Our brains cease to grow by eight years of age. With this rapid growth is rapid learning. Information seen and heard might not be understood, but the brain receives it all and immediately learns and benefits from the experience. Children learn by playing. Parents know this and strive to provide educational toys for children.
Books are an excellent source of early life experience.
City kids can learn about country life. Parents provide plastic animals for kids to play with, yet picture books put the animals in context. Children can experience the size of the animals and the environment surrounding them. Books provide brain food. Words are everywhere.