Why read to your child?

Parents need to feed, clothe, and read to their children every day. Reading is just as important to your child's well-being and cognitive development as food and clothing. Scientists have proven a connection between reading and brain cell development, especially early in your child's life.

Although it seems as if babies are too young to comprehend what is read to them, it is crucial that they receive this stimulation. At all ages reading aloud to a child also widens awareness of the world, improves present and future reading skills, and sparks his/her imagination. Also essential is the bonding that occurs between parent and child while reading together; a genuine pleasure for the whole family. Children benefit exponentially from a steady diet of reading. Such a simple thing reaps huge rewards.

Favorite Reading Resources

Here are some great read-alouds:

Birth to 6 Months
White on Black by Tana Hoban
Tickle, Tickle by Helen Oxenbury
Itsy Bitsy Spider by Rosemary Wells
Animal Crackers by Jane Dyer
Maisy's Colors by Lucy Cousins
Zoom City by Thatcher Hurd
Moo, Baa, La, La, La by Sandra Boynton

6 to 12 Months
Baby Faces by Margaret Miller
Max's Bath by Rosemary Wells
Time for Bed by Mem Fox
Count With Maisy by Lucy Cousins
Arthur's Farm by Marc Brown
More, More, More, Said the Baby by Vera Williams
The Wheels on the Bus by Raffi

Toddler and Preschool Ages
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr.
Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? by Nancy White Carlstrom
Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Maisy's Colors by Lucy Cousins

Here are some excellent sites listing reading recommendations for older children:

Beginning Readers: http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/jensen2.htm

By Genre: http://www.freep.com/fun/books/books13_19991213.htm

Award Winners: http://www.ala.org/alsc/awards.html

*The North Shore Library is not responsible for content of external websites.

Tips for Reading Aloud

1. Make reading enjoyable for you and your child! Find a comfortable spot, and read books that you like. Ask a librarian if you're not sure. Board books work well for babies, preschoolers enjoy picture books, and older children will delight in picture books and novels.

2. Focus on your child and the book. Turn off the TV. Ask interactive questions, to keep the child's interest, but don't interrupt the storyline too much. Very young children can point to objects on the page. Older children may answer to questions such as, "What if?", "What do you think will happen?", "Why did that character do that?", and "What was your favorite part?"

3. Make reading a regular part of your day. A good time to read is before naps and bedtime. Books also help young children wait in lines and for appointments.

4. Use an animated voice to dramatize the story. You may want to change your voice to match each character, and make sounds and faces.

5. When to start reading aloud? Now. Even babies benefit from books, especially Mother Goose rhymes. Whatever your child's age, choose materials appropriate to their developmental stage. Look for bright colors, high contrast (black and white, for example), and simple pictures. Children love to see other children their own age, who take part in activities your child has experienced. Explain the story just a bit before reading, and relate it to your child's life.

6. If your child doesn't seem interested in listening, be aware that children absorb information even if not sitting attentively. Read books while your child is playing with toys, and they may surprise you by asking about the books later.

7. Tell stories, sing, and read as much as possible to your child.

8. Be sure to visit the library with your child.