Baby books: *Birth to 6 months*

It's never too soon to introduce books to babies. Some radical thinkers in this area suggest starting at nine months old, but why leave it so late? You could start at birth, making book-time equal quality-time for you and baby. 

• Fave Rave: The Baby and Toddler Treasury
• Honorable mention: I Won't Bite

The lilac-eared plush toy rabbit has skewwhiff eyes and a delicate smiley mouth, strangely short back legs, and moveable beans inside. The ears are long and soft enough to flop down over one eye – appealing even to someone like me who doesnıt go soppy about soft toys. 

The 128 pages of nursery rhymes, poems and fairy tales in the book have been created by a whole host of high-quality illustrators like Robert Louis Stevenson and Tony Ross, and you'll even find the full text and illustrations for Raymond Briggs' The Snowman in the middle.

Mum of a four-month-old comments: "We were given this pack. My son plays with the bunny while I read or sing the rhymes. He's too young for the fairy tales, so we're saving them for later. I like the fact there's so much packed into one little book. It's a neat size to hold."

Published by Penguin, £6.99

HONOURABLE MENTION:
I won't bite, by Road Campbell
There's another bunny on the front cover of this large format light-board book. Inside you'll find textured hot spots on every spread, and a pop-up at the end that is fully integrated into the storyline rather than being a novelty add-on. 

My favourite texture is the long swathe of grey vinyl spreading right across a wallowing hippo's back. This hippo, like the other animals encountered, will not bite the reader we are told. The surprise pop-up features a crocodile's opening and closing jaws – children can safely get a scare if they put their fingers inside this creature that will bite.

Macmillan, £4.99

For more books in this age range see our baby books archive.

Click here for pregnancy and parenting books and videos.