Sharing books with your baby

Babies love books and you'll love sharing books with your baby with the help of Kirklees Libraries.

• Sharing books
• How Kirklees libraries can help
• Did you know
• Don't worry
• Tips for making reading time more enjoyable

Sharing books

Is fun for both of you Will encourage your baby to read early, the foundation for all future learning. Will help develop your baby's listening skills and speech, and extend vocabulary. Will develop your relationship with your child.

How Kirklees Libraries can help

We have lots of colourful, attractive books for babies including Board books Picture books Books with colours, shapes, numbers and the alphabet to aid early learning Stories on tape and video Nursery rhymes and action rhymes Hand-in-Hand books dealing with experiences your young child might encounter

Did you know

Babies can join the library from the day they are born It is FREE to join It is FREE to borrow books and there is only a small charge to borrow tapes and videos You or your child can borrow up to 10 items on each ticket Children don't pay fines You can borrow from, and return items to, any Kirklees library Library staff are friendly and helpful There is a library or mobile library halt near you

Don't worry

It doesn't matter if

• Your baby cries or your child makes a noise
  
• Your child's books become overdue. There are no fines on children's tickets, although we make a small charge for reminders
  
• Your child accidentally damages a book - we will be as understanding as possible
  

• Let him/her help to choose a book and cuddle up together.

• Before you begin to read get a ‘feel’ for the book by looking at the cover and talking about it.

• Let him/her hold the book and turn the pages.

• Look together at the pictures. Look for little details. They help him/her understand what the book is about, point to the pictures and talk about what you see. Emphasise key words - repeat and extend e.g. ‘ball’ Do you like the ball? The ball is round, the ball bounces etc.

• Don’t rush your child, take it at his/her place.

• Share books little and often. Books should be fun - if your child is restless, stop and try again later. You don’t always have to get to the end of the book.

• Sharing a book with your child will show them how to handle and use books e.g. which way up the book is held, the name of the author and illustrator, characters, titles, text, that we read from left to right, stories run from the top of the page to the bottom etc.

• Read the same book again and again if you both enjoy it. This helps him/her to remember the story. It helps him/her to recognise some of the words. Point to show meaning.

• Let him/her ‘read’ the book to you by talking about each picture.

• Read books with catchy words or rhymes. She/he will enjoy the repetition and joining in. Using silly voices, funny phrases and put tune into your voice.

• Read books with exciting stories. She/he will want to find out what happens next. Introduce a wide variety of different types of books.

• Books will often receive rough treatment. Teach your child that books are special and that we need to look after them.

• Ask questions that will help him/her to think about a book, but don’t over do it and leave a pause for a response. Let him/her ask questions too.

• Keep books within easy reach of your child. Try putting books into toy boxes.