Books from Birth (or even earlier!)

Are you a parent of a child under 12 months or are you expecting a baby in the not too distant future?

If so, I would like to introduce you to Burnside Library’s Baby Chat and The Little Big Book Club.

Baby Chat is 30 minutes of songs, rhymes and finger plays for the Under 2s, 10.30 am – 11.00 am every Monday during school term. Best of all it’s free and bookings are not required.

The Little Big Book Club consists of a free early literacy pack for all babies aged 6-12 months. Simply present “Your Child’s Personal Health Record” (the blue book) to staff at the Information Desk. There is also a fantastic website with book suggestions for children aged 0-5 including monthly selections, visit www.thelittlebigbookclub.com.au.

Books to share with your children…Some personal favourites of mine:
Wibbly Pig series – Mick Inkpen
Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see – Bill Martin Jr
Families – Odette Ross
Hug – Jez Alborough
Dear Zoo – Rod Campbell
Owl Babies – Martin Waddell
Cuddle time – Libby Gleeson
The way I love you – David Bedford
The very hungry caterpillar – Eric Carle
We’re going on a bear hunt – Michael Rosen
Time for Bed – Mem Fox
Possum Magic – Mem Fox
Where’s Spot? Or any other Spot book- Eric Hill
Who Sank the Boat? – Pamela Allen
Green Eggs and Ham, Cat in the Hat or anything else by Dr Suess
Guess how much I love you? – Sam McBratney
Peace at last – Jill Murphy

Books for parents
These books offer tips, reading games and booklists:

Reading Magic: how your child can learn to read before school and other read-aloud miracles – Mem Fox (2001, Pan Macmillan, Australia)

The Reading Bug…and how you can help your child to catch it – Paul Jennings (2003 (Revised 2008) Penguin Books, Australia)

Reading with babies, toddlers and twos: a guide to choosing, reading and loving books together – Susan Straub and KJ Dell’Antonia (2006, Source Books, US)