Publisher Close Up: Barefoot Books

Many of my friends ask me for board book recommendations for their toddlers (specifically 18-36 months). These parents are looking for more sophisticated content but know their children cannot hold back the temptation of ripping thin paperbacks. I am constantly suggesting board books published by Barefoot Books and decided to showcase them for all my readers today (conveniently just in time for gift-giving season)! They have amazing titles to choose from, all with appropriate texts and vibrant illustrations that are sure to be your new go-to books for story time. Here are some examples that have become staples in my own home:

Alligator Alphabet

By: Stella Blackstone

Before you even begin to go through the names of animals in alphabetical order, take a look at the end papers of this board book. They are so colorful and inviting they are sure to excite any toddler about the alphabet! The text and illustrations are simple and rhythmic, the perfect combination for a little one learning letters and names of animals. As a parent and educator (of sorts), I appreciate the presence of both the capital and lower case letter on each page right next to each other for children to see both forms of the letters. The book also lends itself to singing when you get to the last page. So now that you know about this version of the ABCs, next time won’t you read this book with your toddler?

One Moose, Twenty Mice

By: Clare Beaton

While counting all the different animals on each page of this board book, there is a little game of hide and seek to be played that is sure to excite and engage the reader. This counting book is rare in that it counts from one to twenty and really pushes the idea that children can absorb anything, so why stop counting at ten? Children will clearly be able to identify the number as well as the spelling each number on each page and will also have a great time telling you what kinds of familiar items the illustrator used to add character to each item on the page. Clare Beaton has a unique illustration technique in all of her books. She sews fabric and uses beads, buttons and sequins for detailing. It is always bright and inviting for children of all ages. Go out and get counting!

Big and Small

By: Britta Teckentrup

Teaching the concept of opposites is extremely popular during the toddler years. Big and Small has an interesting approach to the typical book about differences. Everything in the book is either big or little but the connections to understand the two pictures lends itself to a much bigger educational opportunity. For example, on one page there is an apple and next to it is a seed. Obviously the apple is the bigger object and the seed is the small one, but a child will notice the seed is inside a cut-up apple and this also gives the reader the opportunity to teach that seeds are planted and then grow into apples. Pretty sophisticated for a toddler board book! The book is filled with colorful, bold illustrations and has far more to offer than just building vocabulary and itemizing things that are large or small.

Bear About Town

By: Stella Blackstone

By the time a child turns two, they are usually familiar with places they go to most often. The street of the park before they actually see the swings, when you turn the corner on to the block you live on, usually the child will verbalize they are aware of their surroundings. This book has the reader tag along with Bear as he shows us where he goes on a weekly basis. While some places may be more familiar to a child than others (the playground vs. the movie theater), this book has a map of Bear’s town on the last page that makes this a remarkable teaching tool about a neighborhood. A child can literally trace Bear’s daily journeys and see how he gets to each place every day. It may even inspire you to create with your little one your own map of the popular places you go to together. (My son personally uses it as a road for his toy cars to drive on, to each his own!)

Elusive Moose

By: Joan Gannij

This is definitely not your typical animal story. Set in the North woods, a narrator is searching for a moose. Can you spot one each page? Clare Beaton illustrates this book in her typical fashion of felt, beads and buttons and encourages readers to explore a region they may be very unfamiliar with. An opportunity to teach about different types of footprints and Northern wildlife stem from this beautiful little book.

    

Clare Beaton's Rhyming Series

Clare Beaton combines popular and not as familiar verses in all of these beautifully illustrated board books. They are fun to read and inviting to look at. Our personal favorites are Animal Rhymes and Bedtime Rhymes. Children will definitely start chanting these rhymes over and over! 

Hanukkah Titles You Want This Holiday Season!

As the holidays roll around, gift giving is on everyone's mind. In the spirit of the holidays, give the gift of a wonderful holiday themed book! Here are two new ones they are sure to love!

