Hello parents, guardians and caregivers!
Librarian Liz here! Today we will go over some board books to read to your little one! Board books are a great introduction to reading for babies and toddlers. They are a safer alternative to regular books because babies cannot rip or tear the pages. They fit great in their hands and can take more wear and tear than typical books can.
Board books can help to nurture a love of reading. As Ms. Debra said in her “Importance of Reading” video (if you haven’t seen it yet, go check it out! It is up on our YouTube page), board books can create a safe environment where your child can explore the book, which can help to foster curiosity and jump-start a child’s love for reading. Reading at a young age with your child can also help the bond between you and your child and help create a sense of closeness, and also help develop your child’s fine motor skills and visual understanding, which is the ability to discern the shapes and details of the things you see. Board books are a great way to give your child the space to develop those skills without worrying about harming the book.
When you read books to your child, you can point out different colors, shapes, objects, and people to help them identify. You can ask them questions like “Where is the ball?” and have them point to the answer. If they have begun to talk, you can ask them questions they can verbally answer, like “What colors do you see?” You can act out parts of the book or use props such as stuffed animals to engage your child further. Even if your child is only grabbing and turning pages, they are already learning a lot from the book.
Here are some of my favorite board books to read to babies and toddlers anytime, anywhere!
Karen Katz is one of my favorite children’s authors. Her books are always a fun, interactive experience for you and your little one. I especially like this series because there are other books for different caregivers. Mommy Hugs features images of activities you can do (and probably already do) with your child. It’s fun to point them out or even act them out with your little one. If your baby or toddler is counting, Katz includes numbers so you can count with your child.
Little Plane is one of our smaller board books, which are perfect for a baby to hold. Throughout the book, Gomi asks different questions that you can ask your child, or if your little one is too little for questions, they can follow along as the little plane takes a journey through the skies. Gomi has also written Little Truck and Little Boat if you want to go over different vehicles with your child.
Summertime by Jane Foster
Summertime is a simple book about things you may see during the summer. With big letters and one-three words per page, Summertime is perfect for learning to associate words with pictures. If your child is not ready for words, Foster includes colorful illustrations that make it easy to identify colors and shapes with your child. Foster has other similar books for subjects like pets as well.
Looking Good! By Ailie Busby
I love reading this one to babies because of the flaps! Little ones love to flip up the flaps and see what we have in common with the animals in the book! The large, bold text makes it easy for little ones to recognize the letters and maybe even some words. Busby identifies physical features we have in common with the animals, making it a great way to learn about body parts!
Who doesn’t love a book with different textures in it? Textures are a great way to engage your child in the book. You can ask your toddler questions about what they feel or just let your baby feel away! This book also features lots of animals you can identify and feel with your child.
This is another one of my favorite authors for board books. Patricelli creates stories with expressive colors, shapes, and emotions. In this book, the baby wonders where to go potty and how to do it. This book is perfect for potty training your child, whether you are introducing the concept or already in the middle of training. Patricelli has books for other situations as well, such as taking a bath and going to bed.
Dickson created a simple, beautifully illustrated story with an important message: how to share. The words are bold and straightforward, and the illustrations are full of expression, making it easy to ask your child questions about the book. Books that teach important concepts like sharing make for great storytime books for toddlers.
At the Plainsboro Public Library, we have an extensive collection of board books, including many more favorites. Board books are a great way to introduce reading to your child, and I hope you come to visit us and pick out some fantastic board books for you and your child to read and enjoy!