Following on from my ‘Do I need to read to my baby?‘ post, I asked my Kindermusik parents to list their favourite baby books. Here’s a list of their suggestions – inspiration for presents or available to borrow at your local library. You can discover more ideas for babies and older children on the Bookstart webpage.

Baby's Day

Baby’s Day
“We found that when M was very tiny he mostly engaged with books with big faces in”

'That's not my' books

That’s not my … books
“A has engaged with ‘That’s not my’ books from a pretty young age.”

Peepo!

Janet and Allan Ahlberg: Peepo!
” Peepo by Janet and Allan Ahlberg is great

I'm not cute

Jonathan Allen: I’m not cute!
“This was a particular favourite”

Giraffe's can't dance

Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees: Giraffes can’t dance
“We like Giraffes can’t dance – he loves all the jungle animals! “

Ingela P Arrhenius: Where’s Mrs ladybird?
“Good when a bit younger  “

Peepo Baby!

Georgie Birkett: Peepo baby!
“I think this was a favourite because of the flaps and just saying peepo!”

Hippos go berserk

Sandra Bounton: Hippos go berserk!
“Both girls loved this book at babies and toddlers. Such happy memories ❤️

Can you say it too?

Sebastian Braun: Can you say it too? Brr Brr!
“We adore the Can You Say It Too series at the moment”

Open very carefully

Nick Bromley: Open very carefully
“This is great – you can play along with the actions (shaking the crocodile out of the book) “

Mopoke

Philip Bunting: Mopoke
“Mopoke is great – simple concept with fun illustrations, great to read and gets early counting practice in.”

Dear Zoo

Rod Campbell: Dear Zoo
“We loved the pop-up version of this book”

The very hungry caterpillar

Eric Carle: the Very Hungry Caterpillar
“We read The Very Hungry Caterpillar finger puppet book over and over to Molly when she was a little baby, she loved anything with wiggling fingers! And then the real hungry caterpillar book when she was a bit older.”
“They like the transformation and the fruits/ variety of food consumed!”
Hairy Maclary
Lynley Dodd: Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy
“The Hairy Maclary series of books are big hit in our house. “

Toddle Waddle

Julia Donaldson and Nick Sharratt: Toddle Waddle
“I always thought it was a bit rubbish but Charlotte loves it…she knows it off by heart now though so can read it to me instead “

Oi Frog!

Kes Gray and Jim Field: Oi Frog!
“Oi Frog is brilliant for rhyming. We often play Oi Frog in the car and think of the different things the animals might sit on!”
Where's Spot?Eric Hill: Where’s Spot?

Baby touch playbook

Ladybird: Playbook
“The baby touch series were great when he was little, this was a particular favourite”

We're going on a bear hunt

Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury: We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

Wonky Donkey

Craig Smith: The Wonky Donkey
“It’s hilarious!”

Baby loves Science

Ruth Spiro: Baby Loves Aerospace Engineering
“Quite a few of us have them for our budding STEM children”

I am the seed that grew the tree

Fiona Waters: I am the seed that grew the tree
“And this is such a beautiful book, everyone should own it (not just babies and toddlers!)”