Simon and the Bear

By: Eric Kimmel

The Hanukkah story is full of miracles. A small group of Jews defeating a large army of Greeks and oil for burning candles that should have only lasted one day that lasted for eight are just two of the many wonders that occurred. In Simon and the Bear, Simon is reminded that Hanukkah is coming just as he begins his voyage to America from the old country. His mother’s last words are; “You may need a miracle on your long journey”. Thus begins Simon’s adventure and his own small miracles. He receives the last ticket for the boat and when the boat hits an iceberg, Simon is left stranded and finds his prayers for salvation answered by a large white bear.

It is always refreshing to read a new holiday tale that reinforces the belief that small miracles can happen to anyone anywhere. Simon’s story is that of the Maccabees. In the face of hardship, he does not lose his faith and is saved in the most miraculous way. Children of all ages will enjoy this story and want to read it all year round. Mathew Trueman illustrates the book beautifully. He does a wonderful job depicting day and night and highlighting the candles in the darkness. The reader is connected with Simon on his entire frightful journey and the artwork on the last pages defines what Hanukkah is truly about: Family, presents and latkes (potato pancakes). (Just Kidding!) Family, tradition and appreciation for the small miracles in our lives every day.

The Night before Hanukkah

By: Natasha Wing

For any Jewish child that wanted their own version of The Night before Christmas, the book has arrived and it does not disappoint! Join this young brother and sister as they highlight all of the traditions celebrated on this holiday over the course of eight nights. They play Dreidel, open presents, and eat latkes (potato pancakes) and jelly donuts. The family retells the miraculous story of the Maccabees, eat chocolate coins and of course, light the Menorah for eight days. With vibrant pictures of a real-life Hanukkah experience, this book is sure to bring a smile to every reader. A Happy Hanukkah should be had by all, and to all, a good night! 

BLIZZARD

  

BLIZZARD

By: John Rocco

As the Winter weather approaches, the most fitting book of the season is Blizzard by John Rocco. In case you are unfamiliar with John Rocco and his work, I highly recommend you take a look at Blackout. Yes, above is a picture of me with the author at Book Expo America 2014!

Blizzard is the story of the major snowstorm that hit New England in 1978. People were home-bound for days and one brave boy heads out into the freezing cold to buy food and supplies for his family and neighbors. The store is over a mile away from the boy's house and with tennis rackets on his feet the boy successfully helps his town survive the storm. Readers of all ages are truly going to love this journey. Anyone who has ever gone through a blizzard can relate to the story and the pictures. The most exciting pages in the book are fold-outs of the route the boy takes from his home to the store. It is beautifully and perfectly illustrated with stops the boy makes along the way and footprints in the snow as well as the driveways that are shoveled. John Rocco knows how to take a moment in history and make it relevant and exciting to revisit over and over again. I am sure as we head into our first school closings because of snow this will be the go-to read-aloud in many classrooms! I know it will definitely be read in all of mine!

Keep A Look Out For These Upcoming Picture Books!

Get excited for some of these upcoming picture books, you definitely do not want to miss them!

FROG AND FLY 
By: Jeff Mack

It is a common fact that Frogs eat flies and this book is a reminder of just how much. The simple and bright illustrations along with the thought and talking bubbles make this a thoroughly enjoyable read-aloud and a wonderful easy-reader for beginners. The book is broken down into six short interactions between Frog and Fly and though Frog seems to take the win the end is sure to make you smile when you see how Fly gets the last laugh. Frog’s expressions truly bring this story to life and is the perfect tie in to a unit about frogs, amphibians or the food chain. It is sure to be a crowd pleaser for all children.

