TOMES FOR TOTS

Rebecca Moore on top reads for your budding bookworm

- Rebecca Moore

Author Emilie Buchwald once said: “Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” But you don’t have to wait until little ones can understand the words on the page to start bonding with them over books. In fact, publisher Penguin says the best age to start reading to your baby is from three to six months, or once they can focus on items such as a toy.

Beyond fostering an early love of reading, the developmental benefits are well-documented, from enhancing language to developing fine motor skills as they turn the pages independently. The tactile experience of holding and turning pages, the visual appeal of pictures, and the stimulation of hearing a voice reading contribute to sensory development.

However, finding a book that keeps both your attention and theirs can be tough. Young babies often love board books with clear images and anything that’s noisy, whereas toddlers squeal with delight at pop-up designs or lift-the-flap tales. To help you find some great options for your baby’s first bookshelf, we’ve rounded up our pick of the best baby books.

How we tested

With the help of our 17-month-old tester, we’ve reviewed a variety of baby books, reading the words on the pages, lifting the flaps, pressing the buttons, and watching the pop-up elements come to life. We were looking to see which books captivated our little bookworm the most, and which titles saw our mini tester returning for more, time and time again.

"That's not My... Zoo', written by Fiona Watt, illustrated by Rachel Wells, published by Usborne: £9.49, Amazon

Just when we thought Usborne's That's Not My series couldn't get any better, a new zoo-themed sound-book edition joins the library.