This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/may/05/book-doctor-books-for-babies

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Which are the best books for babies? Which are the best books for babies?
(4 months later)
What's the best very first book? I'm looking for something that my baby, who can now sit up and entertain herself more with objects, can look at on her own.What's the best very first book? I'm looking for something that my baby, who can now sit up and entertain herself more with objects, can look at on her own.
In Dorothy Butler's Babies Need Books she writes, "Ideally, a small pile of good books awaits the new baby's arrival … In my family we have a habit of sending a book for the 'displaced' baby. Mr Gumpy's Outing for Jane and Timothy when he is old enough, is of much more use in a delicate family situation than a pair of bootees!"It is such good advice that, even though you are past that stage (and may not have an older child), it is a nugget of wisdom that underpins an approach to books and babies based on the idea of bringing the two together just as soon as possible. In Dorothy Butler's Babies Need Books she writes, "Ideally, a small pile of good books awaits the new baby's arrival … In my family we have a habit of sending a book for the 'displaced' baby. Mr Gumpy's Outing for Jane and Timothy when he is old enough, is of much more use in a delicate family situation than a pair of bootees!" It is such good advice that, even though you are past that stage (and may not have an older child), it is a nugget of wisdom that underpins an approach to books and babies based on the idea of bringing the two together just as soon as possible.
Butler's premise is that by sharing books with babies from the earliest moment you are teaching them a lot about the looking and listening that underpins the later-acquired skill of reading.Butler's premise is that by sharing books with babies from the earliest moment you are teaching them a lot about the looking and listening that underpins the later-acquired skill of reading.
It sounds as if you have done this introductory work, and are now hoping for your baby to build on it and go it alone.It sounds as if you have done this introductory work, and are now hoping for your baby to build on it and go it alone.
There are two strands to your choice: one is format and the other is content. Board books are the obvious answer to the first. Babies cannot reliably handle a paper page. Nor can they be relied on to only "handle" a book. Biting and licking books are also popular in the very early days. As is simply drooling on them. So, sturdily produced board books are invaluable at this stage.There are two strands to your choice: one is format and the other is content. Board books are the obvious answer to the first. Babies cannot reliably handle a paper page. Nor can they be relied on to only "handle" a book. Biting and licking books are also popular in the very early days. As is simply drooling on them. So, sturdily produced board books are invaluable at this stage.
Typically, the best for the very young have simple, sometimes single images and bright colours. Helen Oxenbury's baby board book series includes titles such as Clap Hands, Friends, Say Goodnight and Tickle, Tickle. Babies are the focus of all the pictures, with two on every page enjoying very simple things. The accompanying text is just as pared down, but also tells a story of a kind which gives adults an easy way to share the fun. "Clap hands/ dance and spin/ open wide and pop it in/ blow a trumpet/ bang a drum/ wave to daddy wave to mum."Typically, the best for the very young have simple, sometimes single images and bright colours. Helen Oxenbury's baby board book series includes titles such as Clap Hands, Friends, Say Goodnight and Tickle, Tickle. Babies are the focus of all the pictures, with two on every page enjoying very simple things. The accompanying text is just as pared down, but also tells a story of a kind which gives adults an easy way to share the fun. "Clap hands/ dance and spin/ open wide and pop it in/ blow a trumpet/ bang a drum/ wave to daddy wave to mum."
The board book version of Janet and Allan Ahlberg's classic title Peepo! will also delight babies, with the whole book told from their viewpoint as the baby in the story surveys the world from the cot.The board book version of Janet and Allan Ahlberg's classic title Peepo! will also delight babies, with the whole book told from their viewpoint as the baby in the story surveys the world from the cot.
Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar also works brilliantly in a board book format. The cut away pages and the little hole through which the caterpillar crawls all make the book perfect for baby fingers to feel, which adds a pleasing, tactile experience to the "reading".Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar also works brilliantly in a board book format. The cut away pages and the little hole through which the caterpillar crawls all make the book perfect for baby fingers to feel, which adds a pleasing, tactile experience to the "reading".
If selecting something other than a board book, the choice depends on the right content. Less robust and therefore needing a bit more supervision, picture books with similarly bright and bold illustrations can also easily hold a baby's attention.If selecting something other than a board book, the choice depends on the right content. Less robust and therefore needing a bit more supervision, picture books with similarly bright and bold illustrations can also easily hold a baby's attention.
Dick Bruna's classic and iconic Miffy, a little white rabbit with a black outline set against bright, primary colour pages, is a perfect character for babies. Instantly recognisable, she appears in a run of titles which include the activities the baby is growing towards, such as Miffy Dances, as well as introducing concepts such as Miffy's Colours.Dick Bruna's classic and iconic Miffy, a little white rabbit with a black outline set against bright, primary colour pages, is a perfect character for babies. Instantly recognisable, she appears in a run of titles which include the activities the baby is growing towards, such as Miffy Dances, as well as introducing concepts such as Miffy's Colours.
Although the storylines of Helen Nicoll and Jan Pieńkowski's Meg and Mog titles are too old for a baby, the visual capturing will delight. As with Miffy, Meg the witch and her cat, Mog, are shown in outline against boldly coloured backgrounds that make them appealing and fun to follow.Although the storylines of Helen Nicoll and Jan Pieńkowski's Meg and Mog titles are too old for a baby, the visual capturing will delight. As with Miffy, Meg the witch and her cat, Mog, are shown in outline against boldly coloured backgrounds that make them appealing and fun to follow.
A good selection of animal pictures also makes an attractive first book. Brian Wildsmith's Cat on the Mat is perfect for beginner readers but babies, too, love the simple and beautiful images of animals they can readily recognise.A good selection of animal pictures also makes an attractive first book. Brian Wildsmith's Cat on the Mat is perfect for beginner readers but babies, too, love the simple and beautiful images of animals they can readily recognise.
Enjoying books with your babies and younger children? Why not think about becoming one of our family reviewers and sharing the books you love? We are now doing this as a monthly Witness project feeding into our family review galleries – check out May's family reading project.Enjoying books with your babies and younger children? Why not think about becoming one of our family reviewers and sharing the books you love? We are now doing this as a monthly Witness project feeding into our family review galleries – check out May's family reading project.
Do you have a question for the Book Doctor? Email childrens.books@theguardian.com or pose your question on Twitter @GdnchildrensBks using #BookDoctor.Do you have a question for the Book Doctor? Email childrens.books@theguardian.com or pose your question on Twitter @GdnchildrensBks using #BookDoctor.