Readto

YourBaby

Tips and Ideas forSharing Books withYour Growing Child

From Pierce County LibrarySystem’s Youth ServicesDepartment

“Every hug. Every lullaby. Every kiss. Every peek-a-boo.Every word. Every touch. Every warm blanket. Every giggle.Every smile. Everything you do in these first three yearsbecomes a part of them.”

- New York Times, April 22, 1997

Pierce County Library System Youth Services Department 4/02 (200M)

(253) 636-6500 piercecountylibrary.org

Congratulations!

Your new and growing baby will bring joy to you and your family.Your little one is learning all the time! Because of new research, wenow know that babies’ brains grow and change very rapidly. Talking,singing, and cuddling with your baby will deepen your relationship,help with later learning, and provide fun for both of you!

The Youth Services Librarians at Pierce County Library System want tohelp you and your baby get off to a good start. This booklet providestips, suggested books, and simple language activities you can use withyour baby and toddler, right from the start!

We hope that you and your little onewill visit the library soon.

Why Read to Babies?

Because babies who are read to:

• Get to cuddle with their favorite person: YOU!

• Discover that books are fun

• Become good listeners

• Are likely to become good readers and succeed in school

• Understand their world better

• Experience beautiful art in picture books

It’s never too early to begin reading to a child. Even though your babydoesn’t understand words, her brain is making connections from whatshe hears you say.

Reading, rocking, and cuddling calms your child and helps her associ-ate reading with love and contentment.

You can read anywhere! Tuck a few books in baby’s diaper bag toread together at the clinic, doctor’s office, or on the bus. Don’t besurprised if nearby children want to listen, too! 1

Tips for Choosing BooksBabies enjoy books with:

• Clear, brightly colored pictures• Simple words• Pictures of familiar things, such as clothing, animals, and other

babies• Rhythm and rhyme

Choose board books. These are made of sturdy cardboard and makegood first books for babies.

As your child grows, he will be able to understand and enjoy longerbooks with pictures and stories.

Your public library is a great place to borrow fun books for free! At thelibrary, ask the Youth Services Librarian for help in choosing books toshare with your growing child.

Attend storytime programs with your child. The librarian carefullychooses books to read to the age group in attendance, and willprovide other good books for you to borrow.

Tips for Reading Aloud

• Expect your baby to pay attention for very short periods of time.Her attention span will increase as you read and she grows!

• Choose books that you enjoy• Read and reread your baby’s favorites (children learn from

repeated activities)• Turn off the radio and TV while you are reading• Set aside time every day for reading together• Help your baby participate in the story by making sounds and

doing motions• Keep reading to your child throughout childhood and into the

teen years• Share family stories with your child• Keep a collection of children’s books and magazines in a special

place at home• Be a reader yourself. Babies and children need good role models!

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Nursery Rhymes and Mother GooseBabies love the sound of the human voice and respond well to rhythms.Chanting rhymes can be a part of daily routines such as bathing,dressing, mealtime, and bedtime.

Books to Share:

Animal Crackers: A Delectable Collection of Pictures, Poems, Songs,and Lullabies by Jane Dyer

Here Comes Mother Goose edited by Iona Opie

Hippety-Hop, Hippety-Hay: Growing with Rhymes from Birth toAge Three by Opal Dunn

Little Boy Blue and Other Rhymes by Iona Opie

Lucy Cousins Book of Nursery Rhymes by Lucy Cousins

My Very First Mother Goose edited by Iona Opie

Sylvia Long’s Mother Goose illustrated by Sylvia Long

Tomie de Paola’sMother Goose

illustrated byTomie de Paola

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Music and SongsBabies are never too young to be introduced to music. Soothing lulla-bies and playful nursery songs broaden your baby’s experiences withlanguage and sounds.

Books to Share:

The Bear Went Overthe Mountain

by Rosemary Wells

Five Little Ducksby Raffi

Hush Little Babyby Sylvia Long

Little White Duckby Walt Whippo

Recordings to Share:

Baby Face (CD)by Georgiana Stewart

Diaper Gym: FunActivities for Babies onthe Move

by Priscilla Hegner(Cassette or CD)

Little Songs for Little Me:Activity Songs for0-5 Years.

by Nancy Stewart (CD)

Mainly Mother Gooseby Sharon, Lois, and Bram (Cassette or CD)

Singable Songs for the Very Youngby Raffi (Cassette or CD)

Wee Sing for Babyby Pamela Conn Beall (Book with Cassette or CD)

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Simple Stories Reading to babies nurtures a love for books and creates a connectionbetween you and your baby. Read your child’s favorite books againand again and again!

Books to Share:

All Fall Down by Helen Oxenbury

Baby Faces by Margaret Miller

Baby! Talk! by Penny Gentieu

Baby’s Word Book by Sam Williams

Big Fat Hen by Keith Baker

Black on White by Tana Hoban

Good Morning, Baby by Cheryl Willis Hudson

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

I See by Rachel Isadora

Show Me! by Tom Tracy

Spots, Feathers, and Curly Tails by Nancy Tafuri

Where Does MaisyLive? by Lucy Cousins

Where is Baby’s BellyButton? by Karen Katz

Where’s Spot?by Eric Hill

Babybug (Magazine)

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Help for ParentsYou may wish to increase your knowledge about your baby’s growthand development. The library has many books that can help.

