• Helps children understand "book" language, which is different than the way that we speak. We rarely say things to each other like, "Oh look! The clouds are ripe with rain today!"

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• Teaches children new and interesting words. Children's books have 50% more rare and unique words in them than does the conversation of two university graduates!*

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• Is a fun way to spend quality time with children!

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• Is a great way to encourage children to express themselves with their words (when we ask thoughtful questions and make comments), their bodies (when encouraging pretend play while reading), and if you use props, with materials.

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• Helps children with print awareness, something that is highly correlated with later reading success.

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• It helps them empathize with the characters in the book and understand feelings.

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• It brings the whole world to them! ...all the people, places, and things that build our curiosity.

 

*Hayes, D. P., & Ahrens, M. G. (1988). Vocabulary simplification for children: A special case of ‘motherese’?. Journal of child language, 15(2), 395-410.