Books to encourage kids to read

I often hear that children are either too young for books, or they don't want to sit and listen to a story... but is that because books are being offered in the wrong way?

Put books in the hands of little ones - start with rag books and board books, but don't be afraid to put paperback picture books in the hands of little ones, don't make books into something that has to be held out of reach in case they get creased or ripped. A battered book is a loved book. You wouldn't try and keep a teddy bear out of reach in case it got damaged, so why keep books out of reach?

Let children choose a book that they want to read or look at, and share that book, read it and enjoy it together. Allow yourself to be distracted and talk about the pictures as you go along - just go with the flow and get lost in a book together.