Books

Look for board books and cloth books with thick pages, rounded corners, and big pictures. The Indestructibles line is rip-proof and washable, built for young children who want to chew and grab, and it keeps words to a minimum so you can talk through the pictures together. Goodnight Moon and the other classics make an easy start to a bedtime routine.

For a new reader, an easy reader is the place to start, with short sentences and words that repeat so a child can get through a page on their own. An easy reader sits between a picture book and a chapter book, and it's the natural next step once a young reader knows their letters and sounds.

Yes. A picture book, or a small stack of favorite picture books, is a thoughtful gift for a baby shower, birthday, or new sibling. A story about a best friend or a true story from nature both go over well, and plenty of people pair a book with a plush friend or drop a few into a gift set.

Start with what your child already likes. A child who loves animals will reach for a picture book full of animal characters and nature titles, and one who likes to laugh will want funny picture books. Reading it aloud in the shop, or flipping through the illustration, tells you fast if it will become a favorite.