Even babies can begin to turn the pages of a cloth or cardboard book while sitting in the warm comfort of your lap. As they grow old enough to help turn the pages, they are learning some important things about reading. These include coming to know which is the front and back of a book, how the pages turn, and that the print on a page may be related to the pictures they see. As children get older, they may still want to sit in your lap to look at books or to hear you read to them. As toddlers, though, they may want to help a little more often, by turning the pages or maybe even holding the books themselves.
Toddlers like to name the pictures, so simple picture books are often favorites.
Their interest in print at this age may be limited to recognizing the logos and symbols of their favorite stores or eating places. Since learning to read is closely related to learning to write, you might want to find ways to encourage your child to use crayons and pencils. To help them develop the finger coordination they need for later writing development, you can begin to give older toddlers chunky crayons or fat markers and paper. Because children's ability to control their fingers is not well developed, it's a good idea to protect the writing surface with some paper underneath. Children will often begin to draw their own representations of the world around them.