Book for a child with a developmental disability

[longtompot]

My friend has a child who has a disability which means they are unlikely to survive past childhood. They are having a 1st birthday party and have asked if we want to give them something, then a book would be most welcome.
I have a couple of ideas in mind, but wondered if anyone had any suggestions that I might not have thought of.

We have a dc with complex medical needs in our family and they like Hairy Mclary read aloud. Nice rhyming language and sweet story.

@Foxhasbigsocks thank you, and that looks like a lovely book. I was just finding that so many are about when they grow up or certain life situations which they are unlikely to go through, and I didn't want to cause their parents more upset than they are already going through

I understand op and I know from experience as family and friends that it is very hard to get your head around everything as you try to support the parents. Sending you support and sympathy

Hairy Mclary is wonderful, lots of great books by Julia Donaldson, Dear zoo and The Very Hungry Caterpillar are classics, Guess how much I love you is pretty sweet bedtime story too. I love childrens picture books so much!

https://www.scribd.com/document/964977707/Guess-How-Much-I-Love-You-Sam-McBratney

Goodnight moon is beautiful and lots to talk about while reading. A classic.

Choose a book that has beautiful illustrations but not a “learn to read” book. Any Julia Donaldson would be perfect. Other Books my DD’s really love included Goodnight gorilla, baby beluga, guess how much I love you, where the wild things are, tiger that came to tea. Some of these are available as gift packs with a toy and in board book form

Each Peach Pear Plum and Peepo were our favourites at that age and have continued to delight through the toddler years. Hairy Maclary is great too! If lift-the-flap books are appropriate, we also loved Dear Zoo and (less well known) Oh Dear, both by Rod Campbell.

All of these (and most of the other suggestions on this thread) are quite well-known and popular. I always now give a gift receipt with books as I've twice managed to give books that the recipient already had.

I don’t think you need to avoid books that feature characters that grow up or do certain life events, but if it makes you feel more comfortable then use books where the characters are animals or imaginary creatures.

You already have some great suggestions here, but my contribution would be The lion who wanted to love, Giraffes can’t Dance and Kitchen Disco.

Thank you all so much for your suggestions, a lot to ponder over