Birth to three

Nobody can deny the power of books to develop language, understanding and a bond between child and carer. Ladybird’s Baby and Toddler ranges take account of the latest research in how children relate to books and are ideally suited to the particular developmental needs of children in your care.

The table below identifies particular features for each of our main series for children from birth to 3 years of age.

Baby - Roll over the book for a peek inside!

Series title	Recommended age range	How these books help children	Click for more in this series
First Focus	Up to 6 months	High contrast images to develop babies’ sight Durable board or cloth formats Sparkles and shapes to grab babies’ attention
Padded Cloth Books	3–18 months	Simple, colourful images Range of textures to grab babies’ interest and develop concentration and focus
Baby Touch	6–18 months	Flip-flap pages to match colours, patterns and textures Pictures and patterns to match to rhymes Peekaboo flaps and shaped windows to develop and reward curiosity
Board Books	Up to 3 years	Durable board, shiny foil and bold illustrations Emphasis on rhyme, counting, animals, transport and home
First Picture Words	1–3 years	Introduces older babies and toddlers to the link between pictures and written words Single image accompanied by simple caption

Toddler - Roll over the book for a peek inside!

Series title	Recommended age range	How these books help children	Click for more in this series
I can help	1-3 years	Simple, colourful images Range of textures to grab babies’ interest and develop concentration and focus
Toddler Talk	1-3 years	Index tabs to help match images and colours Deals with common new experiences in a reassuring way, offering lots to talk about
Sticker board books	Up to 3 years	Lively, interactive board books Re-useable stickers helping children make their own decisions
Peep-through rhymes	1–3 years	Introduces older babies and toddlers to the link between pictures and written words Single image accompanied by simple caption
Start Nursery	1–3 years	Helping children learn through play, this series of sticker books, tactile books and play books helps children to make the transition from the home environment to nursery by building confidence and practical skills.
Look and Talk	Up to 3 years	Rhythmic rhymes and first non-fiction board books to encourage counting, observation and talk
Toddler Playbooks	Up to 4 years	Best-selling, award-winning nursery rhyme books Interesting tactile elements to touch and feel help to establish the link between textures and words, numbers and quantity. Emphasis on rhyme to develop language skills
First Bible Stories	Up to 4 years	A gentle introduction to stories from the Bible Charming pictures, simple text and index tabs
Nursery Rhymes	Up to 4 years	Mini-hardback nursery rhymes also available as book and CD packs.

Stories - Roll over the book for a peek inside!
Traditional stories provide a valuable foundation for later learning. Reading research shows that children who have a favourite book before they start school will have a head start in learning to read. Ladybird’s storybook series are specially written to appeal to each stage of a child’s developing interest in stories. Our stories for toddlers have simple plots, characters that pop up again and again, and rhythmic language to develop later reading skills.

Series title	Recommended age range	How these books help children	Click for more in this series
First Fairytale Tactile Board	1–3 years	Bold illustrations and exciting textures make these traditional stories suitable for very young children to enjoy.
First Favourite Tales	2–4 years	Simple rhythmic retellings of traditional stories are ideal for toddlers
Little Workmates	2–4 years	Meet the characters of Story Town as they appear in each other’s stories. Provide a useful focus for topics about People Who Help Us.
Busy Town	2–4 years	It’s a very busy day in Busy Town. Lively illustrations and characters that appear in each other’s stories develop a sense of security and help children to remember events and personalities that they have already met.

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