It Yellow? Is It Blue? An Adventure in Color — by Tana Hoban
Rosie’s Walk — by Pat Hutchins
Harold and the Purple Crayon — by Crockett Johnson
Mama, Do You Love Me? — by Barbara M. Joose
The Snowy Day — by Ezra Jack Keats
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom — by Bill Martin and John Archambault
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? — by Bill Martin, Jr.
Blueberries for Sal, Make Way for Ducklings — by Robert McCloskey
One Gorilla: A Counting Book — by Atsuko Morozumi
Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin — by Lloyd Moss
If You Give A Mouse A Cookie — by Laura Numeroff
The Little Engine That Could — by Watty Piper
We’re Going On A Bear Hunt — by Michael Rosen
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish — by Dr. Seuss
The Cat in the Hat — by Dr. Seuss
Green Eggs and Ham — by Dr. Seuss
Caps for Sale — by Esphyr Slobodkina
Amos and Boris — by William Steig
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly — by Simms Taback
I’m Quick as a Cricket — by Audrey Wood
4
Resources for Parents
of Children with Diverse Needs
ALLERGIES/ASTHMA
My House is Killing Me: The Home Guide for Families with Allergies
and Asthma—Jeffrey May
American Academy of Pediatrics Guide to Your Child’s Allergies and Asthma
Breathing Easy and Bringing up Healthy, Active Children—Michael Welch, M.D.
AUTISM/ASPERGERS
Asperger’s Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals—
Tony Atwood & Lorna Wing
Facing Autism: Giving Parents Reasons for Hope and Guidance for Help—
Lynn Hamilton & Bernard Rimland
Behavioral Intervention for Young Children with Autism: A Manual for Parents and
Professionals—Catherine Maurice
Children with Autism: A Parents Guide—Michael Powers
Helping Children with Autism Learn: A Guide to Treatment Approaches for Parents and
Professionals—Barbara Siegel
CANCER
What is Cancer Anyway? Explaining Cancer to Children of all Ages—Karen L. Carney
When a Parent Has Cancer: A Guide to Caring for Your Children—Wendy Harpham
CEREBRAL PALSY
Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Parents Guide—Elaine Geralis
My Perfect Son has Cerebral Palsy: A Mother’s Guide of
Helpful Hints—Marie Kennedy
The Celebral Palsy Handbook: A Practical Guide for Parents and
Carers—Marion Stanton
DIABETES
The American Diabetes Association Complete Guide to Diabetes
TIP: Toddlers like sturdy books they can carry around. Remember, predictable routines are
comforting to children. Reading at bedtime helps children wind down.
13
Books for Children
with Diverse Needs
TOURETTE SYNDROME
Hi, I’m Adam: A Child’s Book About Tourette Syndrome—Adam Buehrens
Adam and the Magic Marble—Adam Buehrens
Taking Tourette Syndrome to School—Tina Krueger
Resources for Parents
of Children with Diverse Needs
ADD/ADHD
Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from
Childhood Through Adulthood—Edward Hallowell
The ADD/ADHD Checklist: An Easy Reference for Parents and Teachers—Sandra Rief
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: What Every
Parent Wants to Know—David Wodrich
Best of Brakes: An Activity Book for Kids with ADD—
Patricia O. Quinn & Judith M. Stern
AIDS/HIV
Children and HIV/AIDS—Gary Anderson
Risky Times: How to be AIDS Smart and Stay Healthy Book
(w/Parents Guide)—Jeanne Blake
School Children with HIV/AIDS: Quality of Life Experiences in Public Schools—
Jillian Roberts & Kathleen Cairns
Understanding and Preventing AIDS: A Book for Everyone—Chris Jennings
ALCOHOLISM
Elephant in the Living Room—Jill M. Hastings
When a Family Is In Trouble: Children Can Cope with Grief from Drug
and Alcohol Addiction—Marge Heegard
Up and Down the Mountain: Helping Children Cope with
Parental Alcoholism—Pamela Leib Higgins
