I have always read the books I was reading when my kids were baby's, with my first I read Edward O Wilson's "the ants" kinda cool to see how much they like insects as a late 20 something. With my youngest it was the science of cooking and a book called "Man corn" wich lays out the evidence for canablisim in the paleo southwest. And its kinda cool to see that that child is a lot like me. (honestly I wish my child didn't end up with a lot of my issues and no I don't think reading to them influenced anything other the their vocabulary and their desire to learn)