Zanurzanie w świat symboli – książki dla najmłodszych

As the child’s environment is rich in various symbolic codes such as colors, shapes, sounds and gestures, which constitute a configuration of stimuli typical for a culture, the child is immersed in the world of cultural symbols from the earliest moments of its life. This kind of „immersion” is closely associated with social interaction, therefore the intermediary between culture and the child may be involved in making decisions concerning access to specific cultural messages (type of music, artistic aesthetics, type of books), assistance in receiving the transmission (reading to the child) and its interpretation, while also indicating components of value. The article presents examples of contemporary books published in Poland for those children who have not yet learnt to read. It also describes the possible functions of specific publications on the individual’s cognitive development, with recommendations on how to activate him or her to receive transmission independently. Books chosen by a mediator with regard to the meanings they carry, can help to establish contact with the child, learn its way of interpreting reality, and support his or her development.