Any parent knows that reading to your child is essential. In April 2015, the American Academy of Pediatrics announced a new study that provided further evidence that book sharing in early childhood may promote brain development in supporting reading readiness. I couldn’t agree more about this article from Reading Is Fundamental about the importance on reading aloud to your kids: Children learn to love the sound of language before they even notice the existence of printed words on a page. Reading books aloud to children stimulates their imagination and expands their understanding of the world. It helps them develop language and listening skills and prepares them to understand the written word. When the rhythm and melody of language become a part of a child’s life, learning to read will be as natural as learning to walk and talk.
Candlewick Press knows just how important reading to your child is! They provide the best picks for filling out your first home library to get your family reading together early and often!
Here are my top picks from Candlewick Press (yes, I have all of these books for my boys in our own family library!) to start your child’s first library!
Owl Babies
By Martin Waddell, Illustrated by Patrick Benson
BB: 9780763679613∙ September 2015 ∙ $6.99∙ 22 pages ∙ Ages 0-3
When three baby owls awake one night to find their mother gone, they can’t help but wonder where she is. Stunning illustrations capture the owls as they worry about their mother: What is she doing? When will she be back? Not surprisingly, a joyous flapping and dancing and bouncing greets her return, lending a celebratory tone to the ending of this comforting tale. Never has the plight of young ones who miss their mother been so simply told or so beautifully rendered.
“There aren’t many ‘baby books’ that convey this kind of emotional richness supported by a perfect artistic form.” – Washington Post Book World
Snuggle Up with Mother Goose (My Very First Mother Goose)
By Iona Opie, Illustrated by Rosemary Wells
BB: 9780763678678∙ October 2015 ∙ $8.99∙ 26 pages ∙ Ages 0-3
Books and vibrant language are vitally important early learning tools. With that in mind, selected poems from Iona Opie’s classic Mother Goose nursery-rhyme compilations are gathered here in a sturdy, baby-friendly board book just right for lap time, nap time, or any time, really. Accentuating the soothing rhymes are cuddly creatures warming their hands and wishing on stars. So snuggle up with Mother Goose and give the hush-a-bye baby in your life a solid and loving head start.
When I Grow Up (Emma Dodd’s Love You Books)
By Emma Dodd
HB: 9780763679859∙ September 2015 ∙ $8.99∙ 24 pages ∙ Ages 2-5
“When I grow up I want to be clever and funny, wild and free.”
One little bear shares his hopes and dreams in this picture-book treasure from the ever-popular Emma Dodd. This line of books features rhyming text and delightful artwork that is embellished with foil throughout.
Say It!
By Charlotte Zolotow, Illustrated by Charlotte Voake
HB: 9780763681159 ∙ September 2015 ∙ $15.99∙ 32 pages ∙ Ages 2-5
It’s a golden, windy autumn day, and a mother a daughter set out walking among the swirling leaves. As they wend their way, they share little adventures—spying a kitten, seeing the trees zigzag with streaks of color, catching some floating milkweed, watching the setting sun color the clouds. Throughout their walk, the girl keeps urging her mother to “say it” with more and more persistence. What could “it” be? From a sterling picture-book team comes a quiet story that shows the many ways love is expressed in the small moments shared between parent and child.
The New Small Person
By Lauren Child
HB: 9780763678104∙ February 2015 ∙ $17.99∙ 32 pages ∙ Ages 4-8
Elmore Green starts life as an only child, as many children do. He has a room to himself, where he can line up his precious things and nobody will move them one inch. But one day everything changes. When the new small person comes along, it seems that everybody might like it a bit more than they like Elmore Green. And when the small person knocks over Elmore’s things and even licks his jelly-bean collection, Elmore’s parents say that he can’t be angry because the small person is only small. Elmore wants the small person to go back to wherever it came from. Then, one night, everything changes. . . . In her signature visual style, Lauren Child gets to the heart of a child’s evolving emotions about becoming a big brother or sister.
“Fresh and amusing…With expressive illustrations and a story that speaks directly to children, this picture book is beautifully crafted for reading aloud.” – Booklist (starred review)
Guess How Much I Love You: Deluxe Book and Toy Gift Set
By Sam McBratney, Illustrated by Anita Jeram
BB: 9780763681081∙ September 2015 ∙ $15.99∙ 24 pages ∙ Ages 3-7
Combine one of the best-selling children’s books of all time with a cuddly Little Nutbrown Hare to hug, and you have the perfect way to say, “I love you right up to the moon and back!” Whether for devotees of Guess How Much I Love You or complete newcomers, this winsome gift set is guaranteed to charm.
