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It is never too early to share books with a child. Reading with the littlest ones is about experiencing the closeness and joy that books can bring, so don’t worry about reading every word. Instead, focus on sharing this special time with your child. Here are some tips: 

• Fold book time into your daily routine –  Maybe a book after bath time for some cozy snuggling. Or a book before bedtime to help wind down. 
• Have books accessible to you and your child – Be ready to grab a book whenever the mood strikes. Keep books around your home and in your diaper bag, stroller, and car. 
• Use an animated voice – Show your enthusiasm for the book. It’s contagious!
• Point out colors, objects, and facial expressions – Books build vital early language skills.
• Serve and volley – Ask questions of your baby even if they are nonverbal. Wait for and respond to their reaction. 
• Let babies explore board books – Board books are the perfect bridge between books and toys because they can withstand lots of play. They are perfect to help little ones view books as friends. 
• Feel free to narrate a book in your home language – Don’t feel bound by the words in the book. You can make your own story to match the illustrations.

• Explore the illustrations – Identify things by color. Find favorite animals and objects. Count countable things. Look for something new in a favorite book. 
• Invite questions – Build on your child’s natural curiosity and use a book as an invitation to learn more.
• Play Finish the Rhyme – When reading rhyming books, stop before the last word and let your child fill it in. Dr. Seuss is great for this game, especially with a book you have read multiple times. “I do not like them in a house. I do not like them with a…?”
• Be alert for literacy opportunities beyond books – Look for letters in the grocery store or on road signs. Make homemade books out of family photos, labeling them with names of people and places. Play rhyming games and sing silly songs. Make up stories together during bath time or meals.

• Match your child’s listening level – Children can listen to far more complex books than they can read independently. Choose books that engage your child on an emotional and intellectual level, not on their reading level. 
• Explore the emotions in the story – Books share a broad range of emotions. While reading aloud, mirror the characters’ emotions to make the story more meaningful. 
• Make the reading interactive – Pause to invite your child to make a prediction or to discuss something important. Take a minute to explain a tricky word or take a closer look at an illustration.
• Use books to spark conversation – Seek out moments to connect the characters and story to your child’s life. Ask open-ended questions like:
• • Have you ever felt like this character?
  • What advice would you give the character? 
  • Who does this character remind you of?

One way to make books come alive is to build relationships with favorite authors. When you find authors you love, read lots of their books. You’ll start to notice things that are familiar – and things that are new – across their books. Here are some ways to appreciate in an author’s body of work: 

• Themes – Some authors emphasize themes like friendship, family, or the environment. Can you find themes that run through all of their books? Or does one book head in a different direction? 
• Language – Does the rhythm of the text sound the same? Or has your favorite prose author tried a novel in verse? Do the descriptions feel familiar or has the author found a new voice? 
• Characters – Do some of the characters feel familiar, like old friends? Or is this book filled with new faces and voices?
• Setting – Some authors have a favorite location to set their books. Others travel around the globe – or even beyond it – with each book.