Baby brains are under construction from the moment of conception. By the time a child becomes an adult, her brain has grown to four times its original weight.

Brains become larger and heavier as they create new brain cells and form important connections between these cells. These connections allow a baby to learn, and are stimulated every time a baby reacts to something around her such as colors, sounds and happy emotions.

The images below demonstrate the areas of the brain associated with early literacy skills.

Image courtesy of the Public Library Association

The appearance or “plasticity” of the brain of a child who has been nurtured and exposed to a wealth of stimuli differs starkly from that of a child who has received little or no attention. The neglected brain fails to develop the crucial connections needed to grow, and is thus undeveloped.

http://www.pla.org/ala/pla/plaissues/earlylit/workshopsparent/plasticity.pdf