READY RABBIT GETS READY

By: Brenna Maloney

Anyone who has ever encountered a morning with a toddler can relate to this book. As a parent or caregiver who needs to get out of the house to get anywhere on time is sure to run into the problem of the toddler having more important things to do and Ready Rabbit is no different. Ready Rabbit is well aware that he needs to get up and get ready for the day but he really needs to build space ships and ride his motorcycle because that is much more important than eating breakfast or brushing his teeth. Young children will immediately connect with Ready Rabbit and find they have similar morning routines and the same adventurous interests. What is most appealing about Ready Rabbit is the illustrations on every page. Rabbit himself is a sock puppet and the pictures of the toys around his house are toys children all own including Legos, dinosaurs, animals and more. Rabbit’s imagination is sure to spark creativity to all is sure to be fans, so be prepared for the newest excuses of why your own toddler is not ready for school on time!

LITTLE BABY BUTTERCUP

By: Linda Ashman

If a toddler could write up a summary of a typical day in her life, this book would be the result. Ashman does not miss a beat highlighting daily toddler routine. Starting with morning breakfast she moves on to playing before heading outdoors in rain or shine. Ashman highlights the most popular parts of the playground and the way toddlers love to “help” with chores. Ashman reminds adults that despite a little mess from time to time, a parent truly loves every minute spent with their little one no matter what. Byun’s illustrations are bright and lively and go hand in hand with the text. This book is the perfect read aloud to share with your little one, especially if they are old enough to verbally express the shared similarities between the book and their own everyday routine. I personally cannot wait to share this book with my own children!

BY MOUSE AND FROG

By: Deborah Freedman

Mouse is trying to write a story and his friend Frog has better ideas of what should be happening in Mouse’s tale. A lesson in collaboration and friendship, By Mouse and Frog is the perfect read-aloud for any preschool class. The most entertaining part of the story is when Frog gets carried away and starts quoting other famous children’s books. Children will love spotting lines from the Pigeon series by Mo Willems, Goodnight Moon, Chicken Little, Are You My Mother and more! The pictures compliment the dialogue perfectly making this sure to be an instant favorite that parents will not mind reading over and over.

Picture Books To Get Kids To Explore Writing...

With new core curriculum standards changing what children are learning in the classroom, it is important to make sure every boring element has something fun and exciting to look forward to. I am sure no kid thinks reading a paragraph and writing a response to it is any fun, but maybe if a class reads a book about writing, it may prompt a different sentiment towards a response assignment. Here are three great examples of books that can go far beyond a read-aloud and would make for excellent follow up writing assignments.

The Day the Crayons Quit - Drew Daywalt

Duncan wants to color but unfortunately his crayons have other plans for him. They believe they have some “issues” that must be resolved before Duncan can be free to outline and draw. Readers of all ages are going to fall in love with this book and insist it be read over and over again. The “complaints” of each crayon actually seem justified and anyone who has ever used a crayon will understand where it is coming from whether you are five or fifty-five. Oliver Jeffers does an amazing job illustrating this picture book and truly brings these crayons to life. If you have not already invested in a copy of this book, now is the time. It should be a staple when teaching the colors in preschool and early elementary school classes, as it lends itself to going far beyond the book to color, create and really use one’s imagination. You can even get ideas of how to utilize this book in a class setting from the Penguin Educator’s Guide: http://www.penguin.com/static/images/yr/pdf/CrayonsGuide.pdf. #SavetheCrayons !

Ten Thank You Letters - Daniel Kirk

Dear Mr. Kirk,

Thank you for reminding us all about the power and beauty of the thank-you note. There is no greater feeling than appreciation and no better way to show it than through words expressed on a piece of paper. What a wonderful way to weave together proper etiquette and writing lessons into one fun package at school, a library or at home.

Love,

Francie

Pig is an adorable character who is trying to write a thank-you note to his Grandmother for a gift he received but is continuously interrupted by his friend Rabbit who is inspired to write a few thank-you notes of his own. Rabbit’s letters are hilarious, specifically who he is writing to and why he is thanking them. However, Pig’s letter really sends the message home on how to write the perfect thank-you note. What an amazing book to open the door for each reader to write a thank-you note of their own!

