These titles are perfect choices for baby's first library. Soft cloth books and sturdy board books with thick pages are just the right size for little hands--and they resist chewing, drooling and tearing, too. Fun-sounding language, reassuring themes and bold, eye-catching art will capture your little one's heart. (Pop-ups and lift the flaps are best for ages 2 1/2 and older.)

See if you agree with our selections. See if you don't. Share your opinions with us at: talkback@kidsreads.com. Your very own favorites may just end up on future versions of this list.

CLASSICS

A Kids Reads classic book is one that has been entertaining kids and parents for at least 10 years and is still going strong.

1. GOODNIGHT MOON (board book)
by Margaret Wise Brown
illustrated by Clement Hurd
HarperCollins, 1947, board book, 1991
ISBN: 0694003611

When Margaret Wise Brown first saw GOODNIGHT MOON published half a century ago, she said she hoped to create the first book for toddlers based on their real lives rather than fantasy. In doing so, she opened the door to truth, even for very young readers.

2. BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR, WHAT DO YOU SEE? (board book)
by Bill Martin, Jr.
illustrated by Eric Carle
Henry Holt, 1967, board book, 1996
ISBN: 0805047905

A group of colorful animals parade across the pages, in time with Bill Martin's rhythmic text.

3. THE BABY'S CATALOGUE
by Janet Ahlberg and Allan Ahlberg
Little, Brown & Company, 1986
ISBN: 0316020389

Familiar images of baby life, drawn with warmth and bright enthusiasm.

4. THE SNOWY DAY (board book)
by Ezra Jack Keats
Viking, 1962, board book, 1996
ISBN: 0670867330

Stunning Caldecott winner about a boy's adventure on a crisp, snowy day. This was the first picture book to feature a young African American character.

5. I SEE (board book)
by Rachel Isadora
Greenwillow, 1985, board book, 1991
ISBN: 0688105238

A baby responds to everything she sees.

6. BIG RED BARN (board book)
by Margaret Wise Brown
illustrated by Felicia Bond
HarperFestival, 1995
ISBN: 0694006246

Animals describe their day-to-day life, out on a country farm.

7. PAT THE BUNNY
by Dorothy Kunhardt
Golden, 1940
ISBN: 0307120007

Rare is the toddler who hasn't stroked the snowy fur of Dorothy Kunhardt's bunny. So common is the sweet little book, in homes, preschools and libraries, the experience simply seems universal.

8. DR. SEUSS' ABC (board book)
by Dr. Seuss
Random House, 1966, board book, 1997
ISBN: 0394800303

When Random House reformatted Dr. Seuss's ABC's in 1997 as a little board book, the transition couldn't have been more natural. It makes learning the ABC's as natural as, well, ABC.

9. HOP ON POP (board book)
by Dr. Seuss
Random House, 1966, board book, 1997
ISBN: 039480029X

Learning the joy of rhyme was never more fun than in Dr. Seuss's classic HOP ON POP. Silly became an art form through the words of Theodor Geisel and books like HOP ON POP.

10. RICHARD SCARRY'S BEST WORD BOOK EVER
by Richard Scarry
Golden, 1963
ISBN: 0307155102

Lowly Worm, Huckle Cat, Mr. Frumble and the other favorite animal characters from Richard Scarry's world introduce toddlers to the names of everyday objects.

11. THE TOUCH ME BOOK
by Pat and Eve Witte
Golden, 1961
ISBN: 0307121461

Pat and Eve Witte celebrate a toddler's need to touch in order to experience, via the fur of a puppy, rubber bands, sticky tape, a sponge and six other tactile activities.

12. I AM A BUNNY (tall board book)
by Ole Risom
illustrated by Richard Scarry
Golden, 1963
ISBN: 0307121259

The first in a series of animal books by Ole Risom, I AM A BUNNY simply helped young readers explore the life of an everyday rabbit.

13. THE VERY QUIET CRICKET (board book)
by Eric Carle
Philomel, 1990
ISBN: 0399226842

This sturdy, touchable board book, is classic fun for the littlest readers. Toddlers will relate to this little cricket's quest for clear communications.

