* Begin when your child is born and spend time reading every day.
* Sing to your baby.
* Repeat nursery rhymes.
* Visit the library. Ask about storytimes. Borrow books to share with your baby at home.
* Choose books with colorful pictures and simple words–or no words at all.
* Read with expression–or just tell the story in your own words.
* Hold the book so your child can see the pictures clearly.
* Let your baby play with the book.
* Encourage your toddler to point out objects, repeat words, and talk about the story.
* Reread your child’s favorite books over and over again.
* Use the technique of dialogic reading to help a child stay actively involved with a story and develop reading comprehension. Instead of reading the story straight through, ask the child open-ended questions about the story: “Why do you think Goldilocks ate Baby Bear’s porridge?” “What do you think will happen next?”
* Read or tell stories in the language you are most comfortable with. It doesn’t have to be English!
* Help your child develop phonological awareness –the understanding that words are made up of smaller sounds–by playing games with the sounds of words and repeating rhymes.
* Tell stories about your family and your culture.
* Encourage older children to read to their younger brothers and sisters.
* Be an example to your children; let them see you read books too.

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