"Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life." – Mortimer J. Adler

Thinking back on your childhood, it's a good bet that one of your most vivid and sweetest memories is cuddling up on Mom or Dad's lap listening to them read a book. And it didn't matter whether it was a lost puppy dog that found its way home, a velveteen rabbit that comes to life or a little engine that thought it could. It was the joy of hearing the voice of the pivotal people in your life as the colorful images leapt off the page. It was the closeness felt by all from the simple act of reading.

"Reading aloud to babies should be part of a daily routine," says Andrea DeBruin-Parecki, director of High/Scope Early Reading Institute in Ypsilanti, Mich. DeBruin-Parecki says infants recognize the faces and voices of those who care for them, and reading can increase the closeness and help with bonding. "As parents read to their infants, they will form a positive link between books and what they love most: your voice and closeness," she says. Reading to babies also exposes them to language and expression. The gurgles and coos that are sure to come as a reward to you for reading to your infant will one day be words!

It's never too early to start a library for your baby – whether she or he is here yet or not. DeBruin-Parecki says to look for cardboard or cloth books with large, simple pictures of things that babies are familiar with. Other good choices are plastic books that can be played with in the bathtub, life-flap books and touch-and-feel books. And timing is everything when deciding when to read. "Pick a quiet time and be sure the baby is comfortable, happy and attentive," says DeBruin-Parecki.

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