Best Baby Gifts to Raise a Reader

The arrival of a new baby in your circle of friends or family is a very special event. While it's fun to buy the cute little outfits, blankets and toys as gifts, my favorite gift for a new baby is a book. And it's so easy to add a matching plush character from the book, making your gift extra special. You can buy these as sets (more expensive) or buy them separately yourself to create your gift (less expensive and more fun!)

In working as a children's librarian, I would sometimes get this question from a parent: "When should I start reading to my child?" Pairing a picture book with a colorful plush toy or puppet as a baby gift is an easy way to get the PARENTS interested in reading the book and interacting with the baby through the story.

Just to get you started, I'll use the picture book character Skippyjon Jones as an example. I recently stocked up on the books and plush characters at Kohl's through their Kohl's Cares for Kids program at only $5 per item. These are such a bargain and are top quality. Kohl's donates 100% of the proceeds to support kids' health and education programs in communities across the nation.

Some of the other picture books and characters featured through the Kohl's Cares program are: Dr. Seuss, with the Cat in the Hat, Horton and the Lorax; Clifford the Big Red Dog; The Velveteen Rabbit; Winnie the Pooh, with Eeyore and Tigger; Eric Carle and the grouchy ladybug.....and so, so many more! Even after the Kohl's promotion is over, you can often find these items online at reasonable prices.

This is a gift that the family can enjoy with their child over the years. Storysacks usually include the book (which sets the theme), an audio version of the book, a puppet of the lead character, plus various other story extenders, all easily stored away in a large colorful cloth bag, secured with a drawstring. Well worth the price!