More tips

Snuggle up and read together – this makes reading safe and intimate.

Read at bedtime – it’s a great way to relax children and gets reading into their daily routine early.

Share the same book over and over – babies enjoy the familiarity of the pictures and the story.

Take books everywhere so your baby gets used to them.

Point and show – this gets babies used to communicating with their hands.

Laugh and smile – be positive about books and storytelling and this will rub off on your children.

Most importantly…have fun! To become active readers children need to enjoy books. Hopefully their interest in books will start at a very young age – they will turn pages, point to the pictures, put them on their head or build houses! What is crucial is that your baby learns that books are fun.

"A child is never too young for books. Holding back until a child can read is like not talking to her until she can speak."

Dr Penelope Leach, childcare expert.