As your child gets older, the benefits of reading continue to grow. Reading with toddlers introduces literacy concepts, such as grammar and phonics, and boosts brain development. Most of all, reading is a special bonding time for parents and children. Especially for young babies, almost any book will do! But these beloved titles are good additions to baby’s first library. At least some of them should be sturdy board books so that your baby can handle them (and chew on them). That helps your baby learn about books too! With brightly colored images and lots of rhymes and repetition, this classic picture book is a great starter book for children. The question-and-answer format invites young listeners to participate in “reading” the book. This adorable, timeless classic is the story of a small teddy bear waiting on a department store shelf for a child’s friendship and a new home. He finds both and shares a beautiful lesson for young children. This story is well-loved by many for its stunning color and the interactive tale of a small caterpillar who eats too many sweets. Little fingers will enjoy poking the holes the caterpillar leaves behind as he munches his way through the story. The poetic story follows a little rabbit preparing for bed as he says goodnight to everything in his room, and the world outside his window. This classic bedtime story features black-and-white drawings alternating with the boldly colored illustrations of the room and is a wonderful bedtime book for young readers. This interactive and silly book teaches children opposites. It will get your child laughing along with the very expressive toddler who acts out each pair of food opposites with comically dramatic effect. Everyone knows that fathers wage a secret campaign to ensure that their babies’ first word is “Dada!” NBC’s “The Tonight Show” host, Jimmy Fallon, shows you how. From taking turns to saying you’re sorry, from trying not to be angry to giving a big hug, these simple gestures show that being kind feels good. Even a baby will want to try it. The pictures are adorable, and the book is a wonderful lesson in being a kind friend for kids and adults. Children who feel sad or scared when mom is not nearby will relate to Baby Llama’s need for comfort. Parents will appreciate Mama Llama’s reassuring message. This book is part of a big family of Llama Llama books, which are all rhyming stories with lovable characters and relatable situations. This alphabet book is a favorite of many parents. It helps familiarize children with letters in a silly way, with rhythmic text and bold, cheerful art. A parent’s love for their child cannot be measured. We know this, but do our little ones? How do we even go about explaining it? This charming book addresses that very question and gives parents a place to start when it comes to trying to convey their love in words.
