Books for Baby!

Remember that while babies aren't born book lovers, they are born learners. The more you read to them, the more they learn. They learn to love the feel of the pages in their hands (or their mouth), the sound of your voice, the beauty of the illustrations — the joy of a good book.

Newborns see things best from about a foot away — or the distance from your face to your baby's while you're holding him. So it's best to select books with high-contrast images. Black-and-white illustrations and patterns (stripes, polka dots, checkers) provide plenty of entertainment for infants of this age.

To stimulate older babies, look for books that require some manual dexterity. Lift-the-Flap, touch-and-feel books, and chunky board books sized for little hands are both fun and challenging.

Most babies do not have the attention span required for lengthy picture books, so stick to simple text and rhymes accompanied by vivid pictures. Also, sturdy construction is important — you want books that will last!

An infant friend reads his book in the indoor play area.

A friend in Infant 5 enjoys reading a book.