Illustrated by Sanja Rescek
Published by Little Tiger Press

A fatly padded jacket and chunky board pages makes this an ideal first nursery rhyme collection. It will withstand the most demanding of little readers, distracting them with lovely pastel pictures. Look out too for the companion book, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

Illustrated by Yves Got
Published by Zero to Ten

A first word book with more than 100 charming, child-like animal illustrations of animals. Lots to keep babies happily looking and pointing. There's even an index and a quiz at the back for older children.

Written and illustrated by Catherine Vase
Published by Scholastic

First in a series about some of the everyday dramas in a toddler's life. When Elephant decides to play with his bouncy beach ball right next to Cat and Giraffe's splendid sandcastle disaster strikes and it's up to Milly to make sure everyone stays friends. A lovely story to share.

Illustrated by Bob Filipowich
Published by Innovative Kids

A cross between board and bath books, Soft Shapes are made of chunky foam, have thick soft pages that are easy to turn and bright pop-out shapes to play with. My Ducky is a simple counting rhyme about three little ducks going for a swim, but the pop-out, waterproof duckling and pond shapes take it to another level.

Written by Claire Freedman, illustrated by Jane Chapman
Published by Little Tiger Press

A quiet bedtime story about a duckling who gives chase when the wind blows one of her downy feathers away. Textured flocking on Dilly and her run-away feather allows babies to follow the action from page to colourful page with their fingers.

Illustrated by Sue Hendra
Published by Meadowside Children's Books

Two bright and sturdy board books featuring a friendly Cat and Dog, four bold drawings of their favourite things and a mirror at the end for the reader to discover what, or rather who, their pet likes best of all.

Written and illustrated by Jan Ormerod
Published by Walker Books

Perfect for children who insist on a plaster for every little bump. This board book, full of non life-threatening injuries, even has some sticky elastoplasts with which toddlers can tend to the wounded on the pages.

Sedat Turhan and Sally Hagin
Published by Milet

This is a rather dry name for a most attractive book packed with pictures under various groupings - bedroom, animals, play, vegetables. It is ideal for leafing through with a young child, asking 'Where's the...?', 'What colour is the...?' and 'How many...?' type questions. A chunky board book, it comes from a publisher specialising in books reflecting our multicultural society.

Written by Fiona Watt and illustrated by Rachel Wells
Published by Usborne

A touchy-feely book that's great fun to explore together and a must for young dinosaur enthusiasts. The bright, bold illustrations and interesting textures will give you plenty to talk about and little ones will love feeling the bumpy teeth, shiny scales and crinkly hides of the different toy dinosaurs.

Written and illustrated by Eric Hill
Published by Puffin

Reading Champion Nick Nairn recommends this classic lift the flap book - his 11 month old, Daisy loves it - 'so much so that there are pieces missing and bits pulled off!' A sure sign that this is a much-loved book.

Written and illustrated by Lucy Richards
Published by Little Tiger Press

Four soft and colourful cloth books with a Velcro-fastening strap to attach them to baby's wrist. They're a comfortable size for tiny hands to hold and explore each page and they're machine washable too. An ideal first read.

Written by Sarah Williams and illustrated by Ian Beck
Published by Oxford University Press

A book of play rhymes is always useful and lots of fun, especially when there are pictures to show the grown-ups what to do and a tape to remind them how the tune goes! This selection is one of the best, with attractive illustrations and a good mix of rhymes old and new.

Written and illustrated by Ted Dewan
Published by David Fickling Books

The first in a new series of beautifully produced little books about a cute toddler/rabbit called Bing and his soft-toy friend, Flop. Like any toddler, Bing is full of curiosity and in this book he learns about colours in the messiest way possible. Such an appealing character is sure to become a family favourite.

Written and illustrated by Jane Simmons
Published by Orchard

One of a series of board books featuring the ever-popular Daisy the duck, with the added bonus that the illustrations are in fact simple jigsaws just right for tiny hands. Plenty of noises and repetition make these chunky little books even more fun to share.

Written and illustrated by Virginia Miller
Published by Walker Books

Little bear Ba learns to play gently with the kitten, but only after lots of reminders from big bear George to 'be gentle!' The soft-crayon illustrations and simple text have just the right mix of cuddliness and mischief in a board book that's bound to become a family favourite.

Illustrated by David McKee
Published by Red Fox

There's plenty of bath-time fun to be had with this bright, squashy, waterproof book featuring Elmer the patchwork elephant. Not only are there colourful pictures to look at, you can make Elmer squirt water from his trunk and if you squeeze the book, it squeaks!

Written and illustrated by Lara Jones
Published by Macmillan

Bright and colourful, and full of touchy feely bits, this is an ideal first book. It's a board book so will withstand some rough handling from the toughest of young readers.

Written and illustrated by Rod Campbell
Published by Campbell Books

The tried and tested favourite board book about a search for the best pet. There are flaps to open revealing each animal as it arrives, but they're all returned to sender until at last the perfect pet arrives.

Written and illustrated by Lucy Cousins
Published by Walker Books

Flaps reveal all the places Maisy the little white mouse might possibly be. This is an excellent introduction to a very popular and appealing character. Look out for the other books about Maisy.