I have always had a love affair with books.

Blew my allowance on bookorders in elementary school. Spent dateless nights in high school curled up with a novel. Nearly got run over by a car in college when I tried to squeeze in extra reading time walking to campus.

I love to read.

While pregnant, I read my favorite children’s books by Dr. Seuss, Mo Willems, and Eric Carle to my bulging stomach. I assumed that my daughter would have the same passion for reading I have. I was wrong.

From birth, books bored — even annoyed — her. She ripped pages. She chewed corners. She’d squirm every time I’d sit her down to read one of the educational, highly-recommended books I’d bought for her.

My husband and I didn’t give up. It took months and months of that frustrated squirming, and then one night I caught my husband rocking her to sleep and reading to her — from his sports magazine. My daughter listened intently and looked at the pictures as though she truly cared about the upcoming football season. It was a miracle. The first step in winning her over to reading.

Like every good habit, a child must be taught. Some fall in love with books immediately, others need some coaxing. Every child can benefit from quality time with a book on a parent’s lap.

• Read every day to your little one — and make it a part of your daily routine. Some parents enjoy storytimes before bed. Those with “spirited” children may find reading the best (and easiest in the morning while the child is still a little sleepy. Even five minutes is enough to start the habit.
• Show that books are fun. Get books with textures or that are interactive. The duck narrator from Tickle the Duck by Ethan Long teases the reader not to tickle his fuzzy tummy on the pages, making the story come alive. Silly books like Does a Cow Say Boo? by Judy Hindley will have them giggling and talking back to the pages. Lift-the-flap books like Peek-a-Moo by Marie Torres Cimarusti are perfect for chubby fingers to tug and play. Books can be as entertaining as toys — fact is, some are toys.
• Empower your little one. Let your child pick the book for the reading session, or even select from the library shelves if old enough. Ask questions like “What do you think will happen next?” to encourage creativity and thought while reading. Let your child turn the pages while you read. Books with few words and beautiful pictures like Yikes! by Robert Florczak give lots to look at, and soon favorite stories are memorized and your child can start “reading” the story to you.
• Make your own book. Get a photo album and fill it with photos of friends, relatives, or even pictures cut from magazines of stuff you know your child likes — trucks, dogs, even other babies. Get in the habit of reading any way you can.
• Let ‘em see you read. Pull out that magazine or novel you’ve been dying to finish
  and read while your child is playing close by. Be an example of a reader.

Don’t give up. Keep reading a little each day, repeat the books your child likes, until the book is memorized or the pages fall out. Reading is one of the most personal things you can do with your child. Establishing the routine at a young age will help develop learning skills, improve imagination, and provide a lifetime love affair with books.

And that’s a happily ever after.

More Books We Love:

• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See?
  by Bill Martin Jr. This classic read-to-me story, where you ask one animal what other animal they see, will soon be memorized by children, teaching them colors and animals.

• Go Away Big Green Monster
  by Edward R Emberley. Each page flip creates a goofy-looking monster that the reader is “not” afraid of. This book has few words and vibrant colors on a black background, sure to catch the attention of even the youngest.

• Has Anyone Seen My Emily Greene?
  by Norma Fox Mazer. A delightful father and daughter hide-n-seek story. Your little one will love pointing out Emily Greene’s hiding place on each page.

• King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub
  by Audrey Wood. An award-winning book has amazing pictures and a silly story about a king who won’t get out of the tub.

• Olivia
  by Ian Falconer. This little piggie has attitude! With striking illustrations, this very clever book is a wonderful mirror for your “spirited” child.

• Ten Apples up on Top
  by Theo. LeSieg (pen name for Dr. Seuss. A simple, funny story is told in classic Suess rhyme about animals stacking apples on their heads.

• Un Brella
  by Scott E. Franson. This colorful picture book that has no words, so you tell the story about a magic umbrella that in your own voice. The story changes every time with your — and your child’s — imagination.

– Angie Bergstrom Miller