• Story book

• Choose a story from the following suggestions:
  • Welcoming Babies by Margy Burns Knight, 2003. “Every day, everywhere, babies are born. We have many ways to show them we are glad they came into the world.”
  • Hello Baby! by Mem Fox, illustrated by Steve Jenkins, 2009. After meeting a bevy of baby animals-including a clever monkey, a hairy warthog, and a dusty lion cub-the baby in this classic board book discovers the most precious creature of all . . . itself, of course!
  • Oscar’s Half Birthday by Bob Graham, 2005. Oscar is only six months old, but his family can’t wait to celebrate his first birthday. They all go to the park for a picnic and a half-birthday party.
  • Baby Brains by Simon James, 2007. It’s never too early to start bringing up the smartest baby in the whole world.
  • I Kissed the Baby by Mary Murphy, 2004. It’s so exciting! News of the baby is buzzing from animal to animal, with each one-fish, bird, squirrel, insect, frog-boasting of seeing, feeding, singing to, tickling, and kissing the tiny little thing.
  • Jazz Baby by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, 2007. With a simple clap of hands, an itty-bitty beboppin’ baby gets his whole family singing and dancing.
• Review How to Read a Story Book, under Resources in the Introduction.

Hold up the book and say, in these words or your own:

Here’s how I am going to read the story. Does anyone need to move so they can see and hear?

This will help children move if they need to and then get settled before the story is started, so they don’t interrupt the reading. It also serves as a reminder that if they stand or sit right in front of the pages, no one else can see. Invite them to find a place to settle so that everyone can see. When all are ready, read the story. When you finish reading, ask if anyone has thoughts about the story that they would like to share.

Seat a child with hearing or sight difficulties near the reader.