What should I read? And how should I read with my child?

Babies like books with bright colors, pictures of other babies, and clear pictures that don't have a lot of clutter.

Toddlers love books with simple stories, bright, clear and sometimes humorous illustrations, the same words repeated over and over, stories with humor, pictures of animals, predictability, stories to participate in, and lots of everyday objects. Later on your child will love adventure stories, stories that take place in faraway lands, books with facts about nature, sports, how things work and other cultures.

In addition to the books featured in Especially for Dads, we've compiled book lists of great books for babies, toddlers (1-3 years) and preschoolers (3-5 years).

Some reading tips:

Read anytime, anywhere. Bring books with you when you go places where you might have to wait—the doctor's office or even to the supermarket.

Read when you have a "captive" audience: Read books to your baby in the high chair, or to your toddler during meals or bathtime.

Talk to your child about the books you're reading: Ask questions about the pictures and talk about what the characters are doing.

If you learn a rhyme or song from a book, sing it to your child when you're in the car, changing his/her diaper, or playing inside or outside.

Make reading fun: Don't quiz your child about a book or force him/her to listen to or finish a book. Some children like to do something else while you read, like play with blocks or draw. This doesn't mean they're not paying attention.

Read the same books over and over again.

Turn off the TV, radio and video games. Make it quiet enough so everybody—adults and children—can read and talk together.

privacy policy         terms of use         about us        contact us         your account         site map