2023 July Featured Book: Infants

American Babies by Global Fund for Children

American Babies teaches even the smallest of readers that no matter where they live, babies are surrounded by love and raised in hope.

Seventeen richly colored photographs embrace the diversity of American babies and the universal joy of play and discovery. American Babies teaches even the smallest of readers that no matter where they live, babies are surrounded by love and raised in hope. To purchase, click here.

Developmental markers: https://startingwithstories.org/infants/.

• Beginning to absorb a cultural identity through daily caregiving, interactions, household smells,
  sounds, etc.
• Beginning to notice and respond to skin color cues (around 6 months)

Activities:

• As you “read” this book with your little one, give yourself permission to ignore the words on the page. Instead, ooh and aah over each and every adorable American baby.
• Tell your child about features you notice, pointing as you “read”—hair color, skin color, body parts, what baby is doing, how the baby is feeling, what may be similar or different from your child, etc.
• Keep the book where your baby can pick it up later on their own. Babies are generally fascinated by pictures of other babies and will pick up the book on their own and study the faces.
• Know that in the simplest of ways you are helping your little one absorb a key part of the American cultural identity—that, whether we are the same or different, we all belong.