Reading Tree

Reading is fundamental to children's development, with research showing the links between good reading skills and future success in life.

Choose one book a month to read with your child from 0 - 5 years

Children who have an early introduction to books tend to do better at school and benefit in many ways.

Finding books that children want to read can be hard as there is so much choice...which is where the Reading Tree can help!

Newport Libraries' Reading Tree is designed to help you choose at least one book a month to share with your child for the first five years of their life.

All the books listed can be borrowed free of charge at your local Newport library.

Books for ages 0 - 1 year

These sturdy books are full of lively illustrations ideal for young babies and let your baby turn the pages with some help.

At this stage your baby starts recognizing familiar objects and faces.

Try these titles:

Baby Sees...A very first book; ...Bedtime; ...Patterns; Baby’s very first bedtime book; Baby’s very first slide and see under the sea; Baby’s very first slide and see zoo; Baby’s very first touchy-feely book; Baby’s very first touchy-feely play book; Bedtime!; Cwac Cwac; Amser Bola babi; Dechrau Cyfri

Books for ages 1 - 2 years

At this age babies begin to point at familiar objects and faces and begin to fill in the words and recite familiar passages.

Your baby will begin to hold and carry the books and turn the pages.

Titles include:

Rod Campbell - Dear Zoo; Farm Babies; Farm Chase; Five Little Ducks; Oh Dear!
Allan Ahlberg - Peepo!
Eric Hill - Spot Goes to the Farm; Where's Spot?
M. Fox - Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes
Luned Aaron Aaron - ABC Byd Natur
Cyw ar y Fferm
Geiriau Cyntaf Cyw

Books for ages 2 - 3 years

These books help the child to understand the idea of a plot.

Your child will begin to read to themselves, coordinate the pictures and text and start to learn to turn paper pages.

Look out for these books:

B. Martin - Brown Bear, Brown Bear,What Do You See?
David McKee - Elmer; Elfed , Rhosyn aSuper Eliffant
Julia Donaldson - Hippo Has a Hat; Tiddler; Y Fuwch Goch Gota a’iGeiriau Nesa; Babi Bach
Eric Carle - Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?; The Very Busy Spider; The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Jez Alborough - Where’s my Teddy

Books for ages 3 - 4 years

At this stage the story plot becomes important and this is reflected in these longer story books.

Your child begins to follow the text and enjoys the same book repeatedly, also learning how to turn one page at a time.

Look out for:

Martin Waddell - Owl Babies; Methu Cysgu Wyt Ti Arth Bach?
Giles Andrea - Giraffes Can’t Dance; The Lion Who wanted to Love
Jill Murphy - Peace at Last; Whatever Next
Julia Donaldson - Room on the Broom; Tabby McTat; Y Gryffalo; Bwni’r Bardd;
Margaret Brown - Goodnight Moon

Books for ages 4 - 5 years

These books help your child broaden the skills they have learnt in their first four years.

Rhyming becomes more important and the child begins to learn to spell - the next step is to start reading aloud in the next few years.