Slightly unusual but great book for an 18 month girl?

[mimimomma]

I'd like to buy my goddaughter a couple of lovely books for Christmas, however I need to find something that is a little different as she has an older sister who has LOADS of books, so I have no doubt that they already have a Hungry Caterpillar, Bear Hunt, Gruffalo etc.

Does anyone have any top reads that they can recommend?

We love You Choose in our house, it has already lasted me through many years with one dd, and the other dd has now loved it for four years! Also any books that have buttons down the side that play noises to go with the story, Spot for example.

Some dogs do is a winner in our house along with You Choose and Just Imagine - which is te second book of the series. DDs also love the Mixed up Fairytales book.

I can't remember when I first started reading this book to my dds (now 5 and 6) but they have always loved it. They used to love playing, 'rough, tough, little girl pirates'. I think there might be a pop up version of it out as well.

I knew what book you meant before clicking your link hazey - we LOVE that book! It was given to us by a friend who is a reception teacher :)

I would recommend Calm Down Boris if they haven't already got it (very popular book)

Tanks Tanka Skunk is fab as long as the reader is willing to let go of any inhibitions.

We also love Wiggle by Doreen Cronin - lively rhyming book, first lines are "Do you wake up with a wiggle? Do you wiggle out of bed? If you wiggle with your breakfast it might end up on your head" :o

My DS loves Moo. It is rhyming with farm animals. It has lots of different pop-up bits and moving parts. There are a few by the same author, they are lovely quality and a bit different in style to usual.

Other favourites include:

Whatever Next
Dogger
Hippos Go Beserk is a fun counting one

Also this series is a big hit.

Goodnight Teddy is very sweet - it has a little teddy that comes with the book, and each page has something to do in a pocket to go along with the story - so pjs to change teddy into, toothbrush & toothpaste to do his teeth, etc.

Alternatively, My Many Coloured Days by Dr Seuss is beautiful, its quite different from his usual books.

All three of my dcs were absolutely entranced around the 18 month mark by A Lovely Day for Amelia Goose. The language is very simple, the story simple and yet it's also one of the very few books that I have now read (literally) a couple of hundred times and still have a soft spot for. There's not much higher praise IMO. It's also ridiculously cheap on Amazon.

The Boo and Baa series by Olof and Lena Landstrom is lovely. Used would cost less than new.

The DCs also loved everything we read by Wong Herbert Yee, especially 'Fireman Small'.

Also 'Owl at Home' by Arnold Lobel but they may have been older than 18 months when they fully appreciated Owl.

Bit long for her age but my 18mo loved doctor seuss. The rhyming and bright colours. We only read it in little bits. Also "it's ok to be different" by Todd Marr. My daughter loves the colours in this book and it has a wonderful message.

Sorry Todd Parr

Ginger by Charlotte Voake
A Bit Lost by Chris Haughton

Another vote for You Choose, I just bought it for my niece too.