It’s Never too Early to Read

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It’s Never too Early to Read By Melissa J Wantuck

It’s never too early to start reading to your children. The benefits you’ll give your child when you read to them will last a lifetime.

Here are our top picks for babies on up through toddler to help your child learn such things as language, basic sights and sounds. All of these books are available in the sturdy board book edition so your child can begin exploring the world of books as soon as they’re old enough to pick them up and turn the pages on their own.

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
This is a classic children’s book that generations of children have now grown up with. The bright pictures and simple words offer both a visually beneficial and fun experience. Consider also Big Red Barn by Brown. The sights and sounds of the farm are often the first ones an infant will learn.

Bright Baby Touch and Feel Animals box set by Priddy Books
This set of four books is an excellent addition to any children’s library. Each book contains a set of animals in the following categories: pets, farm animals, zoo animals and baby animals. Little fingers can explore the different animal textures from a soft puppy to a scaly fish as you read them a little rhyme describing each animal. Priddy Books also offers a large line of learning books from colors and shapes to trucks and cars.

The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Start teaching your young one counting as well as some delicious food with this fun book by Eric Carle. Exploring fingers can follow the hungry caterpillar through popular fruits and foods until it becomes a beautiful butterfly. Carle has also written and illustrated a plethora of other books. Any one of them you’ll find educational and enjoyable for you and your child.

Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt
This classic touch and feel uses simple rhyming language and basic items your child will become familiar with around the home.

Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
This book, and others in the series, presents a delightful story with various voices and noises you can mimic to entertain your young one.

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
Just like it’s never too early to read, it’s never to early to teach love and this sentimental story will endear both you and your child to its simplicity.

Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert
This colorful book will help kick-start your child’s knowledge of fruits and vegetables and encourage healthy eating habits as they learn the alphabet. This book is geared toward a toddler that has started recognizing different foods but it’s never too early to start this discussion with those that are younger.

Time for Bed by Mem Fox
This beautifully illustrated book is perfect to add to your child’s bedtime routine. The soft rhymes and visually pleasing illustrations featuring popular animal mothers and their babies will help rock your little one to sleep.

Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? by Dr. Seuss
You could stock your child’s bookshelves with all of the available Dr. Seuss books but start with this one. This rhythmical book teaches your child the most common first sounds that they’ll be able to relate to in their new world.