Choosing the Right Book for Your Child, Birth Through Age 5

Books open up a world of fantasy, interaction, knowledge and creativity, weaving diversity into the fabric of children's everyday lives. But, how do children use books in learning to read?
Did you know that the process of reading which involves an understanding of stories, print and how books work, begins as early as in the first year of life? Interestingly, various paths are traced with different skills and likes emerging at different ages.

Ages 0-1:

Fascinated with pictures, especially of familiar people.

Features liked:

Sturdy books with vivid pictures
One picture per page
Elements of surprise (squeak etc.)
Tactile quality (pat, feel)
Inserts for child's photograph


Ages 1-3:

Experiments with turning pages - forward, backward, then closing book to begin again. This activity leads to labelling.

Points to and touches pictures, providing labels themselves.

Searches for objects in pictures that are missing.

Phases with books - one week will want to be read to all the time, next week will fling a book if approached.

Some enjoy looking at pictures, some matching games, some naming, some noises pictures make.

Most popular book is the family album as they recognise people first followed by events.

End of the second year, begin to describe what is happening in pictures and in the process making connections from one page to the next.

End of second year begin to identify books by their covers.

Features liked:

Sturdy pages, easy to hold and turn
Bright, attractive, distinct, repetitive illustrations
Illustrations that attract sound effects and lend themselves to games
Stories about familiar objects (family, animals, food, cars, things around the house), everyday routines, needs, about calamities like breaking things, making a mess
Books that can be manipulated and with a tactile quality (buttons, hooks, fill ins etc)

Ages 3-5:

Enjoys being read aloud to.