Our understanding of child development should, in principle, inform when we share stories and which stories we select. For example, a hungry child will not usually be interested in a story, even if that story is one of her favorites. A toddler busy pushing his doll in the stroller will probably not want to stop for a story, either. And even if it seems like the optimal time for sharing a story, when distractions seem minimal, toddlers often will wander away if they are not ready for the type of story being shared or if something else captures their attention.