Reading Begins at Birth
It's Never Too Early to Start Reading to a Child!

• Your baby likes to hear your voice.
• Reading aloud may calm your baby.
• You help your baby focus his or her eyes.
• You teach your baby new words.
• You show your baby how to hold a book and turn pages.
• Reading to babies helps them succeed later when they go to school.
• It’s fun for both you and your baby!

First Books for Lap Reading

Tumble Me Tumbily
by Karen Baicker; illustrated by Sam Williams
Rhyming text describes a baby playing, eating, and going to sleep.

Goodnight Moon
by Margaret Wise Brown; pictures by Clement Hurd
Little rabbit says goodnight to each of the objects in the great green room.

The Everything Book
by Denise Fleming
This is a vibrant introduction to colors, shapes, numbers, and rhymes.

Time for Bed
by Mem Fox; illustrated by Jane Dyer
As darkness falls, parents get their children ready for sleep.

Baby Talk: A Book of First Words and Phrases
by Judy Hindley; illustrated by Brita Granström
Rhyming text describes the activities, words, and gestures in a baby's day.

Tickle Tickle
words by Dakari Hru; pictures by Ken Wilson-Max
A baby and father have fun playing together.

I Kissed the Baby!
by Mary Murphy
Various animals tell how they saw, fed, sang to, tickled, and kissed the new duckling.

The Baby Goes Beep
by Rebecca O’Connell; pictures by Ken Wilson-Max
A baby makes various sounds throughout the day.

Five Little Chicks
by Nancy Tafuri
Five chicks and their mother peck in the corn patch in search of breakfast.

Little White Duck
lyrics by Walt Whippo; music by Bernard Zaritzky; illustrations by Joan Paley
A little white duck causes a commotion in its pond.

I Went Walking
by Sue Williams; illustrated by Julie Vivas
During the course of a walk, a young child identifies animals of different colors.

Me Baby, You Baby
by Ashley Wolff
Rhyming text describes how two babies greet the day, go to the zoo with their mothers, and return home at night.

Books of Poems and Rhymes

Pat-a-Cake and Other Play Rhymes
compiled by Joanna Cole & Stephanie Calmenson; illustrated by Alan Tiegreen
Entertain and educate the baby with these action rhymes.

My Very First Mother Goose
edited by Iona Opie; illustrated by Rosemary Wells
Large pictures of animals illustrate more than sixty nursery rhymes.

This Little Piggy: Lap Songs, Finger Plays, Clapping Games, and Pantomime Rhymes
edited by Jane Yolen; illustrated by Will Hillenbrand; musical arrangements by Adam Stemple
This collection of action rhymes, songs, and games includes instructions.

Tips for Reading to Babies

• Hold the baby close and speak slowly.
• Choose simple, gentle, rhythmic books.
• Use nursery rhymes and simple songs.
• Pick wordless books or books with few words that allow you to talk about the pictures.
• Read to the baby when you are relaxed so that it will be a wonderful experience for both of you.

Board Books

Books with board pages are good for babies to handle on their own. Look for ones with

• rounded corners for safety;
• uncluttered pages;
• very few words;
• bright colors and high contrast;
• large, simple pictures.