Kicking off National Library Week, the six public libraries in Tompkins County and Family Reading Partnership have launched a new initiative called “Babies Belong at the Library!” New library cards especially for babies, more board books to check out, and special read-aloud and play times for babies offered at every library are all part of encouraging families to visit their nearest library early and often to make it a familiar and comfortable place for their growing family.
This week families with babies born at Cayuga Medical Center received the first copies of “Baby’s First Library Card” in a red book bag with a board book of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle, and a list of “50 Board Books for Baby” that they can find at any of the local public libraries. “Baby’s First Library Card” is also available at all Tompkins County public libraries and through many community organizations that work with families. In special recognition of welcoming babies, all six libraries have adopted a policy that there will be no fines on board books for babies.
Come, stay, and play with your baby and books at the library! Babies learn about books and stories through listening, looking, handling, and tasting! The most important thing is spending time with your baby and talking or reading, giving your baby the words that he or she will start learning and some day say back to you.
Babies like to hear stories with rhythm, rhyme, and motion. Very young babies like to look at faces of people, and as they get older they enjoy stories about the world they see around them. Here are just fifteen of many books that come in a sturdy board book format that can stand up to a baby’s curiosity.
“Whose Toes are Those?” by Jabari Asim
“Itsy, Bitsy Spider” by Annie Kubler
“Peek-a-Who?” by Nina Laden
“Flip, Flap, Fly” by Phyllis Root
“From Head to Toe” by Eric Carle
“Clap Your Hands” by Lorinda Bryan Cauley
“All Fall Down” by Helen Oxenbury
“Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb” by Al Perkins
“Baby Dance” by Ann Taylor
“Snug” by Carole Thompson
“Counting Kisses” by Karen Katz
“Hugs & Kisses” by Roberta Grobel Intrater
“Carry Me” by Star Bright Books
“Where is the Green Sheep?” by Mem Fox
“I Went Walking” by Sue Williams
Family Reading Corner 