There’s Going to Be a Baby
By John Burningham, Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
HB: 9780763649074∙ August 2014 ∙ $7.99∙ 48 pages ∙ Ages 2-5
When is the baby coming? What will we call it? John Burningham’s timeless story, perfectly complemented by Helen Oxenbury’s illustrations, follows the swirl of questions in the mind of a young child anticipating a baby sibling with excitement, curiosity, and just a bit of trepidation.
“Delights on many levels. . . . A gorgeous book, full of warmth, spirit, and imagination.” — Booklist (starred review)
Grab these books at your leading book retailers and at Candlewick.com and Amazon!
WIN IT!
Lucky you, loyal Hip Mama’s Place readers! One of you will win a book prize package from Candlewick Press that includes all of the seven (7) book titles listed above valued over $100!
To enter this giveaway contest, just follow the Rafflecopter entry link below. This giveaway contest is open to U.S. addresses only and ends on 08/07/15 at 11:59 PM, EST. Good luck!
Personal tip: To increase your chances of winning, fulfill all the entry requirements and tweet about the giveaway at least once a day for the duration of the contest.
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Hip Mama’s Place Disclosure: “This is a sponsored post written by me for Candlewick Press. I received books necessary to facilitate my review and the prize package for the reader giveaway. As always, all views and opinions are entirely my own”.
I’m an avid reader so I read to my daughter, 2 nieces and now my granddaughter. It teaches the child about going on adventures. It’s teaches them how to put words together to make a story. I like buying books that teach colors, numbers, shapes and lots of fun ones like Dr. Suess. It’s a special time of bonding. Thank you for the chance 🙂
It’s important for parents and/or caregivers to read to their children aloud since it teaches them that reading is important & should be done daily. And it’s fun too!
I think it is very important to read to your child not only because they become better readers. I love time with my daughter and she has always loved being read to. I was so happy to see Guess How Much I Love You! That is our all time favorite book.
Reading to kids is great as they are learning even before they can talk or read. It encourages quiet time and that reading can take you anywhere! Start early and they wont find it to be boring later on.
Love these books!
I think it’s important to read aloud to children because it not only create s a love of reading but also creates a life long love of learning. I started reading to my LO in utero and continue to do so at least once a day if not more. Storytime is my favorite part of the day!
It is important to read early for children because it would help them to learn and have better language skills when they start school
What wonderful book selections! Many studies have shown that children who read with their parents are brighter, more curious, and score better on tests. But studies aside, reading aloud with your child or grandchild creates a wonderful bond between the two.
It’s important for so many reasons. Kids today benefit so much by stepping away from electronics. The library can be just as entertaining as any video game, you just have to open that world to them. The obvious other being read to helps kids with vocabulary and spelling. Kids pick up on what their parents do, it’s really important they see parents reading and them being read to. It’s just a great free and relaxing family together time activity.
Associating reading with good things is what it’s all about and the early you start the better!
Reading to the kids was a way we could be together sharing an experience that was always so fun .Books for them could be so exciting they love to share and learn new words it is so much fun to read now to the little nephew in the family.
Super cute!! I should get The New Small Person for my two year old!
Kids are too rushed in today’s society. I think if they learn to love reading they will chose what they’re interested in learning about, and it starts from example. It also helps families bond and increases vocabulary.
I Think It Is Important For Children To Be Read To Because It Helps With Creativity, Builds A Bond, Builds Confidence And Helps Children Learn And Grow.
What a wonderful collection of books!
First just spending quality time with your child is most important. Reading to your children gives you a chance to teach them how to how to express emotions and learn essential points in life. The memories you share with your children by reading to them will last a lifetime for them.
Reading to children helps them eventually read on their own.
I loved books when I was little, and I want my daughter to also know the joy of reading. It is also important for them to help them learn and develop properly.
Love to read so i hope to pass thast on to my kids. My girls love reading but my first son dfoesnt that much ms my youngest loves to look at books. I think it helps in life in general you have to know how to read to do just about anything in life. I also want them to want to read for fun too.
It’s important to read to children, even very young children, because it helps with their language skills. It’s also a great bonding activity!
Reading is so important to little ones. It helps them learn to listen and to talk. It helps them to interact with other people and sit still. The bonding with a parent or parents is the most special thing about reading together. It’s a very special time for all involved.
great book recommendations!
I’ve read to my little ones since they were small and they love to read to themselves now! It definitely helps develop a love of reading! 🙂