Babies crying out for a jolly good read

Brought to book: Five-year-old Jed Tipping reads to his new baby brother Kit in this charming picture taken by their dad, Evening Press photographer Mike Tipping

Aiming to raise educational standards, the Books for Babies project will mean all parents visiting a health clinic for their baby's eight-month check-up will receive a free book bag.

Each pack will be worth around £14 and will include two books, a nursery rhyme place mat, an invitation to join a local library and information leaflets, all held in a canvas bag.

Babies will then be given a third free book when they become members of their local library.

The scheme is to be launched tomorrow by York author Kate Atkinson at Clifton Health Centre. It is a joint project between the City of York Council and North Yorkshire Health Authority and is being funded as part of a national deal by supermarket chain Sainsbury's. Rose Woodhead has just taken up the post of co-ordinator of the project in York.

She said research carried out in Birmingham had shown that babies taking part in a similar scheme had gone on to show improvements in reading, writing and maths skills in primary schools.

Around 2,000 babies would benefit from the scheme in its first year.

Rose added: "Although eight months may seem quite young to start introducing books to babies, this is a time when babies really start to take notice of things. The basic aim is not to get parents to teach their children to read, but to introduce books and to enjoy reading together.

"It is a way of sharing a quiet moment and getting children to benefit from that time with parents."

Books for babies need to be bold, bright, colourful and able to withstand plenty of usage.

A wide range of bath books, board books and picture books are available.

The Evening Press asked three members of City of York council's education services team to recommend their top books for tots. Here are their selections:

Rose Woodhead, Books for Babies co-ordinator:

Dear Zoo board book, by Rod Campbell.

Dinosaur Roar board book, by P & H Stickland.

Peek-a-boo board book, by Jan Omerod.

Where's Spot? by Eric Hill.

Tickle Tickle board book, by Helen Oxenbury.

Owl Babies board book, by M Waddell.

The Rainbow Fish board book, by M Pfister.

Wibbly Pig Can Dance board book, by Mick Inkpen.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle.

Baby Sleeps board book, by Janet and Allan Ahlberg.

Jo Armistead, early years co-ordinator:

Baby Goz, by Steve Weatherill.

The Snowman, by Raymond Briggs.

Each Peach Pear Plum, by Janet and Allan Ahlberg.

The Elephant and the Bad Baby, by Elfrida Vipont and Raymond Briggs.

To Baby With Love, by Jan Ormerod.

Where's Spot? by Eric Hill.

Tickle Tickle board book, by Helen Oxenbury.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle.

Lorna Batten, family learning co-ordinator.

Each Peach Pear Plum, by Janet and Allan Ahlberg.

The Baby's Catalogue, by Janet and Allan Ahlberg.

What's Inside? by Anthea Sieveking.

Being Together, by Shirley Hughes.

Miffy books, by Dick Bruna.

Spot books, by Eric Hill.

Meg and Mog books, by Helen Nichol and Jan Pienkowski.

Elmer books, by David McKee.

Collins Nursery Treasury, by Jonathan Langley.

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