Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury.

Two masters of the picture book come together in this book filled with the joy of babies.  Fox’s gentle rhyme carries the book forward and Oxenbury’s illustrations of babies set on a background of white capture the spirit of the text perfectly.  The babies are shown in all skin colors, all happily playing side-by-side.  The length of the text and the book’s gentle spirit make it the perfect first picture book.  I am hopeful that it will come out as a board book so that it can be placed directly into small hands without fear of tearing.  Watch for my favorite little baby with the runny nose.

The perfect book for baby showers, it should also be shared with new older siblings.  Appropriate for ages 0-2.