What Types of Books Are Best for Babies? Tips for Infant Teachers
We have all heard that reading to babies is important, but it can also feel really awkward reading to a baby when they don’t understand what you are saying. Not to mention they are grabbing at the pages, trying to eat the book, or likely wiggling out of your lap. You may wonder, is this really doing anything?
The short answer, YES, yes it is doing something! Reading, even in short, wiggly bursts supports language, early literacy, bonding and attachment, and sensory exploration.
The key is choosing the right kinds of books that matches a babies developmental needs and capture their attention.
What to look for:
Questions to ask yourself:
Is there a sensory element? (sound, touch and feel, texture, etc.)
Is the book interactive?
Is the book short and simple?
Is there a sensory element? Books with sound makes reading a sensory experience and babies learn from exploring with their hands- hence why texture books are so important! Think touch-and-feel, crinkle pages, or fabric flaps.
Is the book interactive? Babies attention goes to where their hands go. So keep their hands busy! Look for lift a flaps, sliding doors, or mirrors to add an extra layer of engagement and encourage babies to participate in the story.
Is the book simple? One picture. One word. Babies are drawn to large colorful illustrations and high-contrast images and short and simple text helps keep them engaged from start to finish!
Book suggestions for babies 0-12 months
Click on the picture to grab new books for your class library
Click on the picture to grab new books for your class library
As a pediatric speech language pathologist and early intervention specialist who spends a lot of my time in child care classrooms every week, I’ve seen firsthand how the right books can transform the entire book reading experience.
If you’re looking for more practical strategies and hands-on ideas for building a literacy rich infant class, check out our training!
