We know that early literacy is important and a great indicator of future academic success, but there are many other benefits to young children reading and engaging with books, especially when doing so with a caring adult. Reading offers the opportunity for children and caregivers to experience several elements that strengthen their connection with each other.

It's likely that you've heard before that preschoolers need at least 15 minutes of reading time each day. Building vocabulary and fluency, laying the foundation for literacy, instilling a love for reading, and creating a special bond are just some of the benefits of carving out this small amount of time each day between a parent and their preschooler.

I typically let my kids pick out what books we read at bedtime each evening (I hold veto power over their choices if it's longer than I have the energy for). One of their go-to picks these days is the Little Golden Book classic Home For a Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown (author of the classics Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny). A cute story about a bunny in search of a proper place for himself, this book's first pages accurately sum up how I feel about this time of year: