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Why babies need books

By Katherine Solomon of the communications team at Bookstart Reading to babies is a great way to develop their language skills, encourage a love of reading, develop closer relationships and help them to understand the world. Babies and toddlers who love books increase their potential to do well at school and have increased confidence, independence and concentration.

Reading to babies is a great way to develop their language skills, encourage a love of reading, develop closer relationships and help them to understand the world. Babies and toddlers who love books increase their potential to do well at school and have increased confidence, independence and concentration.

In 1992 Booktrust, the reading charity that runs the Bookstart scheme, commissioned the developmental experts Professor Barrie Wade and Dr Maggie Moore to examine the effect on families who share books with young children. The results demonstrated that two-and three-year-olds who experienced 'book sharing' started school with significant advantages and scored more highly in various pre-school tests.

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