Recommended by the Children's Librarians at the Ferguson Library. Birth to Three Years The first three years of a child's life are important in so many ways. Children make remarkable developmental progress during this time, and parents and caregivers can engage babies and young children in literacy activities that give them a foundation for lifelong learning. The Ferguson Library has a rich and diverse collection of books for the very young and we have selected a sampling of our favorites for this list. And don't forget, a Ferguson children's librarian is always available to make individualized reading recommendations for you and your young child.

The library extends a special thank you to Connecticut Children's Book Illustrator Nancy Elizabeth Wallace for her generous contribution of original papercut illustration for this booklist

Board Books for Babies
Just right for tiny hands and sturdy in format, here is a selection of board books appropriate for infants.

Animal Crackers: Nursery Rhymes by Jane Dyer
Baby Animals Black and White by Phyllis Limbacher Tildes
Baby! Talk! by Penny Gentieu
Bingo by Rosemary Wells
Count to Ten PiggyWiggy! by Christyan and Diane Fox
First Steps by Lee Wardlaw
I Can by Helen Oxenbury
Maybe My Baby by Irene O'Book
Monkey Around with Chimp and Zee by Catherine and Laurence Anholt
One Red Sun: A Counting Book by Ezra Jack Keats
Playtime: First Words Rhymes and Actions
What is That? by Tana Hoban
You Are My Perfect Baby by Joyce Carol Thomas

Easy Concept Books
Learning the basics of numbers and letters is easy with these creative approaches.

A is for Amos by Deborah Chandra
ABC Kids by Laura Ellen Williams
Count! by Denise Fleming 
The Everything Book by Denise Fleming
In My Garden: A Counting Book by Ward Schumaker
Paddington's 123 by Michael Bond
Ten Night Eight by Molly Bang

Mother Goose, Rhymes and Play Books
Chanting nursery rhymes and singing songs introduces your child to the rhythm of words and is a wonderful way to support your baby's language development. Here is a selection of traditional rhymes and interactive fingerplays with helpful instruction.

Baby's Game Book by Isabel Wilner   E398.8W
Diez Deditos=Ten Little Fingers and Other Play Rhymes and Action Songs from Latin America by Jose Luis Orozco   JSP 793.4O
Good For You! Toddler Rhymes for Toddler Times by Stephanie Calmenson   E821C
Hippety-Hop Hippety-Hay The Kingfisher Nursery Rhyme Songbook by Sally Emerson   E782.42K
Knock at the Door and Other Baby Action Rhymes by Kay Chorao   E398.8C
My Very First Mother Goose by Iona Opie   E398.3M
Read Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young by Jack Prelutsky   E821.08R
Tomie De Paola's Mother Goose by Tomie de Paola   E398.3M
Wiggle Waggle Fun: Stories and Rhymes for the Very Very Young by Margaret Mayo  E808.8W

Very Easy Toddler Stories
By the time your child has reached one year he may be pointing out things to you in his books! Try these books with large clear pictures and very simple stories. Many of them feature familiar items such as toys or farm animals, and some encourage participation between parent and child.

Away We Go! by Rebecca Kai Dotlich
Brave Bear by Kathy Mallat
Come Back Hannah! by Marisabina Russo
Crunch Munch by Jonathan London
Here Come Poppy and Max by Lindsey Gardiner
The Itsy Bitsy Spider by Iza Trapani
My Bear and Me by Barbara Maitland
Peek-a-Moo by Marie Torres Cimarusti 
Ruby's Potty by Paul and Emma Rogers
Tickle Tum by Nancy Van Laan
Ting-a-Ling! by Siobhan Dodds
Toddlerobics: Animal Run by Zita Newcome
Tom & Pippo Series by Helen Oxenbury
What in the World? by Eve Merriam
Whose Shoes? by Anna Grossnickle Hines
Wiggle Waggle by Jonathan London

Very Easy Non-fiction
And because even the very young child is curious about the world, here are some beginning informational books. Don't forget to check out our large selection of easy non-fiction books in the picture book room.

At the Beach by Anne and Harlow Rockwell   E910.091R
Crinkleroot's 25 Mammals Every Child Should Know by Jim Arnosky   E599A 
Growing Like Me by Anne Rockwell   E571.8R
Noisytime for Zoo Animals by Caroline Arnold   E636.088A
Old MacDonald Had a Farm illustrated by Glen Rounds   E784.405O
A Taste of Honey by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace   E599.799W

Beginning Stories for Toddlers and Twos
These books still have simple stories, but with just a big more plot. They are full of themes familiar to a young child's world.

Annie's Potty by Judith Caseley
Barnyard Banter by Denise Fleming
Brown Bear Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin
Cold Little Duck, Duck , Duck by Lisa Westberg Peters
Come Along Daisy! by Jane Simmons
Copycat by Ruth Brown
Do Donkeys Dance? by Melanie Walsh
From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Happy Birthday Lulu! by Caroline Uff
A High, Low, Near, Far, Loud, Quiet, Story by Nina Crews
Hop Jump by Ellen Stoll Walsh
I Went Walking by Sue Williams
If You Were My Bunny by Kate McMullan
The Jacket I Wear in the Snow by Shirley Neitzel
Little Ones Do! by Jana Novotny Hunter
Maisy Series by Lucy Cousins
Mama Cat Has Three Kittens by Denise Fleming
A Mother for Choco by Keiko Kasza
My Big Boy Potty by Joanna Cole
My Big Girl Potty by Joanna Cole
My Car by Byron Barton  
One Little Spoonful by Aliki   
Polar Bolero by Debi Gliori   
Rabbit's Bedtime by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace   
Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins
Sleepy Me by Marni McGee 
Song of Night: It's Time to Go to Bed by Katherine Riley Nakamura
The Three Little Kittens by Anna Alter  
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle  
Who's in My Bed? by Helen Piers
Whose Feet? by Jeannette Rowe

Especially for Parents
Here are some of our favorite parenting books; many focus on the importance of books in the life of a young child. For other helpful titles, check out our parenting section located right next to the picture book collection.

Babies Need Books: Sharing the Joy of Books with Children from Birth to Six by Dorothy Butler J028.162B
The Book of Bounces: Wonderful Songs and Rhymes Passed Down from Generation to Generation by John Feierabend  J782B
The First Three Years of Life by Burton L. White  155.422W582F
How Babies Talk: The Magic and Mystery of Language in the First Three Years of Life by Roberta M. Golinkoff   J401.93G
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio: Baby and Toddler Play Book by Joanne Oppenheim   J649.5O
Read to Me: Raising Kids Who Love to Read by Bernice E. Cullinan   J649.58C
Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever by Mem Fox J649.58F