Books to Try:

Complete Baby and Child Care by Miriam StoppardParenting Guide to Your Baby’s First Year by Anne KruegerWhat to Expect the First Year by Arlene EisenbergYour Baby and Child: From Birth to Age Five by Penelope LeachYour Newborn and You by Anna McGrailYour One-Year-Old by the Editors of Parents Magazine and

Teri Crawford JonesYour Two-Year-Old: Terrible or Tender by Louise Bates Ames

Magazines:

Mothering (Magazine)Parenting (Magazine)

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Games and Activities

Babies and toddlerslove playful interac-tion. Playing move-ment games withyour baby helps withmuscle coordinationand physical skill.Play is children’swork; it’s how theydiscover the world!You can guide yourbaby to safe explo-ration of her environ-ment by enjoyinggames together.

Books to Try:

125 Brain Games for Babies: Simple Games to PromoteEarly Brain Development by Jackie Silberg

Baby Days: Activities, Ideas, and Games by Barbara Rowley

Baby Games: the Joyful Guide to Child’s Play from Birth to Three Yearsby Elaine Martin

Baby’s Game Book by Isabel Wilner

Games Babies Play: From Birth to Twelve Months by Vicki Lansky

How to Talk to Your Baby: A Guide to Maximizing Your Child’sLanguage and Learning Skills by Dorothy P. Dougherty

Knock at the Door and Other Baby Action Rhymes by Kay Chorao

Learning Activities for Infants and Toddlers by Stan Wonderley

Simple Steps: Developmental Activities for Infants, Toddlers,and Two-Year-Olds by Karen Miller

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Knee BouncersFor most of these activities, seat your child on your lap facing you, orrest your child with her back to you.

Mama and Papa and Uncle John (bounce child on knees)Went to the market one by one. Mama fell off! (tip child to the left)Papa fell off! (tip child to the right)But Uncle John went on and on. (continue bouncing)

This is the way the baby rides, (bounce child on knees - withThe baby rides, the baby rides. each new verse bounce childThis is the way the baby rides, faster)So early in the morning. This is the way the farmer rides...This is the way the jockey rides...

Trot, trot, trot to Boston (bounce child on knees - lastTrot, trot, trot to Lynn line let child slip through knees)Look out baby - don’t fall in!

Shoe the little horse (pat child’s left foot)Shoe the little mare (pat child’s right foot)But let the little colt (bicycle child’s feet around Run free everywhere. and around)

Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up horsey (bounce child on knees - lastGiddy-up, giddy-up, go, go, go. line let child slip through knees)Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up horseyGiddy-up, giddy-up, Whoa!

I bounce you here, I bounce you there, (bounce child on knees)I bounce you, bounce you, everywhere.I tickle you here, I tickle you there, (tickle child)I tickle you, tickle you, everywhere.I hug you here, I hug you there, (hug child)I hug you, hug you, everywhere!

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Bump downtown in my little red wagon, (bounce child on knees)Bump downtown in my little red wagon,Bump downtown in my little red wagon,Won’t you be my darling?

I’m bouncing, bouncing everywhere, (bounce child on knees - last lineI bounce and bounce into the air. let child slip through knees)I’m bouncing, bouncing like a ball,I bounce and bounce, then down I fall.

There was a little bird (bounce child on knees - last line And his name was Jack. let child slip through knees.)He flew into the barn. He flew into the crack!

Here we go up, up, up (lift child’s legs up)Here we go down, down, down (lower child’s legs down)Here we go backward and forward (rock child backward and

forward)And here we go round and round. (bicycle child’s legs in air)

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TicklersThese little activities are wonderful for quiet times or tight spaces likewaiting rooms and car rides - and often bring smiles and laughter.

Round and round the garden (make circle in child’s hand)Went the teddy bearOne step, two steps (fingers walk up child’s arm)Tickle you under there (tickle child under arm)

These are baby’s fingers, (touch child’s fingers)These are baby’s toes, (touch child’s toes)This is baby’s belly button, (touch child’s tummy)Round and round it goes! (tickle child’s tummy)

Hickory Dickory DockThe mouse ran up the clock (fingers run up child’s arm)The clock struck one (give child loud kiss)The mouse ran down (fingers run down arm)Hickory Dickory Dock.

Hurry scurry little mouseStarts down at your toes. (touch child’s toes)Hurry scurry little mousePast your knees he goes. (touch child’s knees)Hurry scurry little mousePast where your tummy is. (touch child’s tummy)Hurry scurry little mouseGives you a mousy kiss. (give child loud kiss)

Knock on the door, (knock on child’s forehead)Peek in, (open child’s eye wider)Unlock the latch, (push tip of child’s nose up)Walk right in. (walk fingers into child’s mouth)How do you do Mr. Chin, Chin, Chin? (tickle child under chin)

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Let’s go to the forestWhat will we do there? (point to mother - could beFind our mother. mother or father or What will we do with her? grandmother, etc.)Kiss her, kiss her, kiss her! (give child kisses)

This little piggy went to the market (wiggle each finger or toe perThis little piggy stayed home line, or you can wiggle child’sThis little piggy had roast beef whole arm and leg, oneThis little piggy had none for each line ending withAnd this little piggy ran, tickle on last line.)

wee, wee, wee, wee, weeAll the way home.

K

Visit your local public library!

• It’s a free source of books to share with your children.

• It offers story programs for families.

• Its staff can help you find library resources for the whole family.

This booklet is brought to you by the Youth Services Departmentof Pierce County Library System.

Visit our website at www.pcl.lib.wa.us

For your public library call: ___________________________________

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Remembering Baby’s . . .

First trip to the library _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Favorite Book _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Favorite Song _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Favorite Rhyme _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Favorite Knee Bouncer _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Favorite Tickler _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Favorite Color _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Doctor’s Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Doctor’s Phone Number _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _