Posted November 30, 2009
"Some of the sweetest hours of life, on retrospect, will be found to have been spent with books." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Here are some suggestions for choosing the best books according to your child’s age:
birth – 1 year
Look for small, brightly colored books with photos of babies and familiar objects like balls and bottles. Draw attention to the objects by saying things like, “Look at the ball,” or point to pictures and ask, “What’s that?”
1 – 2 years
Look for sturdier books that can be handled and carried; few words on the pages or simple rhyming themes. Talk about the pictures — you don’t necessarily have to read the book to tell the story.
2 – 3 years
Look for silly or funny books with subjects like food, animals, or making friends. Simple word books are good choices. Keep stories short and read them with few interruptions. Then, re-read them.
3 – 4 years
Look for books that tell simple stories with a beginning, a middle, and end; stories that relate to life, like overcoming fear; information books about children’s interests. As you read ask your child questions about the story: “What do you think will happen next? Why?” Keep them engaged.
5 – 6 years
Look for stories and information books that evoke children’s lively imagination and interests; books about space, machines, time, and other cultures. Ask your child to tell you what interests her most about the story. Use open-ended questions to encourage her to relate her ideas. Allow her to ask questions as you read.
For some tried and true kiddie lit favorites, browse some of these websites:
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio: The Independent Guide to Children’s Media
100 Best Books (as selected by the National Educators Association in 1999)
Best Children’s Books by Age (as chosen by Parents magazine)
-by Kindermusik educator Theresa Case. Theresa's Kindermusik program, Kindermusik at Piano Central Studios, is in the top 1% of all programs in the world.
Kindermusik Educator Sandy Lopez recently got this wonderful email in her inbox. It reminds us how many wonderful things we have to be thankful for this holiday season.
I heard something from a conference speaker that I believe EVERY parent and teacher and child care worker and family member should know. I’ve been searching for months for the source, because it has changed my way of speaking to the young children I work with (and the preschooler in my own home). 
During the first three years of life, a primary developmental objective is for a young child to learn to make things happen. This includes discovering qualities of objects, how things work, how to use objects as tools, how to plan, and how to make a plan work. Playing with things like play dough helps your child master that objective in a fun and enjoyable way. Not only that, but you will notice that your young child will remain interested in playing with toys and objects that are flexible and open-ended. Simple items like homemade play dough encourage your child’s creative play and expression.
Over the thirteen years I have been attending Kindermusik classes, I have come to be able to spot a Kindermusik child a mile a way. 
For many years, I've been looking for the words to describe why music is such an important presence in a child's early development. There's the brain research, yes. Compelling and interesting, however it's kind of gross to talk about a child's mind in terms of neural networks and neuron firing.
To laugh often and much; 
What better way to celebrate “Book Lovers Day” on November 7 than to read a book? We all know that reading to our children is an important part of their intellectual and emotional development. But why is that? Parent and Child Magazine addresses the issue with a terrific article by Susan B. Neuman, professor of childhood studies at the University of Michigan. The article can be found here: http://content.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=8056