Recommend your favourite 'first book' for a brand new reader

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Recommend your favourite 'first book' for a brand new reader

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1Booksloth
Sep 12, 2013, 6:42 am

There's a new baby in the family and I like to see it as my job to encourage reading in our little ones(!) Although he's way too young to read anything yet I'd like to make a gift of his first storybook and I'd love to hear recommendations from others. With my own kids, the first book had to be Winnie-the-Pooh and it's true that I do love the classics but I suspect tomorrow's young readers might prefer something a bit more modern. What would you suggest as the cornerstone of a new library, bearing in mind that the book will be read by Mum and Dad for a long time before its owner can read it himself? My own other loves for littlies are The Tiger Who Came to Tea and The Gruffalo and, like those, I'd like it to be something that, if not already a classic, has a good chance of becoming one. Thank you for all ideas.

2pgmcc
Sep 12, 2013, 6:55 am

First off, congratulations on the new baby in the family.

Secondly, I suspect my recommendations would be similar to yours, so do not expect anything very modern from me. Having documented that caveat I would go on to agree with Winnie-the-Pooh and would add Mary Poppins.

The Beatrix Potter books seem to remain popular, as does The Wind in the Willows.

Thomas the Tank Engine is very popular and my kids loved Enid Blyton's Noddy stories.

3Booksloth
Sep 12, 2013, 7:05 am

Pete, I'm glad you raised the subject of the Beatrix Potter books. Does anyone remember having loved these books themselves or do you think they have more appeal to parents than to children? I love the books as artefacts and can get quite emotional over the lovely illustrations but I don't actuially remember having particularly loved the stories - perhaps I was just too young to recall these?

(Btw, thanks for your congratulations. I should probably make it clear that I was using the word 'family' in its loosest sense as the new baby actually belongs to a close friend rather than a relative, but close enough to count a 'family' in spirit if not in actuality.)

4pgmcc
Sep 12, 2013, 7:19 am

Close enough for present is close enough for congratulations. :-)

5KarenElissa
Sep 12, 2013, 8:42 am

For something a little one can actually get their hands on, Sandra Boynton is my favorite board book author. Anything by Eric Carle is also good.

6KathiJ
Sep 12, 2013, 11:39 am

I agree that Sandra Boynton and Eric Carle are good choices. Also every nursery should have Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise. It's a classic.

7CurrerBell
Sep 12, 2013, 2:28 pm

Personally, I have a great affection for The Velveteen Rabbit.

8Marissa_Doyle
Sep 12, 2013, 2:45 pm

Dr. Seuss, just for the sheer fun and joy of the sound of words, even if they're nonsense ones. My son could recite "And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street" at 20 months, and became a voracious reader (still is at 22).

9SylviaC
Sep 12, 2013, 4:00 pm

I agree with Goodnight Moon--it was the first book both my kids had read to them. Also Silly Sally by Audrey Wood--silly and rhyming, and Hand, Hand, Finger, Thumb, by Al Perkins--it is guaranteed to drive parents absolutely batty by the 500th read, but it has wonderful rhythm and opportunities for gestures.

10sandragon
Sep 13, 2013, 1:37 pm

3 - I introduced Beatrix Potter to my youngest when he was about 5yo and he loved them (some more than others, of course.) He would pull out a different favourite each night (or the same one over several nights unless I could persuade him otherwise) and we would read them before bed.

Some parents think he's a bit over the top, but my kids and I loved Robert Munsch. I can never resist getting Good Familes Don't, Mud Puddle and The Paper Bag Princess as presents for kids.

11foggidawn
Sep 13, 2013, 5:20 pm

I like Where the Wild Things Are as a baby shower gift.

12Taneekabdasilva
mayo 9, 2014, 1:29 pm

Dick and Jane or The Velveteen Rabbit.