I spoke with a group of parents recently who clearly agreed with me about the importance of reading with their children. However, they saw the benefits mainly in terms of increasing academics and raising test scores. This viewpoint is prevalent, short-sighted, and embraces the driven, competitive, instant-result culture that influences so many parents. While studies support these beliefs, the studies I find more important are those which show reading aloud produces lifelong readers. In my family, reading aloud has made characters come alive, exposed us to chants repeated so often they've become part of our family lore , involved us in countless meaningful discussions, delighted us with combination of new book smell and snuggling close at night, and for years books eased bedtime with the ritual and comfort they provided. Now that my children are getting older, I realize how very small the read-aloud window of opportunity is and believe ever more firmly that the early years of read aloud are crucial to both parents and their children for establishing communication and patterns that will last forever.
Test results occupy a small space in one's life. More important are imprinting children with information about how books can soothe, help them communicate with others, and understand the world. Here are recommendations of new books sure to open the doors of reading pleasure to babies and their parents.
Rhythm, rhyme and repetition have a power that stretches across many years. For babies, the three R's can change a mood. Toddlers learning language will enjoy repeating and joining in on the read, and at a much older age, these books provide a structure to support new readers. Joy Cowley captures the familiar rhyme Mrs. Wishy-Washy (Philomel, $5.99; ages 0-5) in a new board book. One farm animal after another falls in love with "lovely mud" and each winds up in the tub of Mrs. Wishy-Washy. You can probably guess the silly refrain and the not-too-surprising, but very satisfying, muddy ending.
Michael Lawrence follows an exuberant baby around its day, linking each experience with the repeated theme and refrain in Baby Loves (DK Publishing, $9.95; ages 1-3). The book begins "Baby loves Mommy and Daddy more than anything in the world. Except...". Each page turn reveals a new delight, from breakfast until bedtime. In a last reversal, in an expression of unconditional love, "Mommy and Daddy love Baby more than...anything at all!" This is the kind of ending that inspires a snuggle session.
Song is a close relative of these books and also loved by babies. You can be completely tone-deaf and your baby will adore your singing. If you've always loved show tunes, you'll appreciate the newly released version of Gershwin's Summertime: From Porgy and Bess (Simon and Schuster, $16.95; ages all ages). This beautiful picture book is illustrated by Mike Wimmer and the way he paints the excitement and rest of summer will make you want to sing! His oils are rich and the sensory delights are good-lookin'.
And two new books make this participation possible and enjoyable. Marc Brown's Favorite Hand Rhymes now comes in a sturdy board book (Dutton, $7.99; ages 0-5). There's much to recommend the book; it captures eight familiar rhymes and songs with two sets of illustrations. One is large, colorful, and playful, while smaller squares describe movements with simple and efficient line drawings. Marc Brown, the beloved author of the Arthur series, is an illustrator children will love throughout their young lives. Why not start early?
Kay Chorao captures the warmth of book sharing with tender illustrations. Knock at the Door and other Baby Action Rhymes (Dutton, $15.99; ages 0-5)is a hardcover heirloom with illustrations that shows children and small animals cavorting through woods and wilds thoroughly enjoying themselves through the twenty rhymes, both traditional and less familiar. Chorao begins with bouncy plays and ends with quiet, sleepy ones. Again, movements are easy to follow with the help of clear line drawings.
Animals provide much early happiness for young children who love both the naming and noise-making they provide.Funfax has a fabulous new format for early learning. They unite facts, the element of surprise, and babies' love of animals in their fold-out floor books. Chick (Funfax, DK Publishing, $3.95; ages 1-5) ,for example, has fabulous photographs that unfold to answer a series of questions. A question asks: "Where does a chick come from?" and the book unfolds to show a chick breaking free from an egg. Food, sounds, naming , and even a bit of anatomy are covered as the book continues to expand until it's a floor map of learning. Design is as fascinating as the colorful photos.
Animals are great to inspire early learning. Chuck Murphy's Bow Wow: A Pop-up Book of Shapes (Little Simon, $12.95; ages 3 and up) is filled with spectacular paper constructions that place shapes in the context of dogs. Not only can you marvel at the artistry of the book, but the lack of words and intriguing illustrations provide much to talk about.
Chronicle Books has a new doodlezoo series There are designed at a number of different levels for a love of animals lasts many years. The series begins with books like Count us in (Chronicle Books, $6.95; ages 2-5), a board book with splendid photographs of animals in the wild who interact with stylized cartoon versions to encourage counting and growling.
For children who can't get enough of baby animals, try Baby Animals From the Wild and Baby Animals On the Farm (DKVision; ages 2 and up, $9.95). Two superb tour directors, Bungie, the kitty and Doodle, the puppy, seek out specific animals and lead children to discover a darling menagerie. These guides switch continually, providing a series of five minute segment where children discover farm babies like piglets, ostriches, and foals, or the exotic wild babies like gorillas, baby gazelles, and bush dogs. Babies will love naming and noise making, but the videos grow with your children as the creators intelligently give small bits of information and show baby animals that are so cute, you will enjoy watching with your children.and Baby Animals On the Farm (both for children 2 and up, $9.95).