Librarian encourages reading to young

On Aug. 2, 2018, at 10:45 p.m. Nathan and I welcomed Jaxson into our family. It was a big surprise as Jaxson wasn't due to arrive for another five weeks. We were in the loving care of the Mercy staff for eight days and the University of Iowa staff for 20 days. Due to his lungs being underdeveloped Jaxson need the help of oxygen.

Now, Jaxson is three months old and thriving. He has almost tripled his birth weight. He is a smiley, happy baby. He loves when Mommy sings and reads to him. Some of his favorite books are 'Goodnight Moon,” 'The little engine that could” and 'Guess how much I love you.”

New parents often receive advice from a variety of sources that can seem overwhelming. There is one piece of advice that teachers, librarians and pediatricians would like you to follow. Read to your baby.

Research shows that it's best to instill a love of books and reading from birth. Reading one-on-one to children is nurturing and helps develop the relations between parent and their child. It encourages a positive connection between children and books.

Children who grow up in families that embrace reading during the early years are more likely to learn to read on schedule and enjoy it. Reading aloud to your children is not only one of the best activities to stimulate language and cognitive skills, but it also builds motivation, curiosity, and memory.

The library offers a large selection of books for every age and great online resources. All you need is a library card. Don't have a library card? The librarians would be happy to help you get one. The best part is they are free.

New materials:

The following books were given in memory of Dorothy Johnson by her family and friends:

Landscape Painting by Mitchell Albala

The Gift of Calligraphy by Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls

Becoming by Michelle Obama

The following books were given in memory of Norma Meyer by her family and friends:

Where the Watermelons Grow by Cindy Baldwin

The Rose Legacy by Jessica Day George

The Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris

Love Sugar Magic by Anna Meriano

Cats vs. Robots by Margaret Stohl

Home Body by Joanna Gaines given in honor of Debi Hanson, Festival of the Pumpkins 2018

Adult Fiction

Heads You Win by Jeffrey Archer

Long Road to Mercy by David Baldacci

Sea of Greed by Clive Cussler

Virgil Wander by Leif Enger

The Noel Stranger by Richard Paul Evans

Alice Isn't Dead by Joseph Fink

Elevation by Stephen King

Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver

Ohio by Stephen Markley

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

House of Gold by Natasha Solomons

Adult Biography

Full Disclosure by Stormy Daniels

Juvenile Fiction

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald by J. K. Rowling