At what age can a child start using talking books?
There is no set minimum age. Books for very young children usually contain more illustrations than text and are therefore not part of the program. Materials in the collection begin at the preschool level, and NLS provides a parents guide circular that lists other sources of audio materials for preschool children. Children who are blind, visually impaired, and physically handicapped develop an interest in reading the same way nondisabled children do: that is, by being read to by an adult before being old enough to read on their own. At the public library, parents can find many alternative format materials to explore with young blind children, e.g., large print; audiotapes of stories, nursery rhymes, and songs; and videos.
