When you're reading a book to your child, it's no surprise that they are constantly asking the question “why?” Research has now shown that children prefer to read books that explain how and why things happen. The study, carried out by Vanderbilt University, focused on books favored by children aged 3-4. The findings show that the children preferred books that explained animal behaviors over books that simply described their features and behaviors. Researcher Margaret Shavlik notes, “We believe this result may be due to children's natural desire to learn about how the world works.” The study also suggests that parents should choose storybooks with casual explanations. This might increase the child's motivation to read together and contribute to early literacy.