The Book With No Pictures - BJ Novak

Have you heard of BJ Novak? He is famous from the hit television show The Office. Therefore, there is no person more fitting to write a children’s book than a comedic writer with really famous friends like Mindy Kaling. In all seriousness, this is a really fun book to read to an audience of young children. The concept is simple, there are no pictures in this book and it is simply made up of words, (if you can call them all “words”). BJ Novak creates the perfect opportunity for a child to laugh out loud while hearing a book be read to them. Even though there are no illustrations, the funny words and phrases are written in different colored texts and different fonts so the book does not even look like something that could be remotely boring with just text. The end-papers are decorated with his silly new vocabulary words that are guaranteed to take on a world of their own. Everyone will want to read this book over and over again. This book is a great tie in to an assignment of writing your own book, as it truly demonstrates that anything you put down on paper can be a “story”. BONK.

Happy Reading and even happier writing!

Favorite Board Books These Days...

Here are my favorite board books that have been recently published. Both you and your youngest reader are going to love them!

    

Spot Goes Shopping - Eric Hill

Who doesn’t love Spot the puppy? He is on an adventure with his mother to the grocery store and what fun it is to watch them shop! The different groceries are easily discernable and the text lends itself to really expand a child’s vocabulary about different things bought in a supermarket. A great example is when Spot’s mother holds orange juice and asks Spot if he would like to buy it and he holds oranges and says “Can we make our own?” The oranges are next to lemons and grapes and when I read this to my three year old I asked him what would be made if Spot held the grapes and my son deduced it would make grape juice and the lemons would make lemon juice. The only thing better than the bright pictures and Spot’s enthusiasm is the opportunity this book creates for a child and their parent to create a shopping list of their own and go on their own shopping expedition!

Who's My Baby - Sassy

I am always on the lookout for great board books for babies and toddlers. My criteria is that the book must be engaging for both the child and the reader, educational and worth reading over and over again. Who’s My Baby is exactly this kind of book. It has vibrant pictures, large, sturdy lift the flaps and a mirror in the back for the child to get excited to see themselves. The book has few words but gives the reader the opportunity to say things like “These are cats, their babies are called kittens”. It is a great book to teach the names of animals and their young and you will always find the cutest baby at the end!

Baby's ABC - Sassy 

With sturdy pages, vibrant illustrations and excellent depictions of words, this is a really fun way to learn the alphabet. I love that the book shows both the capital and lowercase letter on each page and it is an easy engaging board book to jumpstart baby's vocabulary!

JUMP!

This week I bought a box of Cheerio's and I received a copy of the book JUMP! by Scott M. Fischer. If you never read it, I highly recommend you search your local supermarket to get your own personal copy (plus this version comes with a Spanish translation!) This a book I usually use in action/exercising themed story times because it goes through the animal kingdom and when an animal feels threatened by another they jump away for safety and I highly encourage children to physically jump when I read that word in the story. it is quick and has a cute rhyming scheme and very easy to get into. It is extremely entertaining for everyone and it always ends with children set up for the perfect movement song to follow (like Shake Your Sillies Out).

This time of year is the best time for jumping outdoors. The weather is getting warmer (in New York) and being outside is a great conversation starter and a great opportunity to build vocabulary skills in a really fun setting. Blowing bubbles on a park bench is a great place to teach words and expressions in addition to plenty of giggles and "jumping" to pop the bubbles. Taking a walk and stopping to point out flowers, trees, stop signs, traffic lights, school buses, police cars etc. is so easy and you do not even need a destination! I highly encourage using this occasion to teach your child about your neighborhood, the people and places that make this place your special home. So why are you still sitting around? Jump up and get outside!

DANCE, DANCE!

There is something really cute about a child who sings and dances. Every time I run a story time I always include an “active song” like “Shake Your Sillies Out” or the “Hokey Pokey”. I love watching little ones get excited about the movements and sing the songs on their way out of the door. The great thing about song and dance is that it can be done anytime, anywhere.

