You made it to the library with a mission to borrow. Kiddo in tow, goal in mind. You head to the children’s section because, face it, that’s where you’ve always headed. Feeling rather smug you grab a few cool looking picture books until you hear it… “those books are for BABIES!” retorts your big-school-now-kid.

So, are they for babies? Is there a point to rereading Spot books, all those Pig the Pugs or classics by Pamela Allen? It’s a resounding, YES. But now to convince your assertive child that there is value in them too.

Who did the reading of those “baby” books? Well, this time around your child can read it aloud to you - which is different from the last time you borrowed Stick Man. This time around your child can point out which words rhyme - which is different from when you skipped past them (as it was beyond their development at the time). For the next reading occasion you can use a predicting reading strategy before you turn each page of Brown Bear, Brown Bear. Not to mention the sensational illustration chats you can have with those insanely detailed picture books by Jeanie Baker or Graeme Base.

These are the books from which you can read for joy. These are the words your child will feel an extra sense of confidence from reading because they did it this time. These are the pictures you can point to and talk about. These are the books that are not actually (just) for babies.