Why This Book and Why Now?

Long before they enter a classroom, children are developing the crucial knowledge and skills they will need to learn to read and write.  The importance of reading to young children early and often in building these foundational skills cannot be overstated.  But how to know what books are right at your child’s age or developmental stage?  Thanks to BEGIN WITH BOOKS and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, an age-appropriate book is at your fingertips each and every month.  Here’s a look at five representative Imagination Library books – and why they’re perfect for your child right now.

	Baby! Talk!, Penny Gentieu (under 1 year) This delightful board book hits all the right markers developmentally for babies in their first year.  Visual acuity, verbal skills, and attention spans are developing rapidly and vary greatly in these first 12 months and from one baby to the next.  Having photographs rather than illustrations means that younger babies do not have to make the more difficult jump from real baby to a visual representation.  The intentional simplicity of the photographs -- they’re bright, ethnically diverse, and expressive -- is designed for short attention spans.  And most importantly, babies LOVE looking at other babies.  This interactive book is sure to be a favorite.
	Tad and Dad, David Ezra Stein (turning 2) This Caldecott Honor winner is a wonderful little book for toddlers. Tad is a growing tadpole who loves his dad so much he wants to spend all of his time with him, even sharing a lily pad with him at night.  As he grows and starts turning into a frog, he’s able to do the things his dad can do – swim, hop and croak.  Dad is proud.  However, when these accomplishments carry over into nighttime, poor dad can’t get any sleep.  By the time Tad realizes that he just might need a lily pad of his own, poor dad realizes that he will miss having Tad with him after all.  At its core, this is a story about a father-son relationship, showing how boys want to be just like their dads and how much they both need each other.  The unique, expressive, and colorful illustrations, along with the simple text, will attract and hold a toddler’s limited attention, and growing bodies and daily routines are particularly appealing themes for this age group.
	Just Like My Brother, Gianna Marino (turning 3) This is an excellent book for the younger sibling in your home who is trying so hard to keep up with his or her older brother or sister.  Marino aptly reassures little ones that being younger or smaller is never a reason to feel “less-than.”  And she gets the message across using familiar zoo animals so well-loved by this age group.  Don’t forget to bring the zoo alive with animal sounds and actions as you read along.  And when your toddler finally allows you to put this book down, you can always suggest a game of hide-and-seek, preferably with his older brother!
	The Night is Yours, Abdul-Razak Zachariah, Illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo (turning 4) This unique and beautifully illustrated book will resonate with children who live in apartment complexes or community housing, especially children of color.  Zachariah, who grew up in a complex much like the one he writes about, challenges the misconception that shared outdoor spaces are dangerous places for children to play, especially at night.  In this story, families look out for one another and there is a strong sense of community.  Children’s books so often feature single dwelling homes, so The Night is Yours offers a refreshing change.
	Eat Pete!, Michael Rex (turning 5) This is a fun book with a will-he-or-won’t-he twist.  Will the monster really eat Pete?  Surprise endings delight us all, and young children will love being introduced to this familiar trope.  Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the emotional roller coaster this story will evoke: fear and apprehension as the monster makes his intention to eat Pete known; shock and disbelief when the monster does in fact eat Pete; and surprise and relief when the story ends happily ever after.

  These books are sure to become favorites. Read them over and over again with enthusiasm and expression!

 -- Caron Bell, PhD, Early Childhood Development and beginwithbooks.org volunteer

  5,074 children are enrolled in Charleston County, South Carolina. 477,037 books have been delivered to 15,543 children since 2010

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