Song and dance teach rhythm, but more importantly they teach children to be creative and active. Toddlers at the library rarely know their right foot or left hand, but they DO know foot and hand so it is fun for them to try and balance and turn themselves around. It gives them a sense of confidence when parents and caregivers look silly along with them. I dance my sillies out all the time and I make up songs about every part of my child’s day. We sing about breakfast, about the errands we will do, what we will eat for lunch, naptime, playdates, bedtime, etc. I have been singing those songs since my oldest was born. It was amazing to see how my baby anticipated meals based on my singing, knew when we were getting ready to go outside (maybe that is because of the coat?) and was aware of bath time and bed time. Now that my son is older he sings with me the same ridiculous songs and we sing them to my ten month old. She also anticipates her daily routine and I firmly believe that singing (one of my favorites is “It’s feeding time, it’s feeding time, it’s feeding time, it’s feeding time) puts my daughter at ease because she knows a bottle is on the way. Try it out for yourself!

As for the dance, I say go where the music takes you! You don’t need kid songs to get your children on their feet, they will love any music you encourage. I love hearing my son say “I am clapping to the music” when we are listening to the radio in the car. I love when he sings the songs he learns from “Little Einsteins” and all of the theme songs he hears consistently. We all just smile and do our own version of the “Hot Dog Dance”. Give it a try – grab your little one and dance dance!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. SEUSS!

Today is Dr. Seuss's birthday! Since it is always fun to make a great excuse for a party, we will be celebrating this beloved author by reading some of our favorite Dr. Seuss books and playing "Pin the Eggs on the Ham". For some great ideas to celebrate in your own way and coloring pages, go to Suessville.com and make your own special birthday party for the man who created Sam I Am, The Cat in the Hat, The Lorax, The Sneeches, Horton the Elephant and so many more of our favorite storybook characters!

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

FINGER PUPPETS!

I love Finger Puppets. They are the easiest way to engage the youngest audience. They are extremely easy to make or if you are not very creative, they are extremely easy to find. The picture above is the "Little Scholastic Old MacDonald" that I got as a baby gift when my son was born and has become a staple in my children's singing routine.

From all my years doing Mother Goose Time at the library, I always made sure to have finger plays and finger puppets dispersed throughout the half hour to keep the children engaged. Babies can stare at fingers for hours and it is so easy to sing along to a hand gesture. Some of my go-tos include "Open, Shut Them", "The Itsy Bitsy Spider", "Where Is Thumbkin?" and "Mr. Sun". For those who are a little more self-conscious, bring on the hand puppet! While babies and toddlers don't really care what your voice (or the caregiver's voice) sounds like, if you feel like it matters then this is the perfect way to have the little ones focus on something else. Puppets are brightly colored and can guide you while you sing (ex: each animal on your fingers), so you can get as expressive as you want. 

If you are arts-and-craftsy, you can make your own puppets for so many rhymes and songs. I personally used the same glove and made adhesive "Green and Speckled Frogs" (five with a speckled log in the middle) , "Five Little Monkeys" (with a mother and and a doctor in the middle) and "This Little Piggy" for each of the fingers. It was easy to do three back-to-back "puppet shows" or just one or two depending on the time and audience. 

Using your fingers and puppets to engage babies and toddlers is a great way to enhance their early literacy skills. Get your hands moving and get singing! 

My Favorite Purchases For My Kids...

When it comes to buying toys for my children, I always think to myself "How many times will this be used"? Certain toys are definite staples in a house with babies - soft and large balls to roll around, ring stackers, fake keys (even though they always want the real ones), stuffed animals and board books. However, I have made some purchases for my children that I definitely second guessed at the time, but have become staples in enhancing early literacy in my toddler's day.

