. . . "No one expects an infant to read, but simply having a book in her hands can start the process of getting familiar with books and reading materials. ???Although a 9- to 12-month-old may chew on a book or bang it on the floor, parents should still encourage children by including books in their repertoire of play objects,??? says Dr. Fussell. ???The same goes for reading to younger infants and toddle" .