14. RICHARD SCARRY'S CARS & TRUCKS & THINGS THAT GO
by Richard Scarry
Golden, 1974
ISBN: 0679806636

Honk! Honk! Hop in for a fun ride exploring all kinds of vehicles with Goldbug, Huckle Cat, Lowly Worm and the Busy Town gang.

15. THE REAL MOTHER GOOSE
by Blanche Fisher Wright
Checkerboard, 1916
ISBN: 0590225170

This classic with the black-and-white checkerboard cover contains the familiar nursery rhymes you grew up with and some lovely, old-fashioned illustrations.

16. WHERE'S SPOT? (lift-the-flap)
by Eric Hill
Putnam, 1980
ISBN: 0399207589

Eric Hill couldn't have known Spot would become such a children's book icon when he first brought the yellow pup to life. But children everywhere connect to the dog's wide eyed wonder, and probably always will.

17. LEO THE LATE BLOOMER (board book)
by Robert Kraus
illustrated by Jose Aruego
HarperCollins, 1971, board book, 1998
ISBN: 0694009806

Leo is an inspiration to any child who takes a little longer to learn to speak, read or write.

18. TEN, NINE, EIGHT (board book)
by Molly Bang
Greenwillow, 1983, board book, 1996
ISBN: 0699149014

A little girl's bedtime becomes a countdown to slumber.

19. SHEEP IN A JEEP (board book)
by Nancy Shaw
illustrated by Margot Apple
Houghton Mifflin 1986
ISBN: 039586786X

The tongue-twisting tale of some woolly sheep who head out for an adventure-filled ride.

20. I WANT TO BE AN ASTRONAUT (board book)
by Byron Barton
HarperCollins, 1988, board book, 1997
ISBN: 0694011061

Blast off! This very simple story will help young imaginations to picture what it's like to visit outer space.

21. DEAR ZOO (lift-the-flap)
by Rod Campbell
Little Simon, 1986
ISBN: 0027164403

A child writes to the zoo for a pet and consequently receives some very interesting packages.

22. MAX'S BREAKFAST
by Rosemary Wells
Dial, 1979, board book, 1998
ISBN: 0803722737

Beloved and beleaguered bunny Max (who is usually bossed around by older sister Ruby) stars in a series of sweet board books about toddler routines, which Wells has spruced up with new artwork. Companion board book, titles in the "very first" series include MAX'S FIRST WORD and MAX'S NEW SUIT.

23. CLIFFORD, THE BIG RED DOG (board book)
by Norman Bridwell
Scholastic, board book, 1997
ISBN: 0590341251

Emily Elizabeth has the biggest dog on the block --- he's taller than her house! --- and he's brigth red, to boot. Kids love this story of an unusual gentle giant.

24. THE BABY'S BEDTIME BOOK
by Kay Chorao
Dutton 1984, Puffin Paperback, 1994
ISBN: 0140553843

Chorao's soft and dreamy watercolors are the perfect sweet accompaniment to this collection of lullabies and poems.

25. RED, BLUE, YELLOW SHOE (board book)
by Tana Hoban
Greenwillow, 1986
ISBN: 0688065635

Baby's everyday world is a rainbow of bright color in this concept book illustrated wtih Hoban's outstanding photographs.

26. PEEK-A-BOO
by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
Puffin, 1984
ISBN: 014050107X

One of the first --- and favorite --- games to play with baby is the inspiration for this cheery board book, in which a tiny tot peeks through a die-cut hole to see a surprise on the each consecutive page.

27. MOO, BAA, LA LA LA
by Sandra Boynton
Simon & Schuster, 1982
ISBN: 067144901X

"A cow says Moo. A sheep says Baa. Three singing pigs say La La La," in this bouncy, funny book about animals and the sounds they make.

28. THE RUNAWAY BUNNY (board book)
by Margaret Wise Brown
illustrated by Clement Hurd
HarperCollins, 1942
ISBN: 0061074292

A mama bunny expresses unconditional love for her offspring --- she'll follow him even if he runs away --- in this favorite story.

29. GO, DOG, GO!
by P.D. Eastman
Random House, 1961
ISBN: 0394800206

A pooch puts the pedal to the metal in this clever rhyming romp, which is fun for babies learning the sounds of language as well as for older children who are learning to read their first words.

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