Baby books: 12 - 18 months
Tiny Rabbit Goes to a Birthday Party, written and illustrated
by John Wallace
 Here's a
lovely book for storytime about a naïve, shy, but eager character
called Tiny Rabbit who has been invited to his first ever birthday
party.
Tiny Rabbit doesn't know what to wear to the party, and tries out a
variety of disguises including being Bat Bunny. He finally decides to
go as himself in shorts and a shirt.
When it comes to finding a present for his friend Blue Mouse, Tiny
Rabbit thinks about making a picture or taking a carrot, but decides
on an empty cardboard box instead. You may anticipate the next part of
the story wrongly, as I did it's a nice trap for adults. Blue Mouse
loves the box, and the party guests play with it imaginatively, as
children usually do. Tiny Rabbit stands at the edge however, still
feeling shy, until the other animals encourage him to join in the
games. At the end of the party Blue Mouse needs help to blow out his
brithday candles, Tiny Rabbit joins in with gusto, and there's a great
picture of him puffing so eagerly that his feet leave the ground and
his pink party hat flies off. It's a fresh and funny look at first
experiences.
Dad of a one-and-a-half-year-old comments: "We didn't have a
first birthday party for my son, but we're planning to have one for
his second. Maybe he¹ll dress up as Tiny Rabbit!"
Published by Puffin, £4.99
Bear in a Square, by Stella Blackstone, illustrated by
Debbie Harter
 The
pictures and text from the original larger format, paperback version
of this book have been re-released as a smaller-size board book, which
is great for younger children to handle. There's so much to look for
in the brightly-coloured illustrations the bear is a king wearing a
diamond-patterned crown, then a sleeping bundle surrounded by stars at
bedtime. He is shown dancing exuberantly among all the featured
shapes, with their identification labels, at the end of the book.
Published by Barefoot Books, £4.99
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