The most important avenue to get babies and toddlers interested in books and reading is to read to them every day, even multiple times throughout the day. The second most important avenue is to choose books that are loaded with baby and toddler appeal. Interactive books make excellent choices in this regard. The interactive component can be a button to push that makes a sound, soft things to touch, pictures that move, or the repetition of a word or phrase that the child can anticipate and delight in hearing or saying aloud with you. These interactive items help draw the child’s attention to the book while providing many other opportunities for learning.

Today’s reviewed books are great examples of interactive books. Ask your bookseller or librarian to suggest others. Your daily commitment to read wonderful books to the baby and toddler in your life will create essential building blocks for all future learning. What an awesome opportunity — building brains one book at a time!

Books to borrow

The following book is available at many public libraries.

“Tickle the Duck!” written and illustrated by Ethan Long, Little, Brown, 24 pages

Read aloud: age 2 and older.

Read yourself: age 6 – 7 and older.

This wild and crazy duck starts his story off with a command to his young readers - “Whatever you do…don’t you DARE tickle me here!” Well, with the white fuzzy fur sticking out from the duck’s tummy, who could resist? Go ahead — tickle away!! You’ll make that nutty duck laugh and laugh until he commands his readers again - not to tickle him any more, and he means it!

Perfect from start to finish, “Tickle the Duck” will have young readers laughing out loud on every page and begging you to read this selection a hundred times over!

Librarian’s choice

Library: Selinsgrove Community Library, 1 North High St., Selinsgrove

Library Director: Jennifer Johnston

Choices this week: “I Kissed the Baby” by Mary Murphy; “Owl Moon” by Jane Yolen; “The Mitten” by Jan Brett

Books to buy

The following books are available at favorite bookstores.

“Hello, Dinosaurs!” by Jill Ackerman, illustrated by Jill McDonald, Little Scholastic, 2009, 8 pages plus attached hand-puppet, $12.99 board book

Read aloud: birth – age 2.

Read yourself: age 7.

“Hello, Dinosaurs!” is an adorable interactive book that has a board book securely attached to the palm of the soft five-fingered dinosaur hand-puppet. Each dinosaur finger is unique from the others both in style and color. Each page of the book highlights one of the dinosaurs that are on the hand-puppet, and adults can wiggle one or all of the dinosaurs as they read the simple story aloud.

Perfect for the tiniest reader in your life, “Hello, Dinosaur” provides a positive, fun introduction to the world of books and reading.

“Push the Button” written by Begin Smart, LLC, illustrated by Elliot Kreloff, Begin Smart, 2009, 16 pages, $12.95 hardcover

Read aloud: 12 to 18 months

Read yourself: age 5 – 6.

A simple little book packed with learning and fun, “Push the Button” is certain to entertain, engage and educate young children. When the bright red button is pushed, it squeaks, delighting little children over and over again. Couple that with the simple story that features familiar and new objects, and you’ve got a brilliant book that is packed with early learning.

n Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan, of Lewisburg, writes and lectures on children’s literature. She can be reached via e-mail: kendal@sunlink.net.