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.

NEW FAVES

A Kids Reads new fave is a recently published book that has already proved a hit with kids, parents and booksellers. These books have the potential to become classics.

1. GO TO SLEEP DAISY (Board Book) 
by Jane Simmons
Little, Brown, 1999
ISBN: 0316797618

Daisy the duckling stars in this sweet look at her life around the pond.

2. HUG 
by Jez Alborough
Candlewick, 2000
ISBN: 0763612871

As a baby chimp makes his way through the jungle, he sees various mama and baby animals embracing. Pointing out each pair, he exclaims "Hug!" Now, if only he could find his mama for a hug of his own...(not to worry; he does).

3. THE EVERYTHING BOOK
by Denise Fleming
Henry Holt, 2000
ISBN: 0805062920

Nursery rhymes, concepts (counting, the alphabet) and just plain fun burst forth from these vibrant pages filled with exuberant babies, animals and objects.

4. MY CLOTH BOOKS
by Lucy Cousins
Candlewick Press, 1992

Kite in the Park
ISBN: 1564020312

Hen on the Farm
ISBN: 1564020320

Flower in the Garden
ISBN: 1564020290

Teddy in the House
ISBN: 1564020304

Chipper, childlike illustrations done in bold colors fill the pages of these four cuddly cloth books.

5. JAN PIENKOWSKI'S FIRST CLOTH BOOKS
by Jan Pienkowski
Little Simon, 1995
Animals
ISBN: 0689804342

Freinds
ISBN: 0689804334

Fun
ISBN: 0689804326

Play
ISBN: 0689804318

Smiling faces, simple objects and bright colors are the highlights of these four cloth book titles.

6. MY FIRST WORD BOOK (board book)
by Angela Wilkes
Dorling-Kindersley, 1997
ISBN: 0789415143

Kids can learn the names of the everyday objects around them from the crisp, vibrant photographs in the board book edition.

7. BIZZ, BUZZ, CHUG-A-LUG
by Nancy White Carlstrom
illustrated by Bruce Degen
Little Simon, 1997
ISBN: 0689807309

This fun Jesse Bear Board Book introduces the sweet little bear and your young readers to the fun of choo-choo trains.

8. UNDERSEA OPEN SESAME
by Kees Moerbeek
Price Stern Sloan, 1997
ISBN: 0843178973

The cardboard mouths of undersea creatures slide open to reveal a fascinating, watery world. Incredibly fun!

9. SHAPES FOR LUNCH
by Charles Reasoner
illustrated by Melinda Lilly
Price Stern Sloan, 1997
ISBN: 0843179104

Hungry ants introduce shapes by way of such delicious picnic foods as round bologna, square cheese and triangular pizza. Kids will love the silly rhyming text.

10. EYE SPY A BEAR!
by Melinda Lilly
illustrated by Steve Cox
Price Stern Sloan, 1997
ISBN: 0843178671

Google-eyed nature friends hide and are found by very young readers, just under cardboard flaps.

11. BIG DOG LITTLE DOG
by Dav Pilkey
Harcourt Brace, 1997
ISBN: 0152003606

Dav Pilkey introduces Big Dog and Little Dog, two k-9 pals who find adventure and fun where ever they go.

12. MISS SPIDER'S TEA PARTY: THE COUNTING BOOK (board book)
by David Kirk
Scholastic, 1997
ISBN: 059006519X

Miss Spider and friends have a delicious, rhyming, counting time at this board book celebration-a real treat for you and your little party animal.

13. TIME FOR BED (board book)
by Mem Fox
illustrated by Jane Dyer
Harcourt Brace, 1997
ISBN: 0152010661

From the forest to the farm, each little creature must settle in for the night --- and the human animal is no exception. Mem Fox has written a soft, sweet bedtime anthem. Now little fingers can enjoy it too.

14. GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU? (board book)
by Sam McBratney
Candlewick, 1996
ISBN: 076360013X

Young Nutbrown Hare and his doting father share some quiet time in this tender bedtime story.

15. GOOD NIGHT, GORILLA (board book)
by Peggy Rathmann
Putnam, 1996
ISBN: 0399230033

For years, Good Night Gorilla has climbed between the zookeeper's covers. Now, rough and tumble toddlers can carry the story to bed with them too. One more example of a trend little readers can really enjoy.

16. MY VERY FIRST MOTHER GOOSE
edited by Iona Opi
illustrated by Rosemary Wells
Candlewick, 1996
ISBN: 1564026205

Opie has gathered both treasured and unusual nursery rhymes in this bright collection. And toddlers will definitely take a shine to Wells' sweet and spirited world of animal characters.

