Baby books: 18 months and over

Toddlers are more independent in what they want to do and where to go, and in how they think. They understand simple information and pick up new words in their heads even if they don't use them yet. Some toddlers begin to mimic what you say and adore pointing at a picture books and saying the words with you. Their imaginations can take off with the stimulus of stories and often toddlers like to return to the same book
time after time.

• Humphrey's Christmas
• Very First Numbers
• Little Ladybird Follow The Trail Flap Book
• The Pear In The Pear Tree

Humphrey's Christmas by Sally Hunter from Viking Books

This gentle book reinforces the comfort of familiar Christmas fun, such as decorating the tree or drawing a letter for Father Christmas. It is written through the eyes of a child and conjures all the suspense and excitement that young children associate with this time of year. Toddlers will love seeing Humphrey and his family prepare for Christmas in all the traditional ways.  £6.99, visit www.penguin.co.uk

Very First Numbers from Usborne

Teach her to count from one to 10 with this clear boardbook that uses crisp photography on a white background. In keeping with a toddlers need to repeat a task, it reproduces the relevant number of objects more than once on each page. So there are two penguins, two mice, two bananas and two bunnies on the "2" page encouraging her to point to each set in turn to make sure the concept goes in! Children will enjoy the clear images and opportunity to repeat their counting more than once per page. £3.99, to order tel 0141 306 3100 or visit www.usborne.co.uk

Little Ladybird Follow The Trail Flap Book

This colourful boardbook is a counting book with a difference. It encourages an interactive approach by asking the reader to follow the ladybird's journey with grooved lines for the fingertips. Discovering two snails, six eggs and so on all over the place, it makes numbers fun and discovering them adventurous. Toddlers will love the continuous path for their fingers that leads them from one number to the next. £4.99, for stockists tel 0208 757 4400 or visit www.ladybirdbooks.co.uk

The Pear In The Pear Tree by Pamela Allen from Puffin

The captivating story of John and Jane's quest to pick a pear encourages a young child to listen. Quickly the story becomes very exciting, with action-packed sequences making each page more and more fascinating. It uses simple but active verbs to describe what the characters are doing, so offering new words to try out later. The drama of this book will really appeal to youngsters.  £4.99, visit www.penguin.co.uk

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