I introduced books to my baby at about 2 months of age, much to the shock of my parents. Sujay loves them now and they calm him like any good song or rattle, because books, as I keep telling people, are good.

They are like several toys pressed together, so trust me and give them a try!

If you’d rather watch a video, here is a good, comprehensive one!

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Okay, so these are the books we have tried so far:

Where is Baby’s Belly Button?

A flap book that teaches the baby his body parts! What’s not to love about flap books? They have the element of surprise to them, they are interactive and they teach the baby the concept of object – permanence: that objects don’t vanish when out of sight. It has quite the similar effect as Peek-a-boo, but with added colors and words.

Where is Baby’s Belly Button (amazon)

Baby Snuggle Cloth Book

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It has this crinkly sound that is as effective at getting a baby’s attention as a rattle. It has simple, large and colourful images of animals on every page, it also has different textures the baby can feel on every alternate page. It’s washable and durable. This book is my little one’s all time favorite!

For use as a rattle, keep crumpling the pages and make animal sounds as you read!

Baby Touch: Snuggle Book (amazon)

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

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This one, Sujay just didn’t appreciate at first. I must admit it has more “learning” than “fun” to it. I narrate the story with sound effects of my own and in tamil too, because that’s what he likes. The book tells the story of how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly while it also teaches about numbers 1-5, days of the week and different foods.

Remember, you don’t have to read every page at first. Little babies have very little attention spans.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar (amazon)

Hello Bugs

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Sujay loved this one much earlier than he even liked rattles. It has black and white images on each page with a shiny color on each that captures the baby’s attention instantly. Babies love patterns especially black and white ones. This book has a cute insect on each page and you say hello to each one. I describe what the insect is doing for an added effect.

I run my fingers on the LO and go “scurry scurry scurry scurry scurry…” like crazy. He loves it 😀

Hello Bugs (amazon)

Books We Haven’t Tried Yet

I have quite a lot on my wishlist, to tell the truth. I can’t buy them for a while, though. These are:

• Sound books – Frankly, I’m not sure I’ll like these. I prefer making my own sounds, but I still wanna give them a go. I just have to try every type of book out there.
• Puppet books – Can’t wait to tickle and hug my baby with a puppet that’s stuck in a book!
• More flap books – Sujay just loves them so much, I have to get more. Moooo-re!
• Indestructibles – legend has it these cannot be destroyed by even the most destructive of baby powers!
• Story books – these are just as good as the storyteller that wields them!

I’ll end this post with a few pointers for when you read to your babies:

• Use a slow, deliberate, high-pitched and cheerful voice.
• Smile a lot and enjoy what you’re doing! Your baby knows you and if you’re not having fun, neither will s/he!
• Make extra sound effects as you read and exaggerate them.
• Show the pages steadily – no jerks – babies may find it irritating if you move the books too much.
• Keep a brisk pace at first. Don’t read too slow.
• Once old enough to reach (3-4 months), let the baby touch and feel all books. You’ll find they treat it as any other toy.

That’s it folks! Have fun reading!