A dear friend of my mom’s, who has been wonderful to me since my mom passed away, sent this request a few weeks ago.  “Do you have a recommendation for a great book to give a one year old for their birthday? Been so long with my grands now I can’t think of the perfect one.”  She only asked for one idea but I gave her ten.

Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathman – An unobservant zookeeper is followed home by all the animals he thinks he has left behind in the zoo.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault and illustrated by Lois Ehlert – An alphabet rhyme/chant that relates what happens when the whole alphabet tries to climb a coconut tree.

From Head to Toe by Eric Carle – Readers enjoy copying the movements of various animals presented in this story.

Mother, Mother I Want Another by Maria Polushkin Robbins and illustrated by Jon Goodell – Mrs. Mouse is anxious to get her son to sleep and goes off to find what she thinks he wants.

Dear Zoo By Rod Campbell – Answering a child’s request, the zoo keeps sending a wide assortment of animals until they find the perfect pet.

We’re Going On A Bear Hunt retold by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury – Brave bear hunters go through grass, a river, mud and other obstacles before the inevitable encounter with the bear forces a headlong retreat.

Owl Babies by Martin Waddell and illustrated by Patrick Benson – Three owl babies whose mother has gone out in the night try to stay calm while she is gone.

I Went Walking by Sue Williams and illustrated by Julie Vivas – During the course of a walk, a boy identifies animals of different colors.

Good Night, Good Night Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld – At sunset, when their work is done for the day, a crane truck, a cement mixer, and other pieces of construction equipment make their way to their resting place.

Freight Train by Donald Crews – Brief text and illustrations trace the journey of a colorful train as it goes through tunnels, by cities and over trestles.

I Spy With My Little Eye by Edward Gibbs – Asks young readers to identify the animal based on their color, including blue for a blue whale, white for a polar bear, and green for a frog, with die-cut spy holes.

All synopsis are from the library catalog records.