Reading helps children learn about their world.
Recent studies show that reading to a child early and frequently increases the child's facility with his natural language. It also provides experience with the written language and structures of written language which are different than structures of the spoken language. Familiarity with prediction, repetition and similar devices which are integral to children's books prepares a child for the demands of school. The question for those who value book reading then is how to get children and books together. Children's librarians have creatively approached this problem with storytimes, incentives, and various other programs.