What a good way to start reading aloud to the new baby. The small board book is easy to hold while cuddling the little one, and the selections are well chosen. They include the very familiar Miss Muffet herself, and the not-so-familiar, Brave Old Duke of York, and the Lion and the Unicorn. By the time the baby is a toddler, she will hold the book herself, recite each rhyme cued by the illustration, and turn pages in the right places. (If the book has been read to her over and over and over, of course!)

A delightful spirit enhancer, confidence builder and good time! Little mouse has elephant-sized hopes, dreams and ideas. Never once does his mother hint that he may not be able to accomplish what he proposes, but rather she is his support person all the way. The mouse's part can be read exuberantly, in contrast to his mother's responses, which can be read in a slower, more measured manner.

Originally a popular song of the 1940's, now illustrated in storybook form with the complete musical score in the front and back of the book, this short alphabet romp captures a big piece of social history. Originally a love song from man to woman, it's now a love song from parent (or other loving caregiver) to child. This theme seems compatible indeed with the testimonies of many contemporary parents who say they've "fallen in love" with their new baby.

A wonderful introduction to the world of books. By six or eight months babies will be stimulated by the bright colors coupled with the hilarity of the readalouder imitating the "moo-moo-moos" and "cock-a-doodle-doos" of the barnyard. Older siblings, by ages 3 or 4, will vie to "read" it to the baby as well.

What a delightful jumble of words and sounds for the readalouder to portray to joinalong listeners: baby eats lunch and bags spoons, while avante garde Mama bangs her drums; and animals listen and watch, at, "Bah" and "Moo." Babies will love the various sounds, while older children will want a Mama just like the drummer-Mom.

The chipper Miss Spider is better than ever in board book form; in fact it might be argued that this is her best milieu. The insects amuse, and provide reason for counting to 12. Whether by toddler age the young listener will know what the numbers mean is anybody's guess, but it's very likely that by the time toddler is talking, the contents of Miss Spider's Tea Party will spill out in whole sentences.

A whole family treasure of 20 nondenominational, unconventional blessings, to be read soothingly and slowly so listeners can savor each phrase. The young child will respond to the readalouder's calm voice, while the older child will appreciate the blank verse.

A great time can be had by everyone who joins in Toddlerobics fun. The readalouder will need to set her entire body into the act to do justice to this playalong book which calls for lots of hand, arm, leg and even a few bump-and-grind motions. Great for every family with a baby or toddler as well as for daycare centers and nursery schools.

Blank verse, a clever concept, plus an imaginative informative text make this a must for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. The book is to be flipped midway through reading it, just as the world changes midway through a 24-hour period when light turns to dark or dark to light. What the moons sees can be read in soft, gentle, restful tones; while what the sun sees can be read more vibrantly, to show the night/day contrast.

Melanie Jane seems suspiciously related to A.A. Milne's Mary Jane who simply could not abide her rice pudding again. This latter day Melanie Jane wants the blue sky turned red and raises tantrums when her family cannot produce the desired result. In the end, like the earlier M. Jane, Melanie Jane learns she can't always have her own way. An amusing lesson for children two and older, especially when the readalouder conveys a sense of good-natured outrage at the behavior of the anti-heroine.

Reinventing old nursery rhymes in same from but with new words is fast becoming Aylesworth's specialty. Here children 1 year and older will be amused by the readalouder's peppy renditions of the new versions, while older children will chime in with a few versions of their own.

A charming treasure to read aloud again and again to the very young, and to children as they grow. It's important that the readalouder not singsong, as in many of the poems with traditional rhyme schemes the last word in lines two and four do rhyme. If one tries to read it aloud as if it were a blank verse, the meanings don't get lost as they do when one gives into the temptation to emphasize rhyme. A book that is sure to be checked out of the library shelves on a continuing basis.

A gleeful time for the readalouder to delight children who before their first birthdays will love the rhythmic repetitions and loud noises of various animals falling into the lake. By their 2nd birthdays, the children will loudly imitate the animals themselves.

Clark can always be counted on to provide a delightful twist to the tried and true. Here, in each stanza more and more varied animals join Miss Muffet for a fun-filled party. The readalouder can change tone and volume for each stanza, creating a merry setting for little listeners' enjoyment. And it's a fine vehicle for teaching counting on the sly.

A charming and witty tale of two piggies: one animal and one human, who equally love the oosh and goosh of slippery, slimy mud. And Voila! Root cleverly adds a third piggy, too, evoking the often suppressed yet primal love of squooshy, wet earth in even the most meticulous of adults. The readalouder will enjoy portraying the grunts and groans of the human piggy, in contrast with the metered voice of Mrs. Potter in this fanciful frolic, wherein an otherwise fanatically clean housekeeper joins her piggy daughter to mud-it-up on the sly!

In a whoosh of scrambled sounds, Root packs a lot of creativity into a very few words in a definite "read it again and again" for the very young listener. The readalouder will delight in mimicking the animal sounds, especially when sounds and animals don't quite mesh!