Tiny Literature For Tiny Tots

      Reading to very young children can be very beneficial for future learning.  According to “Kids Health from Nemours”, reading to infants teaches them to communicate, introduces concepts, builds skills and teaches them about the world around them. However, parents and educators may have a difficult time picking just the right book for children under two.  Of course, any book can keep a young child’s interest, but here are several suggestions for books that are colorful and interesting to the littlest reader. 

     Mouse Count, Mouse Paint and Mouse Shapes, three books written by Ellen Stoll Walsh, are excellent picks.  These delightful books teach while staying entertaining for all ages.  Walsh’s three books, featuring a group of mice, teach kids basics in an entertaining way.  In Mouse Paint for example, three white mice are keeping themselves busy while the cat sleeps.  They accidently step in some primary colored paints, red, blue and yellow.  Then they find, when mixing the colors, they can make the secondary colors purple, green and orange.  In Mouse Count the mice are plagued by a greedy snake who is counting them as he collects them in a jar.  Read this one to find out how they escape.  In Mouse Shapes, while hiding from the cat in a pile of shapes, the mice find they can use them to make clever pictures.

     Another set of books perfect for infants and toddlers are six books entitled, Numbers, Food, Animals, Alphabet, Colors, and Playtime all written by Glenn Johnston.  These books are picture books with items from their particular themes.  The pictures are vibrant and colorful and sure to keep the attention of the youngest of readers.

     I’ve found, while teaching infants and toddlers, that these particular books draw their attention again and again.  All 9 books are also available in the cardboard “chunky” style so they are more durable for little destructive fingers.  Start your child or charge off on the right track by starting out their interest in quality literature early.

Source:  Laura L. Bailet, PhD, “Reading Books to Babies”,

About Me

     Rebecca has nurtured and helped children aged six weeks through school-age succeed in learning for the past 20+ years. While working with infants exclusively for the past 13 years, she has found her passion. After raising two of her own children, Rebecca is following her dream of caring for infants, newborns, and their parents.

     Rebecca is also passionate about helping parents successfully return to work while breastfeeding. As a result, she created and implemented a training for daycare teachers entitled “Supporting Breastfeeding Parents in a Daycare Setting.” Rebecca believes empowering parents to be their child’s first teacher is essential for keeping children happy and healthy.

     Rebecca is a trained Newborn Care Specialist and a Postpartum Doula. She has taken a “Lactation for Doulas” class, a sleep conditioning class, and has attended a training on perinatal mood disorders. She looks forward to supporting parents and other family members as they care for their new charges.

    Outside of work, Rebecca is a published author and enjoys writing about everything from infant care to Science Fiction. She also loves reading and has an extensive library of children’s books.

    Rebecca is looking for work as a Newborn Care Specialist in the Northern Illinois, Southern Wisconsin, or Chicagoland area. Contact her at RML1535@gmail.com if you are interested in hiring.