Born Reading: Bringing Up Bookworms in a Digital Age—From Picture Books to eBooks and Everything in Between

Boog makes a strong argument for why caregivers of children ages birth to five need not simply read aloud, but also interact with children to ensure maximum nurturing and brain development. In fact, he states early on that "hospitals should be handing out interactive reading pamphlets along with diapers as new parents head home." He tackles the digital debate as well. While suggesting that parents try to adhere to the American Academy of Pediatrics policy advising zero screen time for children under two years of age, he advocates that any time a child spends on an electronic device should be as interactive as possible. Calling his collection of reading/interacting strategies "the born reading playbook," the author gives practical and smart advice, along with explanations of the 15 skills detailed throughout the book—all without sounding preachy. While some of his ideas are commonplace ("ask lots of questions" and "read together"), other suggestions ("follow the things your child loves" and "guide your child beyond what they already know") might be novel ideas for parents unsure about how to effectively read aloud to young children. Each chapter lists 10 suggested books to share. Chapters are arranged by age, and as the levels increase, so too do Boog's suggestions for how to use books and digital devices. "Born Reading Bundles" are a combination of print books and multimedia activities to share with children. His conclusion focuses on the Common Core State Standards, noting that "parents will have to do more work outside the classroom to encourage…individual interests." He also notes that his born reading playbook skills tie into the English Language Arts Common Core State Standards. This will be a useful title for all libraries to include in both their parenting and professional reading collections.—Lisa Kropp, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY