Appropriate grades or age groups:
Preschool and Younger

Materials needed (if applicable):
Start when they're a few months old and use as many vocal inflections as possible. I started reading to my 3-year-old when she was just 2 months. She paid scant attention at first so I would exaggerate the animation in my voice, use funny and diverse voices for different characters, and make all kinds of over the top faces to correspond with the 'action' in the story, which was often just a puppy pulling on a sock or something like that. Basically, I tried anything that would get and keep her attention as long as possible, and make books the source of wonder and excitement. It worked for me! She was mesmerized and her books became her favorite pastime by the time she was a year old. I began to ask her questions long before she was able to answer them, and one day about 18 months she started answering everything she'd heard for the past six months. Now, at 3, she has started to pick out words already, and has all her favorite books committed to memory. She understands books far above her age level. I am doing the same thing with my 8-month old and so far I am getting the same results.

Activity set-up/instructions or description of technique:
I put them in their bouncy seats and sat on the floor beside them with the book displayed in their laps.

Other suggestions or comments:
With a baby the only objective is to get their attention and keep it as long as possible. The love of books must be inculcated at the earliest possible age. When they are over a year, then read in a less over the top, more normal voice.