Great Green Reads for Baby
There is nothing quite like snuggling up with your baby and a good book. Reading to him, even at this young age is a great way for you both to relax and bond. And it also helps to boost your baby's brain power and expose him to language and concepts from the world around him.
Studies show that language skills and intelligence are directly related to how many words an infant hears each day. In one study, babies whose parents spoke to them an average of 2,100 words an hour scored higher on standardized tests when they reached age three than did children whose parents hadn't been as verbal. A running commentary throughout your day is a great way to keep the conversation flowing. And reading is another fun way to add variety to your verbal interactions.
Babies need to feel an emotional connection with the words they hear throughout the day. So steer clear of books on tape, as well as radio and television. In fact, a recent study from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that watching videos as a toddler may lead to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
So read to your baby as often as possible, especially from books that will help to spark his interest in the environment. Here are a few great green reads to share with your little one:
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss (Random House Books for Young Readers, 1971).
The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest by Lynne Cherry (Sandpiper, 2000).
Over in the Jungle: A Rainforest Rhyme by Marianne Berkes (Dawn Publications, 2007).
If I Ran the Rain Forest: All about Tropical Rain Forests by Bonnie Worth (Random House Books for Young Readers, 2003).
Eco Babies Wear Green by Michelle Sinclair Colman (Ten Speed Press, 2009).
Babies in the Bayou by Jim Arnosky (Penguin Group, 2007).
Little Monkey by Kimberly Ainsworth (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2008).
