Two or three-year-olds will help you turn the pages, point to pictures and ask questions - Wendy Cooling suggests books for an active story time

When you read to toddlers the emphasis is on fun rather than teaching. A lot of learning will take place but don't spoil it by putting pressure on your child to read. Some children pick up the skill through experiencing lots of books and talking about them, others will read once they get to school - there's seldom a reason to panic and it's better that they develop at their own pace.

Don't expect reading time to be quiet. Encourage your child to respond to, and talk about the story. In this way children learn how books work and how words and pictures can tell stories.

Choose books with pattern in the language

A good book invites children to join in and participation is an important part of the 'reading' business. Try Duck in the Truck , by Jez Alborough (Collins 0 00 664717 0). It's full of humour and told in the style of the traditional House That Jack Built or the now classic, Each Peach Pear Plum , by Janet and Allan Ahlberg (Puffin 0 14 050919 4) that invites participation in a game of I Spy…. It gives you the opportunity to tell other stories including Mother Hubbard, Cinderella and more. The book has a great rhyming text and pictures that will enchant children - and they have to concentrate to keep abreast of it all.

Concentration is important as children develop pre-reading skills

It can be encouraged by those wonderful picture books in which the pictures tell as much, or more of the story than the words. Pat Hutchins' Rosie's Walk (Red Fox 0 09 941399 X) is a perfect example as it invites the child to talk about what's happening and to tell the story as the pictures reveal it. Handa's Surprise , by Eileen Browne (Walker 0 7445 36340), works in the same way and includes wonderful images of Africa - another talking point. As children look at pictures and hear the rhythm of words they learn another important pre-reading skill, that of prediction.

The sounds and patterns of language

These come through nursery rhymes and poetry. Your child will learn favourites by heart and will be able to pretend he or she is reading. The brilliant, bold illustrations and fast-moving rhythms of Rumble in the Jungle , by Giles Andreae and David Wojtowycz (Orchard 1 86039 660 7) will help children to hear how language works. And Whizz, Bang, Orang-Utan , compiled by John Foster, (OUP 0 19 2761943) is a fabulous collection of rhymes to dip into. You'll find this will be a long-term favourite which is great to share with older brothers and sisters.

The more books children encounter the more they will begin to love a particular character

It's usually one that stars in a series of stories and the familiarity of such characters gives children confidence as they approach books. The very young love Kipper , by Mick Inkpen (Hodder) and soon after they'll like Lucy Cousins' Maisy - there's a lot to learn about life from Maisy. Try Maisy Goes Swimming (Walker 0 7445 0428 7) if you can cope with the giggling that is sure to follow as the tab is pulled to remove Maisy's orange bloomers! Interactive books with tabs and flaps really do involve children in the reading experience. Also don't forget Mr Bear, his stories are told by Debi Gliori (Orchard) and are warm, family-based tales that reflect real life. And of course there's David McKee's Elmer , the patchwork elephant who, as well as being fun, has a lot to teach children - these stories are published by Andersen Press and Red Fox.

There's always a place for the special one-off title, perhaps telling a longer, more complicated story

These offer a chance for very young children to develop their reading stamina. Helen Cooper's beautifully illustrated Pumpkin Soup (Picture Corgi 0 552 54510 4) is as good as its title suggests and teaches children about friendship and sharing. Mr Wolf's Pancakes , by Jan Fearnley (Methuen 0 416 19584 9) is a new look at the fairytale wolf - and like Each Peach Pear Plum, invites you to tell favourite traditional tales. For real fun it's hard to beat Winnie the Witch , by Korky Paul and Valerie Thomas (Oxford 0 19 272197 6), the first story about Winnie and her cat Wilbur. This book has stuck in the minds of many children and the witches they draw often wear orange and yellow striped stockings just like Winnie's!

Children who share all these stories and poems will acquire many skills to take into reading. They will know how books work, that they need to read both words and pictures. They will be developing concentration, stamina and language skills and - most important of all - they will know that books are great fun.