Great Baby Gifts

This isn't a hint (honest!) -- I own many of these books already. But for any other baby showers you may be attending in the near future, here are some gift recommendations!

Wee Little Bunny, Wee Little Lamb, and Wee Little Chick by Lauren Thompson, illustrated by John Butler. For any little animal lover.

All of Baby, Nose to Toes by Victoria Adler, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata. A delightful exploration of baby anatomy!

Hello Baby by Mem Fox, illustrated by Steve Jenkins. Mem Fox is an Australian writer whose picture books are almost always nearly perfect, and Steve Jenkins does amazing, realistic cut-paper illustrations of the animals and their babies.

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. I told you Mem Fox can do no wrong! In this one she explains how babies all over the world (beautifully depicted by Helen Oxenbury) are essentially the same.

Here's a Little Poem: A Very First Book of Poetry collected by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters, illustrated byPolly Dunbar. A collection of more than 60 poems about a toddler's world.

Global Babies from the Global Fund for Children. A beautiful board book with photographs of baby faces from around the world.

And, finally, The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones, illustrated by Jago. The illustrations in this one aren't my favorite (though they are, admittedly, kid-friendly), but it is the best children's Bible I've ever read. The way Lloyd-Jones shows how every story -- from the Old Testament to the New -- is about salvation is beautiful. The first time I read this, I learned some new theology myself! You can buy the book alone, or in a special "deluxe edition" that includes the entire book on 3 CDs. Mike and I have been taking turns reading it to Evan at night.

Do you have any favorite books to give as baby gifts?