Parents hear all the time how important it is to have books at home and read them, even if a listening infant can’t make out the words or understand the story. Reading aloud to young children is an important part of fostering their love for books, promoting early literacy, and expanding their vocabulary knowledge. Reading plays an essential role in their social and emotional development. But when it comes to selecting titles your little ones will love, there are a few tested strategies to point you in the right direction while still offering enough flexibility to make off-the-shelf book decisions that appeal to your personal interests. The Kiddie Academy cheat sheet to building a baby library is below and its recommendations are based on the types of books Kiddie Academy includes in its curriculum, as well as how the curriculum guides teachers to select books for their classroom libraries.
