Helpful Hints for Parents

What Young Children Like In Books

Infants 0 – 6 months

• Books with simple, large pictures or designs with bright colors
• Stiff cardboard, “chunky books”, or fold out books that can be propped up in crib
• Cloth and soft vinyl books with simple pictures of people or familiar objects that can go in the bath or can be washed

Infants 6 – 12 months

• Board books with photos of other babies, brightly colored books, and “chunky books” to touch
• Books with photos of familiar objects like balls and bottles
• Books with sturdy pages that can be propped up or spread out on a blanket
• Plastic/vinyl books for bath time
• Small plastic photo albums of family and friends

Young Toddlers

• Sturdy board books that can be carried easily
• Books with photos of children doing familiar things, like sleeping or playing
• Goodnight books for bedtime
• Books about saying hello and good-bye
• Animal books of all sizes and shapes
• Books with simple rhymes or predictable text
• Books with only a few words on the page

Toddlers 2 -3 years

• Books that tell simple stories/simple rhyming books that can be memorize
• Bed time books
• Books about counting, the alphabet, shapes or sizes
• Animal books, vehicle books, books about playtime
• Books with their favorite TV characters inside
• Books about saying hello and goodbye

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