Raising Healthy Children in an Alcoholic Home—Barbara Wood
12
SONGS, ACTIVITIES AND POEMS
Wee Sing Children’s Songs and Fingerplays
— by Pamela Conn Beall and Susan Hagen Nipp
Wee Sing Nursery Rhymes and Lullabies
— by Pamela Conn Beall and Susan Hagen Nipp
Pee-A-Boo! (Baby Games) — by Dorothy Bogart and Ann Rose
Finger Rhymes — by Marc Brown
Animal Crackers — by Jane Dyer
Ape in a Cape — by Fritz Eichenberg
Gonna Sing My Head Off! — by Kathleen Krull
American Folk Songs for Children — by Kathleen Krull
You Be Good and I’ll Be Night: Jump on the Bed Rhymes — by Eve Merriam
When We Were Very Young — by A.A. Milne
Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young — by Jack Prelutsky
Where Is Thumbkin: Over 500 Activities to Use With Songs You Already Know
— by Pam Schiller
American Folk Songs for Children — by Ruth Crawford Seeger
MUSIC CDs
Philadelphia Chickens (with book) — by Sandra Boynton and Michael Ford
Silly Sing Along — by Johnette Downing
Nursery Rhymes and Nursery Songs — by Robin Hendrix
Jazz-A-Bye: The Swing Set — by The Jazz-A-Bye Quartet
Baby Beluga, Let’s Play, One Light, One Sun; Singable Songs for the Very Young: Great
with a Peanut Butter Sandwich — by Raffi
Dream With Me Tonight: Lullabies for All Ages
— by Lanny Sherwin and Melodie Crittenden
Go to Sleep Baby Child: 62 Favorite Lullabies to Soothe Your Baby
— by Sourcebooks
Toddlers Sing Rock ’n Roll — by various artists
Songs for Learning — by various artists
5
Multicultural Books for Infants
Books for Children
with Diverse Needs
All About Me Board Book Set—Good Night; Happy Birthday; Let’s Pretend; My Dad;
My Friends; My Mom; and My Pet — by Debbie Bailey
Concept Board Book Set: Baby Colors and Count With Me — by DK
HEARING-IMPAIRED
Baby’s World Board Book Set—Bathtime; Good Morning; Good Night;
and Playtime — by DK
Baby Faces Series—Eat!; Hugs and Kisses; Peek-a-Boo!; Sleep; Smile;
and Splash — by Roberta Grobel Intrater
Baby Song Book Set—Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes; If You’re Happy and You
Know It; Ring Around A Rosie; and Ten Little Fingers — by Annie Kuhler
All Fall Down — by Helen Oxenbury
Clap Hands — by Helen Oxenbury
Say Goodnight — by Helen Oxenbury
Signs For Me: Basic Sign Vocabulary for Children and Parents—
Ben Bahan & Joe Dannis
Opposites: A Beginner’s Book of Signs—Angela Bednarczyk
Mother Goose in Sign—Harold Collins
Songs in Sign—Harold Collins
Signing for Kids: The Fun Way for Anyone to Learn American
Sign Language—Mickey Flodin
I Have a Sister: My Sister is Deaf—Jeanne Whitehouse Peterson
The Handmade Alphabet—Laura Rankin
The Handmade Counting Book—Laura Rankin
Animal Signs: A First Book of Sign Language—
Gallaudet University Press, Debbie Siler
Baby’s First Signs—Kim Voltry
PHYSICAL DISABILITIES
Special People, Special Ways—Arlene Maguire & Shiela Bailey
Arnie and the New Kid—Nancy J. Carlson
Be Quiet Marina—Kristen De Bear
Howie Helps Himself—Joan Fassler
Don’t Call Me Special—Pat Thomas & Lesley Harker
Clifford’s Big Red Ideas: A Special Friend—Joanna E. Mills
Extraordinary Friends—Fred Rogers
Tickle, Tickle — by Helen Oxenbury
Pretty Brown Face: Family Celebration Board Books — by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Baby Grip Set—Baby 123; Baby Colors; Baby Day; Baby Farm; Baby Friends; and
Baby Trucks — by Roger Priddy
SIGHT-IMPAIRED
6
TIP: Toddlers often have a
hard time sitting still and
paying attention. You can keep
toddlers interested by allowing
them to stand or eat while you
read, exaggerating your voice
and actions, encouraging
them to join in with familiar
words or actions, having them
find things hidden in the
picture, or substituting your
child’s name for the name of a
character in the story.
