Your favourite book for a baby…

[Thefaceofboe]

My friend is having a surprise baby shower and we have been asked to bring a book with a message inside instead of a card

What book did you love for your baby? I’m thinking of ‘Guess how much I love you’ but wanna see what other people suggest

Anythubg Julia Donaldson most of her work but for me personally the Gruffolo is my all time favourite

Go for something obscure that others won't choose would be my advice.

One of my favourites was called the wonderful things you will be.

Yes, you don’t want her to have 15 copies of something everyone loves. What did you love as a small child (doesn’t need to be a baby book - it’ll come in later)? What did your children like (if you have any)?

i really loved this one (for a slightly older child). https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/kim-lewis/shepherd-boy/9780744517620?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADZzAIAmxxyY-7pLHBN4DtiEVKBZs&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3vO3BhCqARIsAEWblcCcS2u_XKKv881j65p51KLOs8HTZYohgCJgLpMcpJeGZ5N7IxLuLEMaAulnEALw_wcB#GOR000425285

This or On The Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wherever-You-Love-Will-Find-ebook/dp/B0B5RX878N?ref=asttauthordp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9..4gRuphELfKnya1-VLLZb7g29VKzAnvfsS5r89QQ6iY3mDtG0luV6WMbpN9kEOQUkHOQywY7B8Yx9n0UZ4AU-yW8FLowsxGt2GlnQoXo2bWmV-TQicI3NdJqH7mgJ.fp-Z22qO-VxbPoKSiZs3BklHVIv5U5Jx9Njg76mTcGY&dibb_tag=AUTHOR

either 'Peepo' or 'Baby's Catalogue' by Janet & Allan Ahlberg. Sweet and lovely!

You Are New

For kids - hug by jez alborough. Or tickle tickle by Helen oxenbury. Both lovely and can be ready for years.

For grown ups, hurrah for gin or making babies by Anne Enright.

I agree with Peepo! Here... .
A beautiful book.

The very hungry caterpillar

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy
Oi Frog

Peepo! and Each Peach, Pear Plum are both gorgeous picture books with lots to spot on each page.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_and_Allan_Ahlberg

Ten little fingers and ten little toes! Board book version

Anything by Emma Dodd is lovely

Exactly this!

I love the books by an author called Nancy Tillman. I got one when my dauter was born and for her 2st Christmas last tear. Ive just ordered her one for her 1st birthday and tjis years chrismas stocking. They have beautiful pictures. They maybe a bit soppy for some, but I think tge messages in them are lovely. They are a bit obscure so unlikely to have been bought by anyone else. Guess how much I love you and Julia Donaldson are so well known, that they may end up with several copies.

Ten Little Fingers by Helen Oxbury.

Meaning any book by Emma Dodd, not that she has one called 'Anything'!

For the mum to be:
Hollie mcnish 'Nobody told me'
It's short poems and diary like snippets that follows from pregnancy to toddlerhood and it's like talking to a friend who is going through the same thing

The little babies playtime book that you stick your fingers through to make legs is very cute. ‘Babies can sleep anywhere’ has lovely illustrations, ‘toddle waddle’, hairy Maclary and ‘there’s a tiger in the garden’ is a favourite with my kids (and not as popular as other suggestions).

Owl Babies

The Baby's Catalogue book is such good value - both mine enjoyed looking at it with me and chatting about the pictures for ages. The 'accidents' page is hilarious.

The sentimental, mushy books are OK but not as much fun and I think they're more for the adults' enjoyment than the children.

In addition to Peepo! and Each Peach, Pear Plum, I suggest Dear Zoo.

Here’s the list my DH, kids and I came up with when shortlisting baby present ideas recently - the idea was we gave 4 books to the newborn, one of each of our favourites. I think we did 8 in the end as we couldn’t choose!

Winnie the witch
Dogger
Little rabbit foo foo
Three little wolves and the big bad pig
Giant jam sandwich
Lighthouse keepers lunch
Lord Rex
Pirate stories (usborne)
Whatever next / peace at last
Lucy cousins fairy tales or Zara or maisy
Noisy Nora
Owl babies
You choose
Kipper (mick inkpen)
Hooray for fish
Usborne stories from around the world for little children
Michael foreman’s nursery rhymes
Ten little fingers and ten little toes
Necklace of raindrops

eta - we were trying to come up with ones that were a tiny bit less well known, or not the top 10 kids books in Waterstones type options. Not because we don’t like those, we do, but to make it more likely that someone else wouldn’t give it too!

Some great suggestions! The baby is due on Christmas Day also if anyone knows any nice Christmas books

Hug by Jez Alborough