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The Baby Books Everyone's Talking About And Why

The Baby Books Everyone's Talking About And Why
Baby boy (18-21 months) looking at book Alistair Berg via Getty Images
Alistair Berg via Getty Images
Baby boy (18-21 months) looking at book Alistair Berg via Getty Images

It’s never too early to introduce your baby to books. At just a few weeks old they can begin to enjoy the sensory stimulation of handling the pages, looking at the colours and shapes and listening to the familiar rhythm of your voice.

Then, as they continue to develop, reading aloud will open up a whole world of new skills, from communication, listening and memory skills and boosting their vocabulary to introducing them to concepts, such as colours, shapes, numbers and letters in a fun and accessible way.

In fact, bonding with a child over a book, especially as part of a nightly bedtime ritual, can help to inspire a lifelong love of reading, according to a study by the Oxford University Press.

But which books should you be reading to your little one? While it’s hard to beat the timeless classics (who doesn’t have fond memories of The Hungry Caterpillar?), there is a new raft of children’s literature emerging that promotes values beyond the traditional morals of classic fairytales and explores a more relevant and current world view.

From embracing diversity and celebrating difference to challenging stereotypes and boosting self-esteem, here are a few of our favourite uplifting and empowering books for 21-century babies.

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