Picture books are the perfect type of books to start with. They are generally very colorful and simple in design. Many picture books have thick pages and very little or no text. Since young children don't have the attention span for long stories, picture books introduce your child to reading. Even young babies find the bold colors of the pictures fascinating to look at and you can explain what is going on in the pictures instead of focusing on a complex story line.
As your child gets older, she will most likely show more of an interest in written stories and not just the pictures. Story books emphasize a written story instead of a visual one. These come in many development levels, from books that have very simple story lines and a lot of pictures to books that are all text. Choose books according to her interests and abilities. Story books will be your child's transition into reading. Finding exciting, simple books will help her begin her literacy development.
Some people begin reading to their baby before she's even been born. While your baby can't distinguish individual sounds, she can recognize the rhythm of stories. When your baby is little, grabbing a book and cuddling with her can be very relaxing. She may not understand what's going on, but being held and hearing your voice will be very comforting to her.
As she gets a little older, you may find it difficult to get her to sit still. Using a fun, sing-song voice and actively engaging her in looking at pictures may hold her interest for a little while. Pick picture books that are durable and let her play with them. Make games out of the activity, such as peak-a-boo, so she associates reading with fun.
Local libraries provide many resources for parents. Not only do they have a wide selection of books for children of all ages, but they generally have a variety of programs set up to promote literacy. Most libraries have group storytimes for children of all ages. This can be very fun for parents as they can meet other families and turn reading into a social event. Libraries also offer resources (or direction to resources) for families who may be struggling with literacy.