Reading Time!: A Tummy Time First Words Book for Babies

by Mama Makes Books

Overview

The perfect gift for newborn babies! Reading Time! is a fold-out, high-contrast board book that turns tummy time into a joyful celebration of first words and playful discovery.

This engaging title pairs expressive vocabulary with baby-friendly imagery designed to spark early language skills.

One side features bold black-and-white patterns and saturated colors that stimulate visual tracking and encourage longer tummy time sessions. The other side delights with real baby photos and an embedded mirror—perfect for giggles, bonding, and early self-recognition.

The book’s accordion-style format stands upright for hands-free play or folds up for intimate lap reading. Whether you're trumpeting like an elephant or wiggling like a puppy, Reading Time! encourages playful reading and rich verbal interaction from the start.

Why babies (and caregivers) love Reading Time!:

• Language-Boosting Fun: Builds foundational vocabulary through expressive images and sound-rich words
• Mirror Discovery: A baby-safe mirror helps support social-emotional development
• Muscle & Mind Engagement: Encourages core strength, neck development, and cognitive stimulation
• Designed for Tummy Time: Accordion layout props up easily and offers a dual-sided experience

Part of the award-winning Tummy Time! series, named Best Board Books by Bank Street College of Education, Reading Time! creates meaningful early moments of learning, laughter, and love.

The Tummy Time! Books:

• Playtime!
• Reading Time!
• Tummy Time!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781636550688
Publisher:	Red Comet Press
Publication date:	04/25/2023
Series:	Tummy Time! Books
Pages:	16
Product dimensions:	5.62(w) x 8.25(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	1 Year

About the Author

Mama Makes Books is a small creative company producing children's books with love, for children, for books, and for the planet. The aim is to create books that children and adults enjoy sharing together - books that develop early-learning skills, an understanding of the world, and feed curiosity. 

Editorial Reviews

A Bank Street Center for Children's Literature Best Book of the Year 2023.
"A fold-out board book designed for infant tummy time or reading with a caregiver. Bold images and a simple palette make for a baby-friendly book. Each page is labeled with a simple word (cat, car, teddy, train) that might be familiar or of interest to little ones, accompanied by a simple, pared-down image and rhyming text. Bouncy, repetitive verse includes references to sounds ("beep beep!" "chugga-chugga"). On one page, there's a mirror, and the text leaves blank spots for caregivers to insert a child’s name (“I see _____ / _____ sees me!”)—a nice touch, especially given that mirrors are high-interest objects for babies. Besides black and white, the only other colors used in the book are green, yellow, red, and blue, no shades or variations, a fitting palette for infants. Unlike similar board books, this one does more than simply label images. The words are fun to say and hear, encouraging listening and learning, an important step for babies as they acquire language. The fold-out feature makes the title multipurpose and playful and allows for touching and manipulating as the baby grows older. Will help cultivate meaningful first reading experiences. (Board book. 0-1) –Kirkus Reviews 

". . . a delightful first words book for babies. . . a lovely book to share with a baby, giving precious bonding and cuddle time. It enables conversations, even in baby talk!" –Book Trust

A sister publication to Tummy Time!: A high-contrast fold-out book with mirror for babies and Playtime! A tummy time play book for babies.

From the Publisher