Bill Martin Jr · Eric Carle · Padded board book · ISBN 9781627797221
A familiar rhythm, a favorite animal, and you.
2–5 years (publisher)Words & storiesPlay together
A repeating story gives a child a chance to anticipate and participate with a word, gesture, or sound. The animal pictures also invite noticing colors and making connections to things they already know.
Read at a comfortable pace and pause when your child seems ready to join in. Accept pointing, a sound, or a made-up word as participation; this is shared reading, not a quiz.
Let the play grow with them
Let a younger listener choose a favorite page. Later, invite your child to lead the repeated pattern or make up a new animal for a story of their own.
A no-shopping version
Borrow the book from your library or make a simple repeating story about things you can see in the room.