Every child loves to "push the buttons" on their parent's laptop or computer, so I figured it was obvious I should get my son his own laptop. At first I found the sounds of the "Little Scholar Laptop" extremely irritating but then my son started to mimic what he heard and walked around saying "The letter "w" says "wha". I then realized this was probably the best $18 I ever spent. Within a few months my son was able to make the sound of most of the consonants and with the help of "Wheel of Fortune" my son was able to recognize all of the upper case letters. There are also other games on this "computer" including "find the letter" or "spell the word". There are so many of these "laptops" out there (I know LeapFrog makes a similar one) so if you were debating it as a gift for your one year old the answer is absolutely go for it!

Remember those wooden blocks from when you were a child that had letters, numbers and pictures on them? When my son got them as a gift for his first birthday I thought to myself "What a great thing to regift since we have so many other types of blocks". I am so happy that my son ripped the box open because they truly play an integral part of his early literacy education. He can build a tower and then I help him spot the letters that spell the word "tower". Now that he knows the letters and numbers, we spend a lot of time focusing on the pictures on these blocks. It helps to expand his vocabulary and the pictures vary from elephants to ice cream cones.

One time I was shopping in the pharmacy to quickly pick something up and my son decided it would be a great idea to reach out of the stroller, grab a box of Munchkin foam letters and numbers (a bath toy) and open it up in the store leaving me no choice but to buy it. When I took them home, I played with the idea of letting these be special for the bath, but realized he would never play with them there (maybe when he starts to spell we can have spelling bees at bath time). Instead, I put them in a bin and we play a game called "pick a letter or number and tell me what it is". We take turns and we can do this for a half hour easy. You can even make this game yourself, no need to buy the foam letters. It has evolved with my son's knowledge and now when we pick a letter we also have to say the sound it makes (if you pick a number you obviously don't have to make a noise).

I love every musical instrument that my child owns. I love when he plays songs on his piano and gives them titles (my personal favorite, "Be Careful"). I love when he plays his xylophone and sings along. The instrument I love the best is his own two hands, when he hits a surface and says "I am banging like a drum". Music and rhythm is so important and helps a child focus and enjoy playtime in a totally different way. So don't worry if your pots and pans become a drum set, your child is exploring the world and learning a ton!

TV TIME!!!!

The trick to getting the most early literacy out of television is to watch with your child. Yes, you could just plop your child down in front of the TV or iPad or computer with an "educational show", but sitting with your child and bringing up aspects of what they are watching or review after the viewing can be extremely valuable to your child. If you are not home during the day with your child, preview the shows yourself and tell your caregiver what you approve and do not approve of.

Some of my personal favorites:
Super Why (PBS Kids) - this may be one of the most underrated shows on TV but it has an incredible amount of value when it comes to early literacy. My son 100% learned all of the lower case letters from watching Princess Pea spell in every episode. There is singing, reading, letter recognition...anything you can ask for in a 24 minute period is pretty much in this program. It was definitely a great find.

Sid The Science Kid (PBS Kids) - you know your child really pays attention to the screen when he takes a cup of water and pours it into another cup and says "I playing Science". There is something really special about this show. Every episode has the same structure: Sid wakes up, eats breakfast, goes to school, learns, plays, gets picked up by his grandmother, reviews what he learns and then heads to bed. Repetition is so important, think of all the choruses in songs and nursery rhymes! You get an added bonus of learning something educational in the field of Science and let's be honest, a kid who can sing about an inclined plane is very impressive looking in the supermarket!

Little Einsteins (Disney): A show that incorporates famous pieces of art with famous pieces of classical music. Adventure, singing, problem solving...everything a two year old wants in a television program that can make a mother relax while her child watches back to back episodes.

