"The best time to start reading aloud to a baby is the day it is born. The lilting rhythm of a simple bedtime book on that first thrilling, exhausting day is soothing for the tremulous parents and the new child and adds to the bonding between them. It gives them something to "talk about" together."
From Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children
Will Change Their Lives Forever by Mem Fox.
I remember the night we brought our daughter home. We had survived all the wonderful craziness of bringing a newborn into the world, plus to make it really memorable, the blizzard of the century. There is such a joy holding a little one, so brand new, so trusting. Of course, I had to read her a bedtime book once we were settled in.
We read one of my favorites:
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratneyI love the voice of the little one in this book and the Dad who understands perfectly what Little Nutbrown Hare needs to hear.
We own two versions. One is a board book, a sturdier version of the original. The second is Emily's favorite, a shorter, softbound one that has a heart chain to grasp (really, eat) and a push button that makes a kissing noise and "I love you." But our voice saying "I love you," is all they need to hear. The day they are born, and every day after.
