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Make books *live* for your child. The story shouldn't stay on the page but should make its way into he reader's head and take on a life of its own as it mixes with the reader's thoughts. Good books show us another world.

Instill in children a love of books. Show them how absorbing a hobby reading is. It can be exciting, relaxing, even comforting. Children copy the parents, so if they see you reading, especially if you are enjoying it, they will want to read too. Right from birth spend some time daily or almost daily cuddling your child and reading to them. They will associate books with happy snuggle times and want more of them.

Engage the child in the reading process. Buy robust, card books at first and encourage your child to touch them and handle them, flicking through for the pictures. Make sure they are bright and enticing and you will soon have the child hooked. As they look at the pictures, talk to them about the book. Don't just stick to asking the child to point to objects, it will feel like a school lesson and as they get older, will feel patronizing . Books are so much more than the objects that are written about. Fire up the child's imagination!

This is not about right and wrong. Books aren't - that's why they are so much fun. The reader is as much part of the process as the author. After all, haven't you ever watched a movie adaptation of a novel and thought 'that character was never like that!...They didn't look like that!' etc? It's because the character lived for you in your mind's eye. Help it live for your child too.

Even before they can read children can express opinions about books. Talk to them about the pictures or the titles. "What do they think the book will be about from the title?" "What do you think this character is doing/thinking/feeling/will be like?" "Did you expect them to...?" "I wonder what made them say that?" etc

Books should be part of your everyday life - and theirs.

Learn more about this author, Jane Buckley.
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