Help babies, toddlers explore their world

Babies and toddlers are on sensory alert. Think of it. The world and all it holds is new, and everything they see, hear, touch, taste and experience is all fresh. Nothing is old hat for the very young, and that's the magic and delight of early childhood.

All children are eager to learn. Like a giant puzzle, children take what they've been exposed to and try to put the puzzle pieces together to create an ever-evolving understandable picture and thereby learn how to have some control over their environment and life.

Everything children experience will add to how they process what goes on in their life, the world and how to navigate through it. Conversation, games, reading books and exposure to what happens in your home, outdoors, neighborhood and beyond add important puzzle pieces to broaden a child's base of understanding.

The bottom line is this: Your degree of thoughtful, sensitive participation and input will make all the difference. Think about it then make it happen — every day.

Books to Borrow

The following book is available at many public libraries.

"Baby Bear's Big Dreams" by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Melissa Sweet, Harcourt, 36 pages

Read aloud: age 18 months — age 3

Read yourself: age 6 — 7

Baby Bear has all sorts of plans for when he grows up, and Baby Bear thinks that will be very soon. He plans to have all his friends move in so they can play all day and stay up late. Later, he'll live in a toy shop, then a tree house. Baby Bear also plans to explore the woods, climb trees and camp outside.

When Baby Bear is all grown up, he will come home, because home is where his family is, where they will listen to his stories and where his mama and papa will tuck him in his bed and kiss him goodnight.

A delightful tale of a young child's desire to be "big," "Baby Bear's Big Dreams" hits that chord beautifully.

Librarian's Choice

Library: Sutter Branch Library, 2147 California St., Sutter

Library Director: Karen Crocker

Choices this week: "Never Spit on Your Shoes" by Denys Cazet; "The Frog Prince Continued" by Jon Scieszka; "Crispin" by Avi

Books to Buy

The following books are available at your favorite bookstores.

"Little Bear's Little Boat" by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012, 32 pages, $7.99 board book

Read aloud: age 1 — 3

Read yourself: age 6 — 7

Little Bear loved his little boat. He spent endless hours rowing around Huckleberry Lake, fishing, daydreaming and enjoying life. But as the days progressed, Little Bear began to notice that his little boat had become too small for him. Devastated, Little Bear sought consolation from his mother, who wisely explained, "It is a little bear's destiny to grow and grow till he is a big bear. It is a little boat's destiny to stay the same size."

Little Bear, now Big Bear, thought this over and came to a solution — he would find another little bear who could enjoy his boat and then begin work building a bigger boat for himself.

Spare text and charming illustrations combine to create a lovely story reflecting what it is to grow up in more ways than one.

"Bizzy Bear: Let's Get to Work!" written by Nosy Crow Ltd., illustrated by Benji Davies, Nosy Crow/Candlewick, 2012, 10 pages, $6.99 board book

Read aloud: age 1 — 3

Read yourself: age 5 — 6

Bizzy Bear is hard at work at the construction site with other workers. There is ground to dig up, sand to push with the front-end loader, dirt to dump out of the dump truck and bricks to deliver. What are they building? Ah-ha! It's a new house.

Sliders and tabs to push and pull help bring this construction story alive. With ample opportunities to embellish on this simple story to create more learning fun, little readers will want to get busy creating things themselves, just like Bizzy Bear.

Kendal A. Rautzhan writes and lectures about children's literature. She can be reached at her website: greatestbooksforkids.com.