Mom Can’t See Me—Sally Hobart Alexander
See The Ocean—Estelle Condra
The Hickory Chair—Lida Rowe Faustino
Being Blind—Linda O’Neill
STRESS
A Boy and a Bear: The Children’s
Relaxation Book—Lori Lite
11
Books for Children
with Diverse Needs
CEREBAL PALSY
Taking Cerebal Palsy to School—Mary Elizabeth Anderson
Adam and the Magic Marble—Adam Buchrens
Rolling Along: The Story of Taylor and His Wheelchair—
Jamee Riggio Heelan & Nicola Simmons
Nicks Joins In—Joe Lasker
Rolling Along with Goldilocks and the Three Bears—Cindy Meyers
Susan Laughs—Jamie Willis
DIABETES
Let’s Talk About Diabetes—Melanie Apel Gordon
Taking Diabetes to School—Kim Gosselin
Sarah and Puffle: A Story for Children with Diabetes—Linnea Mulder
Even Little Kids Get Diabetes—Connie White Pirner
DOWNS SYNDROME
We’ll Paint the Octopus Red—Stephanie Stuve Bodeen
Dustin’s Big Day at School—Alden Carter
Our Brother Has Downs Syndrome—Shelly Cairo, Jasmine Cairo, & Tara Cairo
A Very Special Critter—Mercer Mayer Coyle
1,2,3 For You and Me—Meg Givins
A,B,C For You and Me—Meg Givins
Russ and the Almost Perfect Day—Janet Elizabeth Rickert
Russ and the Apple Tree Surprise—Janet Elizabeth Rickert
Russ and the Firehouse—Janet Elizabeth Rickert
Where’s Chimpy—Bernice Rabe
EPILEPSY
Let’s Talk About Epilepsy—Melanie Apel Gordon
Taking Seizure Disorders to School: A Story About Epilepsy—Kim Gosselin
Becky The Brave—Laurie Lears
The Rabbit with Epilepsy—Deborah Moss & Carol Schwartz
10
TIP: Active, curious toddlers love interactive books, like pop-up books, touch-and-feel
books, and books with flaps to lift or holes to look through. Toddlers are learning
about feelings and like to hear stories about characters who feel just like they do. At
this stage, they are learning the difference between real and pretend and like stories.
Multicultural Books for Toddlers
Black is Brown is Tan — by Arnold Adoff
Rockabye Crocodile — by Jose Aruego
Cleversticks — by Bernard Ashley
Baby Rattlesnake — told by Te Ata, adapted by Lynn Moroney
And Sunday Makes Seven — retold by Robert Bader
The Story of Little Babaji — by Helen Bannerman
Grandfather Counts — by Andrea Cheng
Full, Full, Full of Love — by Trish Cooke
Black, White, Just Right — by Marguerite W. Davol
The Story About Ping — by Marjorie Flack and Kurt Wiese
Whoever You Are — by Mem Fox
I’m Like You, You’re Like Me: A Child’s Book About Understanding
and Celebrating Each Other — by Cindy Gainer
African Dream — by Eloise Greenfield
Happy to be Happy — by Bell Hooks
Baby Faces Series: Eat!; Hugs and Kisses; Peek-A Boo; Sleep; Smile;
and Splash — by Roberta Grobel Intrater
Mommy’s Hands — by Kathryn Lasky and Jane Kamine
We’re Different, We’re The Same — by Bobbi Jane Kates
Hooray! Its Passover! — by Leslie Kimmelman
Hanukkah Lights, Hanukkah Nights — by Leslie Kimmelman
Dim Sum for Everyone — by Grace Lin
The Ugly Vegetables — by Grace Lin
Here Are My Hands — by Bill Martin and John Archambault
We All Sing With the Same Voice
— by J. Phillip Miller & Sheppard M. Greene
Families — by Ann Morris
Abuelita’s Paradise — by Carmen Santiage Nodar
Good Night, God Bless — by Susan Heyboer O’Keefe
Clap Hands — by Helen Oxenbury
It’s OK to be Different — by Todd Parr
A Rainbow All Around Me — by Sandra L. Pinkney
Shades of Black — by Sandra Pinkney
Why Am I Different? — by Norma Simon
All Kinds of Children — by Norma Simon
Red is a Dragon — by Roseanne Thong
My Nose, Your Nose — by Melanie Walsh
7
Resources for Parents
Books for Children
with Diverse Needs
Gesell Institute Books: Your One Year Old . . . Your Two Year Old
— by Louise Ames and Frances Ilg
You Are Your Child’s First Teacher: What Parents Can Do with and for Their Children
from Birth to Age 6 — by Rahima Baldwin Dancy
Magic Trees of the Mind: How to Nurture Your Child’s Intelligence,
Creativity, and Healthy Emotions from Birth Through Adolescence
— by Marian Diamond and Janet Hopson
Reading Magic — by Mem Fox
The Adoption Resource Book, 4th Edition — by Lois Gilman
ADD/ADHD
Shelley The Hyperactive Turtle—Deborah Moss & Carol Schwartz
Learning To Slow Down and Pay Attention: A Book for Kids about ADD—
Kathleen Nadeau
Help Is On The Way—Marc A. Nemiroff
The Best of Brakes: An Activity Book for Kids with ADD—Patricia O. Md. Quinn
ADD Book for Kids —Shelly Rotner & Sheila M. Kelly
H.I.V./AIDS
Kids with AIDS — Anna Forbes
Living In a World with AIDS—Anna Forbes
What Is AIDS?—Anna Forbes
Where Did AIDS Come From?—Anna Forbes
Baby Minds — by Dr. Susan Goodwyn and Dr. Linda Acredolo
New York Times Parent’s Guide to the Best Books for Children
— by Eden Ross Lipson
Baby Play — by Dr. Wendy S. Masi and Dr. Roni Cohen Leiderman (eds.)
ALCOHOLISM
Banana Beer — Carol Carrick
Elephant in the Living Room—Jill M. Hastings
Bottles Break—Nancy Tabor
Positive Discipline: The First Three Years from Infant to Toddler
— by Jane Nelsen, Roslyn Duffy, and Cheryl Erwin
Under the Chinaberry Tree: Books and Inspirations for Mindful Parenting
— by Ann Reuthling and Patti Pitche
ALLERGIES/ASTHMA
The ABC’s of Asthma—Kim Gosselin
Zoo Allergy—Kim Gosselin
Taking Food Allergies to School—Ellen Weiner
Mr. Rogers, Let’s Talk About It: Adoption — by Fred Rogers
My Forever Family–Songs About Adopting and Being Adopted
— by Susan Silver and Wendy Spira
AUTISM/ASPERGERS
Russell is Extra Special—Charles A. Amenta
Ian’s Walk—Laurie Lears & Karen Ritz
Andy and His Yellow Frisbee—Mary Thompson
Talking to Angels—Esther Watson
Go to Your Room! Consequences that Teach — by Shari Steelsmith
Read Aloud Handbook — by Jim Trelease
The Ten Greatest Gifts You Can Give Your Children — by Steven W. Vannoy
Adoptive Parents — by Lois Ruskai Melina
I’m Chocolate, You’re Vanilla: Raising Healthy Black and Biracial Children in a RaceConscious World: A Guide for Parents and Teachers — by Marguerite Wright
8
CANCER
Our Mom Has Cancer—
Abigail Ackerman & Adrianne Ackerman
Paper Chain—Claire Blake
9
RESOURCES AND SKILLED HELP ARE
AVAILABLE AT THESE LIBRARIES NEAR YOU:
Schlow Memorial Library
www.schlowlibrary.org
118 S. Fraser Street (temporary location)
State College, PA 16801
814-237-6238
Centre County Library System
www.centrecountylibrary.org
TIPS for a lifetime
&
of reading!
