2025 has arrived! There's still time to come up with a New Year's resolution. Here's one for parents, guardians, care providers, and teachers to consider: Reading with your child for at least 20 minutes a day to help them learn, grow, and thrive now and in the future.
Prioritize reading this year by introducing your child to books that align with their age, comprehension skills, and interests. This can help promote early childhood literacy and foster your child's cognitive, social-emotional, and vocabulary development, creativity, and empathy. Plus, your child can become a better reader and enjoy a fun, exciting, and rewarding learning experience.
If you're not sure about what types of books your child will enjoy, we're here to help. Check out our list of 10 types of books that children can enjoy with parents, guardians, care providers, and teachers.
1. Art, Music, and Poetry
Books about art, music and poetry can promote language development, literacy, memory, self-expression, and creativity. Additionally, reading poetry can help kids develop phonological awareness, i.e. an understanding of how different words sound, which provides a strong foundation for reading.
Books to Consider:
- "Vincent's Colors" by Vincent van Gogh
- "Little Poems for Tiny Ears" by Lin Oliver
- "Music Is in Everything" by Ziggy Marley
2. Professions and Objects
Picture books are ideal to highlight professions and objects, as they help kids understand what people in different careers do for work and how different objects can be used day after day. They also promote memory and recognition and help kids pick up new vocabulary.
Books to Consider:
- "What Do People Do All Day?" by Richard Scarry
- "Future Baby" series by Lori Alexander
- "My First 100 Objects Around Us Book" by Wonder House Books
3. Books with Unique Tactile Features
Pick up a book with sliders that go back and forth, things that pop out of the side or top, pathways that encourage kids to trace circular motions, and other distinct tactile features. A book with these and similar features lets kids interact with it as they read quietly or aloud, helps them grow their vocabulary, and enriches their overall learning experience.
Books to Consider:
- "See, Touch, Feel" by Roger Priddy
- "Cook in a Book" series
- "Peekaboo" series by Camilla Reid
4. Numbers and Letters
Use these books to teach children about numbers and letters and promote the development of early literacy and math skills.
Books to Consider:
- "Goodnight Numbers" by Danica McKellar
- "When Numbers Met Letters" by Lois Barr
- "Dr. Seuss's ABC: An Amazing Alphabet Book!" by Dr. Seuss
5. Routines
Thanks to these books, you can explain the ins and outs of routines to children and help them develop good habits and build self-confidence.
Books to Consider:
- "Buzzy's Big Bedtime Book" by Harriet Ziefert
- "The Creature of Habit" by Jennifer E. Smith
- "Happy Little Pets: I Take Care of My Puppy" by Michael Slack
6. Search and Find
In addition to keeping kids entertained for hours, search and find books promote focus, concentration, and language development and problem-solving.
Books to Consider:
- "If You Go Down to the Woods Today" by Rachel Piercey
- "Wacky Wednesday" by Dr. Seuss
- "Where’s the Pair?" by Britta Teckentrup
7. Books Without Words
Wordless books can help kids bolster their comprehension and critical thinking skills. They also encourage kids to let their creative juices flow as they use their imaginations to tell stories that are all their own.
Books to Consider:
- "Good Night Gorilla" by Peggy Rathmann
- "Journey" by Aaron Becker
- "The Snowman" by Raymond Briggs
8. Birds and Animals
With books about birds and animals, kids can learn about the physical characteristics of different creatures. Plus, they can develop a sense of empathy and responsibility for birds, animals, and the environment.
Books to Consider:
- "A Kid's Guide to Backyard Birds" by Eliza Berkowitz
- "Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See?" by Bill Martin
- "Around the Farm" by Eric Carle
9. Social and Emotional Learning
Utilize these books to teach kids how to express themselves in social situations, foster positive relationships, and learn about the importance of kindness, generosity, and empathy.
Books to Consider:
- "The Rabbit Listened" by Cori Doerrfeld
- "Big Feelings" by Alexandra Penfold
- "The Rainbow Fish" by Marcus Pfister
10. Problem-Solving
With help from books that teach kids how to become effective problem-solvers, children can learn how to tackle issues on their own or as part of a group and become more resilient than ever before.
Books to Consider:
- "Stuck" by Oliver Jeffers
- "Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale" by Mo Willems
- "The Brownstone" by Paula Scher
Read on! Free Early Childhood Literacy Resources Available to Parents, Guardians, Care Providers, and Teachers in Worcester
Make 2025 a year to remember by taking advantage of the many free resources available to parents, guardians, care providers, and teachers in Worcester.
The Worcester Public Library (WPL) offers thousands of children's books. Check out books from the library itself or get digital versions you can read with your child from your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Join the WPL's "1,000 Books Before Kindergarten" program to put your child on the path to reading success in 2025 and beyond. With this early childhood literacy program, you can log the books you and your child read together and earn rewards along the way.
Join Worcester Family Partnership (WFP) for storytime fun! This month, WFP is hosting in-person and Zoom playgroups and a Family Literacy Night on January 23 at 6 p.m. via Zoom. View WFP's January 2025 events calendar here.
Edward Street offers our Book Buddies Program designed to help increase a child’s early literacy skills. To become a Book Buddies Sponsor, please contact Toni Ostrow at .
Read our blog and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn to learn more about our early childhood programs and initiatives.