Exposing Baby to Books and Reading.

I've been reading to my little munchlax since he was a few months old. His pediatrician recommended it (along with the admonition that he not be exposed to too much TV) and I've also read online about how it'll help his comprehension and get him used to reading. In fact, just recently, there was this article on the Smart Parenting Philippines site about the 6 Stages of Reading Development and Why You Should Read to Your Babies. It made me feel good that at least in this regard, I was on the right "mommy track".

Being a lover of books --- though presently choosy with the types I add to my shelf after YEARS of poring over nothing except college manuals --- it doesn't take much effort on my part to slowly build my son's (and maybe future son's/daughter's) library. Whenever I'd pass by a bookstore, I can never resist buying him a book... or five. In fact, one of my most extravagant purchases at last year's MIBF was a set of stories that teach values. Of course, I then realized that he can't handle the paper yet because he'd end up tearing the pages with his gleefully innocent baby fingers. So I stuck it out with board books. He has about twenty or so already, although I've lost count.

Baby's little basket of books.
When they look so neat piled in like this, he loves to take them out.)

One of my favorites. Been reading this to him since
 he was  two or three months, I think, that I have
 the entire book memorized. Sometimes I recite it
 to keep him distracted. And yes, it's a story
 about cows that know how to type.
Their farmer is so frustrated with them!

These were finds at Powerbooks. 10 Trick or Treaters counts down from
 10 trick or treating kids to zero, and there's a monster to scare one child off
 the list every page. Munch, for some strange reason, likes to turn
 the book to the number three, where the VAMPIRE is, point to it, and smile.
 I think he knows his mom's obsession with Twilight.

The Goat that Gloats is about a goat who lives in a tower
  and tries to make friends the only way he seems to think of:
 by boasting of his possessions and talents. It's actually a charming
 book with a lesson in the end, and all the verses are beautifully rhymed.
 I found it priced at 79php; the photo above will better explain why. 

Daddy Hugs is another counting book, and a gift from  the daddy.  

I saw this at Fully Booked and practically squealed with glee.
 I loved the cows that typed so much that I had to have another story with them in it.
 This was about them and the other farm animals joining a singing contest
 at the fair to win a trampoline. (The duck quack-sings Born to be Wild.) It's hilarious! 

This is just a small sampling of my munchlax's mini-library, and the ones that are mostly read by me to him. When it's just him, he usually handles the smaller books with no stories and just pictures. To be honest, I can't wait 'til he's able to hold the paper-leaved ones, but, ah, baby steps. Baby steps.