TRICKS
When should I start reading to my baby?
It’s never too early to start reading to your child. Looking at picture
books, singing songs, and telling stories gives your child a strong
beginning for language and reading.
Babies are “visual learners.” They learn by looking at the world around
them and by interacting with people they meet.
Aaronsburg Area Public Library
114 West Plum Street
Aaronsburg, PA 16820
814-349-5328
Centre Hall Area Branch Library
109 W. Beryl Street
Centre Hall, PA 16828
814-364-2580
Centre County Library
200 N. Allegheny Street
Bellefonte, PA 16823
814-355-1516
Holt Memorial Library
9 West Pine Street
Philipsburg, PA 16866
814-342-1987
Even very young babies are able to look at and pay attention to pictures
in a book. This is the first step in being able to recognize pictures and
symbols, an important early skill for learning.
Spoken language is the basis for learning to read. The more language
babies hear, the more the “speech and language parts” of their brains are
stimulated.
Why do babies chew on books?
Babies learn about the world through their senses. They are curious
about how things feel, look, sound, smell, and taste. Mouthing is one of
the earliest ways babies explore objects. This is one way they find out
that cookies taste better than books or socks.
Being exposed to books from an early age helps children develop an
interest in books and reading. “Book handling”—holding books, turning
them right-side up, moving the pages, and chewing—is one of the early
building blocks in learning to read.
If babies can freely explore books and are read to, they learn to associate
books with pleasurable interactions with parents and other caregivers.
Even though a baby is, at first, more interested in mouthing or throwing
books than looking at them, they will soon be eager to sit on your lap and
look at the pictures of other babies, animals, shapes, and colors.
How can books and stories help my child sleep?
WHAT KIND OF BOOKS WILL MY BABY LIKE?
FOR BABIES 0-12 MONTHS:
Books with simple, large, brightly colored pictures of people or familiar
animals and objects.
Stiff cardboard books or soft cloth or vinyl books to touch or taste.
Setting up routines helps babies understand what you want them to do.
Predictable routines are comforting to children and reading or telling stories
will help associate going to sleep with a peaceful, pleasant time with you.
Small plastic photo albums of family, pets, and friends.
Hearing your voice is a soothing way for babies to settle down and go to
sleep. Infants love the human voice and can distinguish it from other sounds.
Sturdy board books they can carry around and turn the pages by themselves.
Having a regular time of day for sharing books and stories encourages a love
for reading.
You can make storytime an enjoyable experience by reading stories with lots
of repetition and words that rhyme; singing lullabies or a goodnight song;
using different voices in a story; or reading a story about a child with the
same name as your child’s.
Should I keep reading to my children even if they don’t
appear to be listening?
Toddlers often have a hard time sitting still and paying attention for more
than a few minutes. You may not be able to read more than a few pages at
a time. Let them stand or give them something to eat or drink while you
read.
You can keep toddlers interested by exaggerating your voice and actions;
encouraging them to join in with familiar words, phrases, and actions; or
having them find things hidden in the picture.
Toddlers love stories that have the same word or phrase repeated. This
helps them develop memory and language skills.
FOR YOUNG TODDLERS 12-24 MONTHS:
Goodnight books for bedtime.
Animal books of all kinds.
Books with photos of children doing familiar things like sleeping or playing.
Books with only a few words on each page.
Books with simple rhymes or repeated words or phrases.
FOR TODDLERS 2-3 YEARS
Books that tell simple stories.
Books with rhymes they can memorize.
Books about animals, vehicles, and playtime.
Books about counting, the alphabet, shapes, and colors.