One of the most important things parents can do, beyond keeping kids healthy and safe, is to read with them. That means starting when they are newborns and continuing well beyond the years that they can read by themselves. Study after study shows that early reading with children helps them learn to speak, interact, bond with parents and read early themselves, and reading with kids who already know how to read helps them feel close to caretakers, understand the world around them and be empathetic citizens of the world.

We spoke with Liza Baker, the executive editorial director at Scholastic, which just released its Kids & Family Reading Report. She shared highlights of the report and offered tips on how to turn children into readers.

Read aloud early — and keep it going.

More than 3 out of 4 parents who have children ages 5 and younger start reading aloud before their child reaches his first birthday. This practice increased to 40 percent in 2016 from 30 percent in 2014 among parents who read aloud before their baby is 3 months old. The research also showed that more parents of 3- to 5-year-olds are reading aloud frequently, with 62 percent of these parents reading aloud five to seven days a week, compared with 55 percent in 2014.

But it’s not all great news: There’s been a drop in parents continuing to read aloud after age 5.

Tip: Have fun and be playful. Use this as an opportunity to ham it up and perhaps create different character voices to really engage the child. Don’t be shy about not being perfect. Don’t feel discouraged if a younger child gets distracted or interrupts storytime with questions. That’s all part of the learning journey and reading process.

Be a resource to your kids for book ideas

Scholastic’s research shows that parents underestimate that kids need help finding books. Only 29 percent of parents agree “my child has trouble finding books he/she likes,” whereas 41 percent of kids say finding books they like is a challenge. This number increases to 57 percent among infrequent readers.

Tip: For younger kids, see which titles they gravitate toward. Do they like animals? Try “Duck on a Tractor” by David Shannon. Do they like interactive books? Try “Are You My Cuddle Bunny?” by Sandra Magsamen. Research shows kids of all ages want books that “make me laugh.” For younger kids, go with “King Baby” by Kate Beaton. For the elementary level and early chapter book stage, go for the Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey. For middle grade readers, try the Crimebiters series by Tommy Greenwald. For the young adult crowd, go for “Kill the Boy Band” by Goldy Moldavsky.

Showcase diverse story lines and characters

When looking for children’s books, both kids (37 percent) and parents (42 percent) mostly agree they “just want a good story.” One in 10 kids ages 12 to 17 say they specifically look for books that have “culturally or ethnically diverse storylines, settings or characters.”

Tip: Look for stories that showcase different experiences, backgrounds, religions, identities and more to help your child find him or herself in books, as well as learn about other people’s lives. This will teach children the importance of empathy and kindness. Consider the picture book “Cleonardo, the Little Inventor” by Mary Grandpre, the chapter book “Ugly Cat and Pablo” by Isabel Quintero, the middle grade book “Save Me a Seat” by Sarah Weeks or the YA book “Drag Teen” by Jeffrey Self.

Talk to teachers

and school librarians?

Overall, kids say teachers and school librarians (51 percent) offer the best book suggestions, followed by their peers (50 percent). Younger kids (6 to 11) are the most likely to get great picks from school book clubs and fairs, and older kids (15 to 17) are the most likely to find book suggestions on social media.

Tip: Ask your teacher what she or he suggests to keep even the most reluctant reader engaged. Teachers see firsthand what works. Also, don’t forget your public or school librarian. Never forget, though, choice rules when kids read for fun. Eighty-nine percent of kids ages 6 to 17 agree that the favorite books “are the ones that I have picked out myself.” And book choice starts early, as 67 percent of parents with kids up to age 5 reported that their kids choose the books for read-aloud time. This goes up to 81 percent of parents with kids ages 3 to 5.

Make books accessible

The more accessible you make books, the more frequently they’ll read

Tip: Make sure your bookshelves are low enough for kids to reach the book that they want to read. Keep books by your children’s bedside, in the playroom and all over the house. Bring books with you on car trips, to the grocery store or to the doctor’s office waiting room. Rather than handing them a device, hand them a book they love.