Getting a taste for books
It is never too early to introduce your children to the world of books. Even young babies will love to chew on books made of cloth or those with padded plastic pages. Just getting them used to the idea of handling books and turning pages is a useful first step. Babies will also love to be cuddled and read to in a soothing voice. At this stage it doesn't matter too much what you're reading, so even if it's the financial pages of the newspaper they'll get comfort from the physical contact and the sound of mum or dad's voice.

When they're a little older they will start to interact more with the pictures so the quality of the illustrations is really important. Try and look for books with quite simple and uncluttered pictures and very little text. Good examples of these types of books are those by Dick Bruna about a little rabbit called Miffy. Books that deal with familiar daily activities are great, like getting ready for bed or going to the shops. Until they're old enough to treat books with a bit of care, board books are a lot less vulnerable to chewing and tearing. Toddlers also seem to like books with squeakers or little finger puppets that they can interact with.

Words and pictures
Once they get to pre-school age they'll be coming into contact with a wider range of books in a different environment. A lot of playgroups or pre-schools will encourage you to go into the book corner with your child when they first start and read them a story before you leave them for the session. This is a great opportunity for you to see which books are popular with the children. There will often be a selection that are returned to time and again. You'll get familiar with particular authors and their different styles

At this age children start retaining more of what they are being read and love books with a lot of repetition so that they can actually join in with telling the story. We're Going On A Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury is a perfect example of this and a book that seems universally popular. Another personal favourite is Peepo! by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. Children also love stories where the text has a very strong rhythm. That's why children love nursery rhymes. Don't overlook poetry. A book of verse called Out and About by Shirley Hughes has the most beautiful illustrations and teaches children about the changing seasons. Nonsense verse is also popular - the more bizarre the better. Spike Milligan immediately comes to mind.

At this age books that deal with their own realm of experience can be quite reassuring for children. Books about going off to playgroup for the first time or going to the dentist or the doctors make them realise that this is part of every child's world. Similarly if there is some major change looming in their life, such as the arrival of a new baby or moving home, then books about these topics can give them a useful handle on the situation. The First Experiences series of books published by Usborne deal with these subjects very well, as do the Topsy and Tim series.

Taking care of the basics
As far as non-fiction goes, then books that teach children about numbers up to ten and the alphabet are invaluable. Because these are the building blocks of any education, choosing the right books is important. They have to keep the child's interest and be something that they'll want to return to frequently. Number books that incorporate rhymes seem to work well, because the child learns to count in much the same way as when they learn nursery rhymes. Think of "one, two three four five, once I caught a fish alive." Learning to count the objects on the page is also important, so having illustrations that are colourful and simply laid out to make counting easy are best.

Books about the alphabet are a bit trickier to choose. Because there are so many letters to learn, it really helps if the book is based around a strong theme or character. If, for example, your child loves stories about teddy bears or Postman Pat, then try and find a book which features them. Again the illustrations are really important. They must be interesting enough to keep the child's attention, but not too fussy or busy. It should be fun to talk about what's going on in the picture with your child so that they can hear the sound the letter makes.

Time for a story
If you're not already a member, join your local library. You may well find that they run special events for children such as storytelling sessions or puppet shows. Also make sure that your children see you enjoying books. Try and incorporate reading a story together into your daily routine. While they're still young enough to enjoy a good cuddle, snuggle up on the sofa with them and a good book.

Encourage your children to really look at the pictures and then make up their own stories too. Having a bedtime story is a lovely way to end the day, but try and find stories that are nice and gentle and have a soothing rhythm, like When will it be Spring? by Catherine Walters.

The very best children's books are a delight to read no matter what age you are. You will definitely find that you have your own personal favourites but remember that it's important to let your child choose the books they want too!