What is the practice?
Picture books with a single word for each picture introduce an infant to printed text. Showing a child pictures of fun and interesting things while naming and talking about the pictures is how book reading becomes an enjoyable part of your routine. This kind of book reading is how infants begin to understand that letters and words mean the same things they see and hear.
What does the practice look like?
A baby’s first word book includes pictures of familiar and interesting people, places, and things. They have only one picture and one word on each page. Read the words to your child while pointing at the picture and printed text. This will encourage him to point to or touch the picture. Any time your child points or touches the picture or word before being asked, say, “Yes, that is a (name of the picture).”
How do you do the practice?
The following are some ideas you can use to build your child’s interest in word books.
How do you know the practice worked?
- Does your child more frequently touch or look at the pictures in a book?
- Does your child sometimes make sounds or say part of the words after hearing them?
- Does your child want you to go through the book over again after finishing?
- The best books are ones that include pictures of things that are both familiar to your child and that catch his interest. Faces, toys, and other objects that your child regularly sees generally work best. The books should have one picture and one word on each page.
- You can make a word book using a small photo album in which you can insert pictures and write the names of the people or objects on the pictures. Choose albums with plastic sleeves to protect the photographs.
- Find any comfortable position where the book can be held directly in front of your child. Show your child one of the pages and name the picture while pointing to the printed word. Ask questions like, “Do you see the ____?” Any time your child reaches, touches, or points to the picture or printed word, repeat the word. As your child becomes more involved in this kind of book reading, add additional information in response to your child’s interest in the pictures (for example, “Yes, the kitty is smiling at you!”).
- Show your child the book and point at the picture on a page while naming the picture. Follow your child’s lead. Describe in short sentences what she is looking at or touching. “Book reading” times should be like a game of give-and-take. You do something (turn the page, for example), your child does something (smiles and gets excited), and you keep the game going (saying, “The baby is looking at you!”). The more your child looks, touches, and otherwise enjoys the activity, the better.
- You do not need to go through the entire book. It is best to stop before your child loses interest.
Take a look at more first word books for babies
Words About Me!
Five-month-old Ethan loves to look at himself in a mirror. His mother uses this interest to make a word book with pictures of Ethan. The book includes eight pictures of Ethan, with each picture having one word describing his expressions—happy, sad, joyful, crying, etc. With Ethan nestled in his mother’s arms, she shows him one of his pictures, which gets him excited. She points to the picture while saying, “Yes, that is Ethan. You are a happy baby.” Ethan becomes engrossed in looking at the pictures and having his mother talk about him.
Reach and Touch
Antonio, age 11 months, is on his mother’s lap, and she is showing him a book of familiar animals (cats, dogs, birds, etc.). Each time he sees a different animal, Antonio gets excited. His mom holds the book out in front of Antonio who reaches and touches one of the pages. Mom says, “Do you see the cat? You do!” She shows him each of the pages one at a time and follows his lead by saying the name of the animal he touches and describing what the animal is doing. When Mom notices that her son is losing interest, she tells Antonio that all the animals are going to sleep and puts the book away.
Computer Word Book
Nico’s mother has found a special way to introduce her son to word books that really keeps Nico’s attention. Mom has put together a collection of digital photos of Nico’s favorite toys on a computer and has inserted the names of each toy on the photos. She has even added speech to the photos, which Nico can hear when he pushes a touch-sensitive pad. Nico’s mother holds him on her lap in front of the computer and shows Nico how to make each of the pictures “talk.” The combination of pictures, words, and speech keeps Nico’s attention for what seems like a very long time. Mom helps him “turn the pages” by putting his hand on the touch pad.
