Recommended reading for 0 - 3 year olds

We all know how important it is to read to your children and to start the habit of reading as early as possible. Mandy Seng from the National Library Board (NLB) tells us what the developmental traits in the different age group are, and recommends some reading titles for them.

Recommended reading for 0 - 3 year olds

Check out your local library for these books.

From birth to 1 year old

General traits: starts to babble and play with sounds, able to identify and is attracted to familiar objects and imitates action such as waving or peek-a-boo.

Introduce books with rhythmic language, rhymes and songs as well as books that interlace with nursery rhymes or finger plays. Use board/plastic/cloth books with bright colours and with simple and clear pictures. Parents could start with black, white and red for the very young. Books with pictures of familiar objects, animals, food. Books about daily life or family members or photos of babies.

1. Where is baby?

Author: Sally Rippin

Call No.: English RIP -[BA]

Publisher: Crows Nest, N.S.W. : Allen & Unwin, 2008.

2. Baby faces peekaboo

Author: Dawn Sirett

Call No.: JP SIR -[BA]

Publisher: London: DK, 2009.

For 1 – 3 years old

General traits: Utters first words and understands simple directions. Starts to babble long sentences, says one or more words and imitates familiar noises. Is active and enjoys surprises. Starts to identify family members, familiar objects and body parts. Enjoys turning pages of familiar books and pointing to favourite pictures and repeating familiar sounds/words.

Use simple, repetitive story lines and pictures. Continue to use nursery rhymes and add on action songs, that include movement of body parts Introduce simple concepts of numbers, sizes etc. Use toy books with simple activities like looking under the blanket, looking behind doors e.g. "Where’s Spot" series. Books with few words on each page e.g. alphabet and concept books for naming of familiar objects or books that relate to familiar experiences or characters. Participative books with surprises e.g. lift the flap, pop-up, touch & feel and turn the wheel books. Books for bedtime, saying hello or goodbye.

1. Dear Zoo

Author: Rod Campbell

Call No.: JP CAM -[BA]

Publisher: New York: Little Simon, 2007, c1982

2. Round and Round Garden

Author: Moira Kemp

Call No.: JP 398.8 KEM -[BA]

Publisher: Denton, TX: Mathew Price, 2009.

Written by

Meiling Wong Chainani

EducationToddlerchildReading and WritingbookslibraryMeiling Wong ChainaniNational Libraryearly educationreading for toddlers