1st birthday books

I thought I'd try this group for recommendations rather than Book Talk or whatever after being appalled when browsing by a book that couldn't spell "colour" correctly.

So... it's my nieces' first birthday soon; any suggestions for books? I've got The Very Hungry Caterpillar on my list so far. Any more ideas gratefully received!

Hi Martin, Our son lives in Sutton and has a new baby girl and they found the library had a special section for 'baby books' that could be read to infants. Most of the books I would recommend are too violent as we had boys but when she is older 'The Cat in the Hat' and similar books would be OK. Until then - lots of big pictures to identify things, animals, colours etc. You could read the telephone directory to a one year old and she'd be happy just to be spoken to! So many books have American spelling, but she won't know!

>2 oldstick: You could read the telephone directory to a one year old and she'd be happy just to be spoken to!

Broadly I heartily agree with your sentiment, oldstick, but I think that, even for a one year old, there are things like rhyme, rhythm, repetition and modulation of speech which will make the reading more entertaining and, if that matters, more educational.

Each Peach, Pear, Plum comes to mind as one that I enjoyed reading to my little ones.

#3 absolutely- which is why I suggested Cat in the Hat. Obviously nursery rhymes come into it fairly early and it is always good to add your own funny noises. Animal stories should go down well.Great question!

For books that have a rhythm of their own, try the Gruffalo and other books by the same author & illustrator. Written in a rhyming style, they're great fun to read and allow you the option of reading in voices (squeeky mouse, lisssping ssnake, hooting owl etc etc etc) Even if the child can't follow the story, the pictures are just so lively that there's always something to look at.

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Someone said that books with some interaction are good, i.e. things to poke/feel etc.

I endorse the 'Very Hungry Caterpillar', which has 'thrilled' two, even three generations.

I also found the 'Mr' books of Roger Hargreaves were a favourite. Don't attempt to go for all of them, just two or three, because then the tinies come to remember all the words, and this encourages speech. Mr Messy was read in our house so frequently I couldn't guess a number!

A more recent book, set fair to be a classic, is I want my hat back by Jon Klassen. There is a second book, too.

I don't think you can get Where's My Cow? on somewhere that's round, can you?

Well I'll be hornswoggled - you can!

At around a year old my DD loved Peace at Last and anything by Julia Donaldson/ Axel Schaeffler.

The Beatrix Potter are lovely and there are short ones for smalls Fierce Bad Rabbit up to longer ones for much older kids. I think they appeal more to adults than kids though.

She is 3 now and has the stamina for longer books. Room on the Broom is good now and Bumpus Jumpus Dinosaurumpus. Whatamess the good is one we read at my mums, mine from when I was a child.

Just checking my list of books. One Ted Falls out of Bed and Moon Rabbit she liked loads when she was younger. They are less wordy and very pretty books. Some people recommend classics like goodnight moon and Peepo but Kate didn't like either of them much.

There was an old lady who swallowed a fly. Once there were giants she did like.