What is the purpose/benefit of reading to toddlers? and how often should this be done?

Speech & language: It may seem inconsequential but toddlers are little sponges when it comes to speech. They learn the rhythm, tonal inflections and sequence of words in language long before they can replicate it. It is well known that a kid that grows up in a bilingual household can speak both languages like a native. Failure to read to them puts them behind the rest.