Birth to 6 months: Baby enjoys picture books with large, simple illustrations in bright, bold colors. Offer baby interactive books such as those with mirrors, peepholes, or puppets.
7 to 12 months: Baby delights in hearing simple stories, rhymes, or songs. He also loves to hear familiar words like “Mommy,” “Dog,” or “Milk.” Point to a picture baby seems interested in and he will most likely engage in conversation by babbling back to you!
13 to 18 months: Now you can progress to books with one or two sentences per page. Ask baby simple questions such as “What is this?” and you may be delighted to hear her answer “ball!” Respond to her by expanding her vocabulary “Yes, that’s a big, round ball.” Make reading even more enjoyable with silly sounds: “Moo” for a cow or “Vroom" for a car.
19 to 24 months: Don’t be surprised to find yourself reading the same book over and over! Your child loves repetition and experts say this is actually good for developing his vocabulary.
As your child grows, give her the opportunity to choose books that are of interest to her. By simply allowing her to foster a love and respect for books, you are giving her a head start for success later in life.