17. BABY BELUGA
by Raffi
illustrated by Ashley Wolff
Crown, 1990
ISBN: 0517709775

Raffi is known as a singer, but lends his sense of fun and sparkling whimsy to this sweet board book story, built around the gentleness of a young beluga whale.

18. CHICKA CHICKA ABC (board book)
by John Archambault and Bill Martin, Jr.
illustrated by Lois Ehlert
Little Simon, 1993
ISBN: 067187893X

"A told B and B told C"-and you'll want to tell the whole family-about the lively letters in this abbreviated version of the rollicking alphabet picture book.

19. ONE YELLOW LION
by Matthew van Fleet
Dial Books, 1992
ISBN: 0803710992

Counting is a roaring good time with this fun fold-out book.

20. ELMO'S BIG LIFT-AND-LOOK BOOK
by Anna Ross
illustrated by Jose Mathieu
Random House, 1994
ISBN: 0679844686

Kids can play hide-and-seek with Elmo and the Sesame Street gang in this large and sturdy lift-the-flap book. Little ones will learn about letters, colors, counting and opposites while they play, too.

21. ARTHUR'S REALLY HELPFUL WORD BOOK
by Marc Brown
Random House, 1997
ISBN: 0679887350

Arthur the aardvark, Pal the puppy, D.W. and the gang provide toddlers with a visual dictionary of objects found in the house and in the neighborhood.

22. JAMBERRY (board book)
by Bruce Degen
HarperFestival, 1995
ISBN: 0694006513

Bears have a great time jamming to the berry beat of this nonsense rhyme about blueberries, blackberries and all their relatives.

23. JESSE BEAR, WHAT WILL YOU WEAR? (board book)
by Nancy White Carlstrom
illustrated by Bruce Degen
Little Simon, 1996
ISBN: 0689809301

Toddlers can start their day with Jesse as he goes through a morning routine that includes deciding what to wear and what to eat for breakfast.

24. BIG YELLOW TAXI (pull-tab, lift-the-flap)
by Ken Wilson-Max
Scholastic/Cartwheel, 1995
ISBN: 0590428845

Pull the tabs, lift the flaps and experience all the excitement of a taxi cab. Companion titles BIG BLUE ENGINE, BIG RED FIRE TRUCK and LITTLE RED PLANE are also fun.

25. NOAH'S ARK (board book)
by Lucy Cousins
Candlewick, 1993, board book, 1996
ISBN: 0763602507

Cousins' bright drawings make this simplified version Bible story a treat for toddlers.

26. I SPY LITTLE BOOK
by Jean Marzollo
illustrated by Walter Wick
Cartwheel, 1997
ISBN: 0590341294

Toddlers can join in the I Spy fun their older sibblings have enjoyed for years, thanks to this down shifted, board sized photo book.

27. IN THE TALL, TALL GRASS
by Denise Fleming
Henry Holt, 1993, Paperback, 1995
ISBN: 0805039414

Kids get a bug's-eye view in this colorful look at basic, backyard nature. Fleming's "pulp-painting" handmade paper art crackles with life.

28. HUSH LITTLE BABY
by Sylvia Long
Chronicle, 1997
ISBN: 0811814165

In Long's version of this favorite lullaby, a Mama rabbit sings to her baby bunny about all the wonders of nature. A beautiful, reassuring book.

29. I SEE THE MOON AND THE MOON SEES ME
by Jonathan London
illustrated by Peter Fiore
Puffin Paperback, 1998
ISBN: 0140554874

Fiore's rich nature-themed paintings spark this rendition of a nursery rhyme which celebrates the world around us. A great bedtime choice.

30. A YOU'RE ADORABLE
by Buddy Kaye
illustrated by Martha Alexander
Candlewick, 1994
ISBN: 1564025667

This darling version of the alphabet, based on the song from the 1940s ("A you're adorable, B you're so beautiful, C you're a cutie full of charms...") features a cast of winsome kids at every turn.

31. TOM AND PIPPO'S DAY (board book)
by Helen Oxenbury
Little Simon, 1997
ISBN: 0689819552

Adorable toddler Tom and his toy monkey Pippo are at the center of these cheerful tales of a toddler's gentle adventures and daily routines. Also see TOM AND PIPPO GO FOR A WALK, PIPPO GETS LOST and TOM AND PIPPO READ A STORY.

32. HOW MANY KISSES GOOD NIGHT
by Jean M. Thomas
illustrated by Eloise Wilkin
Random House, 1997
ISBN: 067988226X

Bedtime is extra cozy in this tender story of a girl's special ritual with her mother which includes counting "How many toes?" and, of course, "How many kisses good night?"

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