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

I would avoid anything Christmassy to be honest. As someone with a child whose birthday is near Christmas making the distinction between birthday and Christmas early is so important.

I would get a book for the baby shower as requested and something completely different for a small Christmas gift.

I’d try to separate Christmas and birthday for a Christmas baby, so I wouldn’t get a Christmas book as a baby shower book. The kid will probably have a lifetime of ‘happy birthday and Christmas’ presents.

My favourite books that I remember as a child are The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, Owl Babies, Alfie and Annie Rose

Absolutely. I also like Dear Zoo and had a beautiful hardback copy as a child. I also like Spot which I don't think has been mentioned.

I can’t read this without crying!

First 100 Words (Priddy Books) was my son's absolute favourite as an older baby/toddler - he would happy sit in his playpen and look at it for ages.

Soppy ones
-On The Night You Were Born (Nancy Tillman, as recommended above). It took me about 8 months to get through it without crying.
-Welcome To The World (Julia Donaldson and Helen Oxenbury) - DD is 20 months and this still floors me every time

Not-Soppy ones
-Sea by Britta Teekentrup (or any of this range)
-10 little dinosaurs
-any of the “peekaboo” ones - baby will be too little for a while, but they are super cute

I think above all I’d go for a book that you remember enjoying as a child, though? Doesn’t have to be perfect from birth.

Emma Dodd books are lovely for v little ones.

The smeds and the smoos

I think above all I’d go for a book that you remember enjoying as a child, though? Doesn’t have to be perfect from birth

Weird but I can’t remember enjoying a book as a child or my parents even reading them to me they definitely did!

The Paper Dolls by Julia Donaldson.

For mum, Jessica Urlichs Beautiful Chaos.

I love ‘Goodnight Moon’, a sweet classic bedtime book for little ones.

Each peach pear plum (I spy Tom Thumb... I can still recite most of the book and my youngest is 18!)

The Hairy Maclairy series. Great to read out loud.

I wouldn't go for a sentimental baby book, I'd go for something with more longevity.

Any board books by Chris Haughton (Especially Well Done, Mummy Penguin) were favourites of my babies.

Definitely more of a gift for mum as the baby won’t give a damn as no flaps etc but “wherever you are, my love will find you” by Nancy Tillman is so beautiful. I can still barely get through it and I got it as a give for my daughter 4 years ago. For the actual baby, my babies favourite until about age 2 was always “dear zoo” and “where’s spot”

Giraffes Can't Dance.

I can still recite it now and it's been years since i last read it!

My personal favourite from Adam Mansbach.

Here we are by Oliver Jeffers

Giraffes can't Dance and

What the lady bird heard

In board boards

We re all going on a bear hunt was the winner in our house. Julia donnaldsons books are fab too.

Meg and mog

Giraffes can't dance you silly fool, oh Gerald, don't be daft!

Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann - kid will love it around age 2 and probably no one else will bring it. My kids have all been obsessed with it at one point or another!

Sandra boynton
we were partial to her Pookie books.all of her books are good for reading to babies because they have a nice bouncy rhythm.

Second this, loved reading this to DS.

Peepo by Alan and Janet Ahlberg: totally charming.