Playtime

Children's Literature - Joan Kindig

Hearing stories is an important part of child development and reading to children can begin right from birth. And while it is not likely that a three-month-old will remember the plot line of The Three Bears, he or she will remember the time on Mommy's or Daddy's lap, the allure of pages with beautiful pictures being turned, and the sound of the reader washing over them. Infants and toddlers up to age three love to explore books in other ways as well. Consider board books and how babies enjoy them more for the chewing of the edges than the story itself. In this oversized board book from Scholastic, babies not only get to see all sorts of visually interesting things like flowers and penguins and boats but they get to touch them, turn the pages, and maybe grab a little bit of a chew once in a while. Accompanying this bright and engaging board book is a DVD that features many of the animals and everyday items from the book while the narrator tells them all about them in soft and pleasant tones. Things are introduced with the age-old question babies ask, "What is this?" and the narrator patiently explains what it is. Background music keeps the pace lively when it needs to be and soft and lullaby-like when it seems appropriate. This book and DVD combo is a calm and enjoyable learning experience for a young child and one that can be enjoyed sitting in the lap of a loved one. "Little Scholastic" series Reviewer: Joan Kindig, Ph.D.