In today’s world, too many children are being introduced to digital entertainment, and way too early.  Books help create bonds because it promotes spending quality time together.  Reading books with your child can help them develop listening skills that, in turn, develops communication skills.

Start reading books to your kids at an early age – even newborns can benefit – starting early promotes a love for literature that can last a lifetime.  I once had a friend who thought it was a waste of time to read books to her new baby, who would not pay attention and just wanted to eat the books.  I tried to stress the importance of continuing to read to her son, but to no avail and, sure enough, as her son got older he did not enjoy story time and would not listen to anyone who attempted to read him a story. 

Books are too good for young developing minds and parents need to read to their children for their own good.  Books help your child learn to absorb information and build their vocabulary.  Picture books open up a child’s imagination to worlds of exploration.  To an older child, you can ask questions about the pages read and get an idea of what they’re retaining. Children can learn to tell their own stories from looking at or reading their favorite picture books over and over again.  Books with illustrations that go along with the story can be read again and again and children never tire of them.  Every time they read picture books they see new things in the pictures.

Choosing the right book is a small chore – you want to make sure to choose books that will hold their attention and keep them wanting more.  Picture books are short and concise and they often contain wonderful illustrations, in addition to words, to let the reader know what the story is all about.  A lot of children’s books also use rhyming which can help people and children alike remember and memorize things easier.

Kids often don’t get enough time to use their imagination these days due to the popularity and ease of TV, video games and movies.   But when they take the opportunity to read picture books they can be introduced to new things and think about things that they read in a picture book.

Books require a minimal money investment, yet the return on your investment is huge!  Children’s books are a very popular choice as gifts.

1. Skippyjon Jones is back with yet another wonderful tale. Skippy believes that chili peppers are grown on mars and he borrows some chili powder to sprinkle on his bed and is off to get Lost in Spice!
2. The author of Waddle! and Gallop! (#6,right) was a movie maker for most of his life, interested in what would happen when he edited things together to make magical things happen. He has created magical things in this book and it is a must read and see. Waddle teaches color and movement and it is irresistible!
3. Listen to the Wind is an inspirational true story of story about Greg Mortenson and his tireless efforts to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan and what happened to the children in a Pakistan village after the first school came to their village.
4. When Librarian VickiMyron finds a young kitten abandoned in the Spencer Library return box, she nurses him back to health, deciding then and there that he will be their library cat, and naming him, appropriately, Dewey Readmore Books.
5. Robot Zot is the story of a robot determined to conquer earth. The earth he lands on, however, is a suburban kitchen and he is three inches tall. Follow along his trail of destruction as he encounters blenders, toasters, and televisions.
6. Gallop! is the first "scanimation" picture book by Rufus Butler Seder. Turn the page, and you set black-and-white pictures of various animals into motion - your kids (and you) will find in fascinating!
7. John Grogan is the author of the #1 adult bestseller Marley & Me, which inspired this children's picture book about Marley's hilarious bad-boy antics.
8. Otis is a special tractor that works hard and plays hard on the farm, where he befriends a baby calf. Otis and the calf play together and have a special friendship together. Otis saves the day when something happens to the calf.
9. Strega Nona attempts to teach Big Anthony about gardening and the importance of order. Something happens and the vegetable patch turns into an unruly jungle! What will they do with all the extra vegetables?
10. Miss Smith takes her class to the public library to meet the librarian. They enter the building, which looks a bit like a haunted house. The librarian reads spooky stories which brings the characters to life.