The Ultimate First Book Guide

The title of this splendid book says it all really. It is aimed at the parents of those between nought and seven and is divided into three main age sections: 0-2, 2-5 and 5-7. Each of these is sub-divided with an annotated and illustrated book selection and includes contributions from a specialist core of contributors, starting with Liz Attenborough on the all important topic of talking and listening to babies, Wendy Cooling imparting the vital message that babies and books should be together from birth, through to Margaret Meek’s wonderfully wise and reassuring words on reading at school and reading with school-age children. All kinds of books, fiction – encompassing dual-language texts and translations, information titles, nursery rhymes and poetry are featured with the emphasis on works of imagination, which is as it should be; though I would like to have seen more emphasis on poetry and nursery rhymes. One other small carp, it would have been useful to include publisher along with the other bibliographic details.

It is impossible to do full justice to this excellent book in a short review. Enough to say it should be included in every Bookstart pack or even better, as part of a ‘prenatal’ package. That would do far more to further the cause of children’s true literacy than any phonic programme or other ill thought-out initiative.