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Original poster

Is this a good gift for a one year old

52 replies

Pondlife87 · 27/12/2019 21:18

My friend's little girl is just about to turn one. I know she will have been inundated with clothes and toys for now so I thought about getting her the Beatrix Potter collection for when she is older. I think it looks beautiful and I have so many fond memories of reading the stories when I was young. But my husband said it's too old for a one year old. I'm however not implying she will use it now. Would you appreciate a gift like this for your one year old or not?

OP posts:
73Sunglasslover · 27/12/2019 22:34

We got a hand me down set of these and the kids hated them. They have not aged well.

SalmonFajitas · 27/12/2019 22:37

I'd love that for a one year old!

22Giraffes · 27/12/2019 22:45

It would be a very traditional gift so you wouldnt be U to give them but whilst very pretty, there are much better books out there imo.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 27/12/2019 22:49

Beatrix Potter stories are a bit shit. I hate reading them.

Books is a good plan though.

Ellisandra · 27/12/2019 22:58

I’d ask the parents. Fine for a 1yo in theory - you read to them well before they read to themselves of course. But there are some fabulous modern books that are just so much more engaging. Julia Donaldson beat Potter hands down with my young daughter - as did many other writers. She would certainly have never returned to the set time and again. But, if she has a parent who loved them and will enjoy sharing that experience, then it’s a lovely gift.

namechangenumber2 · 27/12/2019 23:00

We had some lovely old collections bought for DS's christening and first birthday, including Paddington bear, the wombles and a Shirley Hughes collection

Blackbear19 · 27/12/2019 23:07

Ask the parents what they need / want. I stupidly bought the BP set from Book People.

They don't hold the interest of pre-schoolers, not big enough not enough picture to look at and the stories themselves seem too young for older children.

Honest I can't work out the target age group.

LauraPalmersBodybag · 27/12/2019 23:17

They’ve not aged well. I always thought I’d like to read them to my dd, but when we started I found them mental and I she didn’t have much interest in the story. I think a lot of the language is very out of date and the themes are harsher than books written more recently.

Check in to see if a keep sake type gift might work, but if not a toy or books to read in their first year might be better. Or load up a Waterstones voucher so they can choose books?

Thistles24 · 27/12/2019 23:22

We got them as a gift (also Winnie the Pooh classic collection) and DC have never been interested in them. I actually just donated both to the charity shop last week! Like PP said, they’re heavy going compared to all the fun books that are out now. Why not buy one book (Peter Rabbit,maybe?) and a toy/dinner set in the same theme?

Stefoscope · 28/12/2019 11:21

I think it depends on your friend's tastes. My best friend would love it as she's a big Beatrix Potter fan. The Peter Rabbit My First Little Library or Peter Rabbit's Bedtime Tales may be a good choice for a younger baby as the presentation of them is a bit more eye-catching and up to date. Books that are textured or interactive seem to go down well. I was visiting a 1 year old and his parents the other week and he seemed particularly drawn to the books he had from this series: lakepress.com.au/collection/shake-me/

Dieu · 28/12/2019 11:29

A box of Mr Men books would be much more fun.

User12879923378 · 29/12/2019 08:28

My little girl loved the "That's not my..." sensory books and would sit and flick through them by herself at 1. She also liked "Noisy Farm" and other touchy feely books. And anything with good rhymes and lovely pictures.

Apolloanddaphne · 29/12/2019 08:38

I agree that the That's not my... books are a great for that age of child. My friends DD has loads of them and we still read them together now she is three.

RhymingRabbit3 · 29/12/2019 08:47

The Beatrix Potter books are so old fashioned and boring. I would get Julia Donaldson books instead that can be read now and enjoyed over the next few years.

CookieSue222 · 29/12/2019 08:53

My Sil bought our children the full works of Beatrix Potter one Christmas (they were probably about 4 and 6). I can still hear DH upstairs 'doing all the voices', at bedtime as I pulled the cork on an excellent merlot in the kitchen (yep, nearly all wine had corks back then). They are now 26 and 23 but still remember the magic of Beatrix Potter, and DH can still channel his inner Tommy Tittlemouse or Jeremy Fisher when called upon to do so. Lovely memories......

MrsXx4 · 29/12/2019 08:57

I’ve just been given the complete collection for my babies first Christmas and we love it. I’m going to keep it all boxed up for him for when he is older. It’s a lovely gift idea.

changedtempforprivacy · 29/12/2019 09:06

A Mr men complete set is my go to gift. I found beatrix potter dull and dreary myself as a child (I'm in my 40s)..

Monstermummymum · 29/12/2019 09:08

Perfect idea! We were given a set and my son who is now 2.5 years is already starting to enjoy them.

Frariedeamin · 29/12/2019 09:09

I received these for my christening over 30 years ago and I still have them and read them to DS. Lovely gift!

WhatsInAName19 · 29/12/2019 09:09

We have the BP set and DD (3 and a half) loves it. She didn't really show an interest in books until she was probably about 2, but she is a massive bookworm now. The BP books are among her favourites and now she's very familiar with the stories she will pick one out independently and "read" to herself (repeat the story aloud). She also has a treasury of classics (Heidi, The Secret Garden etc) that's a big hit. I think part of the reason her vocabulary is so good is her love of books and the more challenging language in some of the ones we read to her. She still loves Julia Donaldson and all the more recent children's books, but I definitely wouldn't dismiss BP just because it is old fashioned. It's exactly the kind of thing we'd have loved as a 1st birthday gift and ours definitely hasn't been gathering dust on a shelf.

Elbeagle · 29/12/2019 09:12

The Beatrix Potter books are so old fashioned and boring

Old fashioned, well yes. They were written a long time ago. Boring? I don’t think so, and neither do my 6 and 4 year olds! They’ve also loved the Julia Donaldson books etc, but old fashioned doesn’t mean children today won’t enjoy them.

LellyMcKelly · 29/12/2019 09:14

No, both my kids got the Beatrix Potter books and neither were interested. They ended up in the charity shop. They’re also not suitable for a one year old in any case. If you’d like to buy books (and I think that’s a great idea) I’d go with something by Julia Donaldson or Oliver Jeffers. They’re imaginative, with beautiful, brightly coloured illustrations, and the stories are simple and lovely. Both mine loved those authors and even kept some of the books after they grew out of them.

Thesearmsofmine · 29/12/2019 09:19

My 3dc have hundreds of books but found the BP ones really dull.

There are some really stunning books around OP I would go for one of those instead.

homeishere · 29/12/2019 09:20

It’s a lovely idea, and the sort of thing they’ll end up keeping and reading to their grandchildren.

Why not write an inscription on the inside of the box?

DonPablo · 29/12/2019 09:28

Dull gift for the child (sorry!) it's more for the adults who want to reminisce.

There's a new series of book called Little People Big Dreams and they're amazing. Each book features the story of an amazing person. Emmeline Pankhurst, dolly Parton, ada lovelace, etc. There are board books and a version for slightly older children. I'd be buying those!