Of course there are so many shows dedicated to the toddler set it is so easy to just let your child watch whatever is on at the moment. Someone recently asked me why I let my son watch Thomas the Tank Engine because it has "nothing of value to offer a child". I told her that my son learns all about emotion from Thomas and Friends. When an engine does something wrong they usually frown and my son would say "Percy looks so sad" or "Emily looks troubled". When an engine gets praised you can clearly see "Thomas is so happy" or "James is so excited!". Learning emotion and how to express feeling is a huge feat in the land of toddlerhood.

My advice is pick and choose programs you believe your child will learn the most from and ask them questions about what they are watching. Make them tell you about the episode so that they are storytelling and expanding their vocabularies. If your child is too young for that, ask questions about specific parts. I do that a lot with my son and ask "What were they looking for?" or "Where was the dog hiding?" He can then answer "A key" or "In the kitchen" and recalling what he saw makes watching television an early literacy moment.

My Son's IPad...

Yes, you read that correctly. My SON is the proud owner of an iPad mini. He got it for his second birthday. What does he do with it? He learns many nursery rhymes courtesy of Fisher Price, he learns stories thanks to Nosy Crow, and he learns his letters, numbers, colors and shapes thanks to many other developers. My son is not yet two and a half, but he knows the entire upper and lower case alphabet by sight. He can count to 20 and can count backwards from 10. He knows so many names of shapes I am shocked (pentagon? decagon?) and he knows all the colors of the rainbow plus grey, pink, brown, black and white. While I wish I could say I taught him all of this myself, I have come to conclusion that the IPad is his teacher, and I simply reinforce what he is taught in his virtual classroom. I make sure we play games based on what he is learning throughout the day. When we are out on a walk we will spot things he sees in the stories he is read (ex: trees, traffic lights, zucchini or peppers at the supermarket). We sing the songs he learns throughout the day, and my most favorite, I watch him draw circles or certain letters on the window when they are fogged up. It is such an incredible thing to see how my child takes what he sees on a screen and applies it to paper and the world around him.

I see people judge me ALL the time. They tell me it's extremely bad for him and that I should be ashamed that he has "so much screen time" (how do you know how much time he has on this device? What makes you think he is always on it?) but I am not and I take pride in the fact that I am a mom not ashamed to say my son can navigate an Apple product better than I can. He has learned SO MUCH from his preschool education apps that I truly believe this tool is essential in teaching early literacy. There are many different ways to teach reading skills. What better way to teach the letters than an interactive interface? It's 2014, there is no way children can get along in this world without technology, so put the right apps on your IPad and give your child the gift of reading on a whole new fun and engaging level.

Disclaimer: My son does not sit on his IPad all day. He has time limits because I believe that it is important he does not stare at a screen for a prolong amount of time and he also needs to talk to people and read books and eat and play outdoors....

Board Books

Those very square supposedly unbreakable short books that somehow find their way into every baby's mouth - those are "board books". While the claim is they are more sturdy than regular picture books, somehow their binds crack and they seem to get ripped apart as soon as a baby gets teeth. No worries! You are still teaching your child literacy because they are learning how to handle a book during this process. Seems impossible right? Actually, holding that book makes the baby look at the words and pictures, so they are learning books have words and pictures.

There is no such thing as a "bad book" to give a baby or toddler, but some are definitely better choices than others. It's a great idea to mix it up at story time for your little ones. It is great to show off books that have one picture per page with the word underneath (or above it) and children greatly benefit from touch and feel books, but don't stop there! You would be surprised at how long your toddler can actually sit. Be wary of books that are shortened into board books, they don't always make sense, while others are excellent like Dr. Seuss's "Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You"? or "Go Dog, Go!" by P.D. Eastman. By the time my son was two years old he was able to repeat these books by heart.

Babies also love to look at other babies and there are great books that go through daily sequencing or colors starring cute ones that are definitely worth investing in. Remember, it is okay if during story time with your baby or toddler they take the book from your hand and decide you aren't going to finish the story. It is important they flip through it on their own and explore the beauty of the physical book. There will be plenty of time to read the book cover to cover over time. Enjoy this precious together time!