Board books were originally created with a specific purpose in mind. Unfortunately, in recent years this purpose has been lost and publishing companies are cashing in by printing books intended for older children into board book form. I find this incredibly frustrating. So here is my plea: let us refocus our attention on the original intentions of board books. Let’s start with what board books are not. Board books for Babies and Toddlers are not miniature versions of other children’s literature. Kevin Henkes’ Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse was never intended to be shrunken into board book form and read to a nine month old.
Board books are made of sturdy cardboard because of the age they are intended for, babies and toddlers. If you have ever been around a child under the age of three you know they are not the most graceful group of people. The sturdy nature of board books allows babies and toddlers the freedom to kinesthetically and orally explore this new form of communication without having to constantly replace the books due to torn (and eaten) pages. The small size of the books allows you to easily hold your baby and read at the same time.
The content of the books is just as important as the material in which they are made. Appropriate books for babies and toddlers should have simple illustrations and text that ranges from no words, to one word on a page to one sentence (or two at the most). First books that are ideal to read to babies have photographs of baby faces or black and white illustrations. You can begin to read to a baby as soon as he is able to focus and shows interest. The most important aspect of reading at this age is developing a genuine love of reading. Don’t make this a task or a flash card session. Snuggle your baby in close to you and look at the pictures, let your baby touch and taste the book. This is the time for exploration.
Two of my favorite board books for babies and toddlers
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Baby Animals Black and White: The simple black and white illustrations are perfect for babies whose eyesight is still developing. Your baby will squeal with delight at the different animals on each page (I know mine does!)
Baby Talk: Fantastic, simple photographs of babies portraying different emotions and simple text make this an excellent book to read to your little one.
As you and your baby continue to develop your love and excitement for books you can begin to introduce books that center on your babies’ every day environment, first word books and realistic animals books. Look for books that have simple colored photographs and labeling text. Two of my favorite books are part of the Bright Baby series.
First Words: Eye-catching photographs and simple one word labels make this a great book to share with your little one. My only gripe is that the font the Bright Baby series uses in its books does not use a print “a”.
Animals: Like the other books in this series the photographs are fantastic. The images will provide the perfect opportunity to try out your skills in making animal noises. Don’t worry, your baby will not judge- silly sounds are encouraged!
How do you know when to move on to more complex books? Listen and watch your baby. Babies are not shy about sharing their emotions. If your baby is enjoying a book she may pat the book energetically, chew on it, attempt to turn the pages, or shrill with delight. When you see these cues you can rest easy that, just like you, your baby is enjoying the moment. Your little man will also provide you with clues that he has had enough and is ready to take a break from reading. Look for cues like arching his back, turning his head away from the book, and shaking his head back and forth. Don’t take offense, your baby loves reading with you, but has a short attention span. When you begin to notice that your baby is enjoying these no word or one- word books you can try introducing simple text books. Just make sure you are always tuning into your baby’s cues to see if she is enjoying it. Building a love of reading starts now.
Books by Karen Katz are great for babies who are ready for more complex books. The joyful illustrations and age-appropriate story lines make them a favorite in our house. Two of our favorites are:
Daddy Hugs: Designed to be interactive, Katz walks the reader through a perfectly happy baby day from waking up to going to bed. Snuggle your baby in close and be prepared to share all the hugs from morning to night.
Mommy Hugs: This is the mommy version of Daddy Hugs. You can’t help
but smile when reading this book to your baby. Through word choice and illustrations Katz sums up the joy of being a mom and a dad. This is, hands down, my favorite night-time book.
As your baby continues to soar as a reader you can begin to expand your book choices, but keep those favorites around. Your baby will be comforted by the familiar illustrations and words. More advanced board books will have one to two sentences per page and more fluid story lines. Traditional favorites at this level include Goodnight Moon, Time for Bed, and Pat the Bunny. Here are three of my other favorite books for this developmental stage:
Moo, Baa, La La La: Sandra Boyton has a knack for getting straight to the heart of what little ones enjoy- all that is silly! Your baby will delight in hearing the familiar animal sounds and laugh at the absurdity of singing pigs. Fantastic illustrations make this a winner. Look for other books by Sandra Boyton too!
Pat-A-Cake: This book by Tony Kenyon is genius! Kenyon takes the familiar nursery rhyme and brings it to life through simple illustrations that depict the cake making steps and the hand motions that traditionally go along with this rhyme. A great way to incorporate nursery rhymes into your day if you are less familiar with the words.
Old MacDonald Had a Farm: I am obsessed with this book, as was my little boy! The traditional children’s song paired with Yoon’s cartoonish illustrations are a perfect match. Try singing the song as you point to the animals on each page.
As you make book choices for you and your baby remember that these early reading moments are to be enjoyable. The book experiences you share with your baby now are fostering a love of reading that will last a lifetime. What a gift! So pick up a book, snuggle your baby in close and start reading… you will both be smiling in seconds.
