In fact, research says that we should make reading a part of every day right from birth. Here's why!  Babies love to hear your voice. You are teaching them sounds and letters and words. Make it part of a bedtime routine and it will help with getting them to sleep. Make reading an important part of their day, everyday. An early introduction to books, helps create a love for reading. Reading together is a one-on-one time that helps to create a bond that will last a lifetime. For an infant, you can choose to read anything out loud and they will love to hear your voice. As your child grows and is ready to touch the book, make sure you use the cloth or board books as babies will easily tear a page. If your baby wants to hold the book, chew on the page, or turn the page, let them do it. They are exploring. Once your baby can sit up by themself, you may find they want to touch the book a lot. Books that have texture are fun for babies to touch and feel. Have fun reading. Read the words with expression. Use Parentese, the sing-song speech pattern where you stretch out vowels, like "Baaabeee." Make funny sounds. Watch your child's reaction. Point to pictures and let your child do the same. Repeat your words. Your child might look at the picture, then look at your lips. You are teaching them how to form the sounds of words. Some children will want to be cuddled when you read and others may want to be independent. Don't make reading time last beyond their interest. They will let you know when they have had enough and want to move to another activity. If you make reading time a routine, kids will want to do it more.     Baby Faces by Margaret Miller These spectacularly photographed baby faces are big, bright, and bound to be adored. Baby Faces captures all the smiles, pouts, and goofy looks that make little faces so completely captivating.     Baby! Talk! by Penny Gentieu Photographs and simple text present a group of babies finding their feet, playing patty-cake, eating, hugging, and more.       Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, Clement Hurd (Illustrator) A little rabbit bids goodnight to each familiar thing in his moonlit room. Rhythmic, gently lulling words combined with warm and equally lulling pictures make this beloved classic an ideal bedtime book.       Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney, Anita Jeram (Illustrator) During a bedtime game, every time Little Nutbrown Hare demonstrates how much he loves his father, Big Nutbrown Hare gently shows him that the love is returned even more.     I Kissed the Baby! by Mary Murphy, Mary Elizabeth Murphy (Illustrator) News of the baby is buzzing from animal to animal, with each one boasting of seeing, feeding, singing to, tickling, and kissing the tiny thing. With bold illustrations, Murphy's simple, singsong story captures the commotion only a baby can bring.     I Love You Because You're You by Liza Baker, David McPhail (Illustrator) Describes, in rhyming text and illustrations, a mother's love for her child no matter how he feels or what he does.     Me Baby, You Baby by Ashley Wolff Simple rhyming text describes a day in the life of two babies as they greet the day, go to the zoo with their mothers, and return home at night.     Peek-A-Boo! by Roberta Grobel Intrater This six- inch board book contains ten page-size photographs of babies with various expressions on their faces. The author describes each expression with simple text appropriate for the youngest children. The book has several excellent features, including the use of a diverse group of children as models, and the use of large, distinct photos against a black background. Children will enjoy looking at the baby faces and will learn to connect the expression with the word that describes it.     Ruby In Her Own Time by Jonathan Emmett, Rebecca Harry (Illustrator) Mother Duck and Father Duck are worried about Ruby. As the littlest duckling of the family, she learns to eat and swim long after her four sisters and brothers. Father Duck frets that Ruby will never catch up, but Mother Duck calmly reassures him that Ruby will flourish -- "in her own time."     Time for Bed by Mem Fox, Jane Dyer (Illustrator) As darkness falls parents everywhere try to get their children ready for sleep.       Wow! Babies by Penny Gentieu A collection of photographs displaying human babies in a wide range of moods and situations.                Reading Home          Baby Reading          Toddler Reading          Preschooler Reading          Parent Reading
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