Reading a baby or toddler book requires a little imagination on your part to get your child to really look at the book and begin to experience the joys reading can bring.
The typical baby or toddler book has few words and lots of colorful illustrations. The absence of a lengthy, complicated story is intentional — children this age aren’t ready for that. But just because the page might only have one word or one sentence, there is a whole array of things you can teach your child with every page you turn.
Take colors, for example. If your child is just learning about colors, point and talk about the pretty red flower, the green frog, on so on. Once your child is more familiar with colors, ask her to show you where the blue balloon is, or the yellow cat.
You can also do object identification on each page. If your child can’t speak yet, ask him to show you where the kitten is, or the butterfly.
Most importantly, be creative and use enthusiasm when you read to your child. No one likes a dull storyteller. And use your imagination when you’re reading books to your child. Before you know it you’ll be coming up with all sorts of creative ways to gets miles more out of those baby and toddler books than you ever thought possible.
Books to borrow
The following book is available at many public libraries:
“Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs!” written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton, 22 pages, board book
Read aloud: birth to age 3
Read yourself: age 6 to 7
Talented author and illustrator Sandra Boynton never seems to run out of ideas when it comes to books for our youngest readers.
Comical renditions of dinosaurs embellish every page of this book of opposites. Some dinosaurs are good while others are not. Some are big dinosaurs and some are small and so on. In every comparison of opposites, zany characters are found doing zany things — Boynton’s engaging, fun trademark.
Librarian’s choice
Library: Clinton Library, 4781 Deer Lake Road, Clinton
Director: Jonalyn Woolf-Ivory
Branch manager: Debby Colfer
Choices this week: “Where’s My Teddy?” by Jez Alborough; “Who Is the Beast?” by Keith Baker; “Because of Winn-Dixie” by Kate DiCamillo
Books to buy
“Baby! Baby!” by Vicky Ceelen, 24 pages, $6.99 board book
Read aloud: birth to age 3
Read yourself: age 6 to 7
Babies and toddlers are fascinated by photographs of other babies, and this sensational selection takes that concept and expands on it. Featuring adorable photographs of human and animal babies and their striking similarities, this wordless picture book provides numerous opportunities for learning.
“Pat the Bunny: Bunny Kisses” written and illustrated by PENK Inc., 14 pages, $9.99 board book
Read aloud: birth to age 3
Read yourself: age 6 to 7
Bunny has lots of friends and enjoys playing with them and taking care of them. Little children will love participating in the story by touching the silky red curtain, the pig’s pink tummy, the cat’s soft white fur, and more. Bunny also loves to give kisses to friends, and young readers will love to press the button and hear the sweet “kiss” sound on every page.
It’s a simple, loving story with lots of colors, objects, touch-and-feel and interactive opportunities.
Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children’s literature. She can be reached via e-mail: kendal@sunlink.net.
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