Choosing a Book
Learn the appropriate types of books for your child at different ages.
Books are brain boosters! The more you read to children from the very start, the more their brains will grow and their language skills will develop. Consider these tips for finding “just the right book”:
0–12 Months
Look for small, sturdy, and bright board books (and washable cloth books) filled with images of babies and other everyday things, such as teddy bears or bottles. These kinds of books are perfect for tiny hands and mouths. It’s totally normal for babies to put books in their mouths. It’s how they explore, and it makes them feel that the book is their own special object. And plastic bath-time books are perfect for babies and toddlers who fuss in the tub!
12–24 Months
Continue to look for board books and expand to books that show children doing everyday routines. Kids may also like books about saying hello and goodbye and books with simple rhymes and/or predictable text. 12–24-month-olds may also begin to have a favorite bedtime story!
24–36 Months
Kids will enjoy silly books with rhyme, rhythm, and repeated text they can learn by heart. They can also turn paper pages (not just board-book pages) and may enjoy topics like animals, cars, and other favorite interests. To help expand their vocabulary, look for books with pictures and names of many different things.
3 Years and Older
Children can begin to appreciate storylines and plots. They’ll also respond to books with simple, memorable text: counting books, alphabet books, search-and-find books, and books about school or daycare.
Creating Alphabet-Rich Environments
Alphabet recognition involves learning the names, shapes, and sounds of the letters in the alphabet, and it helps get kids ready for phonics learning. There are so many ways to introduce the alphabet to young children. Adding a little alphabet magic to your environment can be a great place to start.
Building and Rebuilding Language Skills—and Community!
An article about building children’s language skills by enriching your interactions.
Abby’s Letter Garden
Prepare children for school success by exposing them to uppercase letters, helping them recognize them, and write them themselves.
Terry Crews Is an Artist
Terry Crews, Count, and Abby talk about the word “artist.”
Alphabet Art
Alphabet art is a fun, hands-on way to help kids recognize the shapes of letters. It can also provide an opportunity to layer in learning across subjects. Watch this video and think of ways you might incorporate letter crafts into your work with kids and families.
I Know My Letters
A printable alphabet coloring page.
Building a Reader
An interactive course that explores key literacy goals, strategies, and activities to support learning around language and literacy in children ages 2-5.
