Introduction
Babies love Books
Libraries love Babies
It is never too early to share books with your baby. Research shows early contact with books gives children a definite advantage when they start school and ...
it's fun!
Starting Out
Simple books to begin with...
In the park
Forty simple stimulating photographs to talk about in the sturdy board book
Baby sleeps by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
Simple rhyming board book looks at the fun things babies do. One of four in the excellent Baby's Catalogue series
If I had a pig by Mick Inkpen
Pig joins in the toddler's antics in this gently amusing first board book. Look out for others in the series
Run, Mouse! Run! by Fiona Conboy
Who's chasing mouse? Lift the flaps and see. Big bold illustrations
Touch and feel board books
A series which includes Home, Farm and Clothes and encourages interaction with a varity of different materials and textures
In Rhyme
Rhymes are important in the development of language and reading skills.
Monkey do! by Allan Ahlberg
Fast paced rhyming story follows little monkey's antics after he escapes from the zoo and joins in everyone else's day.
Balloon by Jez Alborough
Enjoy the rhythm and rhyme and bright illustrations as Billy pursues his balloon across the park.
Macmillan Treasury of Nursery Rhymes and Poems edited by Alison Green
A very comprehensive and well produced selection of familiar and less known rhymes
Oh where, of where? by John Prater
Big Bear and Little Bear play hide and seek in this irrestible illustrated rhyme
One duck stuck by Phyllis Root
Have fun with the sounds, rhymes and unusual animals in this counting story.
First Facts
Learning and Doing
Animals, animals all around by Catherine and Laurence Anholt
Bursting with imaginative facts about animals everywhere
I can count by Roy Gibson
One in a very successful but simple series which encourages 'making and doing' with the unders fives. Look out for I can add up
Alfie's alphabet by Shirley Hughes
Lots to look at and talk about in Alfie's warm secure and exciting world.
My first book of opposites
Colourful and humourous illustrations provide a good preparation for learning about abstract concepts at school. Other books in this series cover the Alphabet, Counting, Colours, Time and Shapes.
Who are you? - In the sea
Who are you? - On the farm by Vic Parker
Simple guessing games stimulate an interest in animals in this colourful clear series.
'my four year old enjoyed it very much'
Friends and Family
More by Emma Chichester Clark
Unexpected happenings when Billy wants 'more' but his Mum says 'that's enough'.
Pumpkin soup by Helen Cooper
Cat, Squirrel and Duck live happily until their friendship is threatened when Duck decides he wants to take over Cat's job and stir the soup. Distinctive and evocative pictures from this award winning author
All better bears by Hiawyn Oram
When Baby Bear is tearful, Big Bear comforts him - but what happens when Big Bear is upset?
What Baby wants by Phyllis Root
Laugh as the family goes to extremes to stop Baby crying, when all he wants is a cuddle and a lullaby.
Ebb's new friend by Jane Simmons
Ebb doesn't want to be friends with Bird - until Bird goes away.
'every time we read it we like it more'
Oscar needs a friend by Joan Stimson
Will Oscar, a boisterous little bear, learn how to stop frightening away his new friend? A lively story with telling illustrations.
Adventures
It could have been worse by A H Benjamin
Mouse is disgruntled about his mishaps and doesn't realise he's been very lucky - the reader does though! Another hit from a local author.
'The pictures had much more happening than the story was telling us - it encouraged discussion.'
On top of the world by John Prater
Superbly illustrated story of four toys' moonlit adventure
Sonny's treasure hunt by Lisa StubbsSonny has no one to play with so Grandma suggests a treasure hunt. cheeky illustrations.
Need a trim, Jim by Kaye Umansky
Humourous look at the perils of a hair cut.
smudge by Julie Sykes and Jane Chapman
Smudge's ideas for finding a place out of the rain for him and his friends, rabbit and mouse, go horribly wrong.
Favourite Things
The great pet sale by Mick Inkpen
How many pet can the little boy buy for a pound? Rat doesn't want to be left behind.
Baby loves by Michael Lawrence
Expressive and amusing illustrations show what baby loves best
Strange bear by Hilary McKay
Simon takes his bear everywhere but one day he does not recognise it!
Further Adventures of ...
Mucky Pup's Christmas by Ken Brown
The endearing Muck Pup returns causing more muddle and mayhem
Maisy at the farm by Lucy Cousins
Left the flaps, pull the tabs and share Maisy's fun on the farm.
Ten play hide and seek by Penny Dale
Great fun looking for clues to help the little boy find his nine toy animal friends who are hiding from him.
'I had to read this over and over again!'
Fergus goes quackers! by Tony Maddox
Lively and amusing illustrations in the hilarious tale of Fergus the dog and the baby ducks.
Daisy and the egg by Jane Simmons
Daisy the duckling is excited about her new brother or sister, but hatching out an egg is not as easy as it seems.
Where are you? by Francesca Simon
At the supermarket Grandpa searches high and low for Harry, who doesn't realise he's lost. He is so engrossed looking for cakes.
Fun on the farm
Cows in the kitchen by June Crebbin
The animals have fun in the farmhouse while the farmer is asleep. Plenty of repetition and animal noises to join in with.
Snore! by Richael Rosen
The farm animals try in vain to stop the dog from snoring.
'My 3½ year old found it very amusing.'
Bedtime
Tell me something happy before I go to sleep by Joyse Dunbar
When Willa can't get to sleep her big brother shows her all the happy things waiting for her to wake up in the morning. Very reassuring
Mr Bear says 'A little hush please' by Debi Gliori
Bright and appealing illustrations, simple rhymes and bouncy rhythms and noises to join in with - toddlers will want this again and again. Other Mr Bear books are Can I have a hug?, Tickly under there, and Let's go outside - all in board book format.
My blanket is blue by Hilda Offen
When Mum says goodnight, Baby goes on magical adventures with the blue blanket.
'lovely illustrations, ideal for bedtime'
The Library Service also provides story tapes and videos suitable for under fives and books about caring for babies and children.
For more information contact the Central Children's Library on 01472 323604.
External Websites of Interest
enCompassCulture is a worldwide Reading Group, the place to find your next book and talk about books with other readers around the world. It has full details of over 5,000 books for all age ranges and is full of useful features. This link will take you to the Books for Children section http://www.encompassculture.com/?a=3
BBC Schools webpages http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/4_11/literacy.shtml