Are you greeting a new year with your new baby, wondering how you'll ever determine which new books work best for a small child? Years of parenting and reviewing have taught me that certain jewel-like qualities create sure-fire hits for the very young. From the thousands of new books that appeared for babies in the past year, I've chosen some titles that are sure to be treasured in your home.

Rhythm and Rhyme Always Works

Why has Mother Goose endured for years despite the sexism, racism, and complicated political themes? It's because of the rocking and rolling rhythms and rhymes that have comforted children for generations. Judith Hannant gives familiar poems a new look in The Doorknob Collection of Pets and Pals (Little Brown, $12.95; ages 0-4). "Pussycat, Pussycat", "Bow, Wow, Wow!", "Three Blind Mice" and "Rub-a-Dub-Dub" are transformed into four sturdy cardboard books which fit into a holder that's great for hanging from a doorknob, toting around, or practicing that favorite baby game of putting things in and taking things out.

If you want a special volume that you can cherish for years of family sharing you can count on well-known illustrator Michael Hague. He selects and illustrates a new collection called Sleep, Baby, Sleep: Lullabies and Night Poems (Morrow, $18.00; ages birth and up). Hague chooses from contemporary authors, classic poets, as well as traditional songs and poems from all over the world.

Keith Baker revives a familiar rhyme in his newest book, big fat hen (HBJ, $13.95; ages 0-5). Whether you have a baby who likes to be bounced to rhythm, a toddler who's learning numbers and counting, or a preschooler who can appreciate Baker's surprising ending, the big fat colorful illustrations stretch across pages and invite chorusing a rhyme that has children have chanted for generations.

Jim Aylesworth expands and extends the old rhyme My Son John (Henry Holt, $15.95; ages 0-4) to come up with fourteen new verses and characters who playfully interact throughout a a farm day. There's daughter Rose who "combs her mare in old work clothes" and son Jake who "spreads sweet butter on his pancake." Aylesworth's own sense of play is evident in his choices of exciting words and sounds that will please new babies while creating a book that can grow with a child all the way through pre-school and just might inspire you to make up a personal rhyme for your special child.

Babies are Born Singers

It's amazing how early sweet baby sounds turn to song, or how easily a grumpy baby can become happy hearing a familiar refrain. Songs, like rhymes, are a great sources of comfort to babies.

Gwenda Turner turns her amazingly realistic art to Over on the Farm (Viking, $10.99 ; ages 1-5), a reworking of the song "over in the Meadow". The pages are filled with singable verse, recognizable farm animals, and plenty of places for making animal sounds.

And if you're looking for a song collection, that combines animals and fun, classic and silly, you want Jane Yolen's Old MacDonald Songbook (Boyds Mills Press, $16.95; ages 2-6). This is a great resource for parents who will find between its covers the music and words for forty-three animal songs with enlightening introductions and delightful illustrations by Rosekrans Hoffman.

Babies Learn Best When Silliness Abounds

Jean Marzollo makes counting fun in her silly Ten Cats Have Hats (Scholastic, $6.95; ages 2-5). A young child wanders among animals doing the oddest things, and the child sports a different and wonderful hat in each illustration. An catchy rhyme and the delightful illustrations of David McPhail add to the enjoyment of reading and counting.

Margaret Miller's Guess Who? (Greenwillow, $15.00; ages 2-5) poses questions, presents ridiculous possibilities, allows plenty of places for kids to giggle, and then reveals the answer in a way sure to satisfy children who delight in knowing answers that seem to allude the author.

When Zoe's parents suggest she count sheep to help her sleep, Rose Bursik begins a surprising parade of visitors in Zoe's Sheep (Holt, $14.95; ages 3-5. The string of wonderfully outrageous hilarious night time events are perfect for rhyming, counting, and adding a night time giggle to a going to bed ritual.

Babies Like to See Themselves in Books

Some of the most-loved books are books that show characters and situations that are familiar to young children.

Dessie and Chevelle Moore's two board book companions, Good Morning and Good Night (HarperCollins, $5.95; ages 1-3) show simple events that are a part of toddlers' every day world. With beautiful pastels, the artist and writer capture everything from saying good morning to the sun to getting goodnight kisses at the end of the day.

Fiona Pragoff uses photographs to celebrate early life in It's Fun to Be One and It's Great To Be Two (Aladdin, $6.95 each; ages 1-2). Bright colors and beautiful babies show activities with careful attention to developmental stages.

Children Like to Be a Part of Your Story Sessions

Studies show very young babies are most captivated by black and white, so author-photographer Tana Hoban has created two new board books What is That? and Who Are They? using the high contrast. Babies can begin by staring at these images and later grow into identifying them. (both $4.95 from Greenwillow, ages birth-3)

I'll always remember turning the pages of Eric Hill's first Spot book, Where's Spot? (Putnam, $11.95; miniature version, $4.95) and seeing my son discover the delight of lifting the flaps to disclose all kinds of peek-a-boo surprises. Now Spot stars in his fifteenth book, Spot Bakes a Cake (Putnam, $11.95; ages 1-5) and the magic still works as messy Spot helps his mom prepare a surprise for his father's birthday.

Sue Tarsky's Kiss the Boo-Boo (Viking, $8.99; ages 1-4)is a perfect book for babies who've begun to take tumbles. You can comfort them by letting them comfort other hurting toddlers as they velcro a durable cloth bandage on all those typical ouchy spots and together you can kiss the boo-boo. This is a perfect remedy to lift despairing babies out of their own dramas.

Babies are their own favorite subject and Debbie MacKinnon and Anthea Sieveking give them plenty of opportunity to indulge themselves in all about ME (Barron's $11.95; ages 1-3). Inviting colorful photographs are matched by opportunities to find point to face and body parts, counting, balance, discover their sense and more!

Children love stickers and Dorling Kindersley gives them plenty of opportunity to play and learn with Their Sticker Activity Books. Each book comes loaded with bright colorful photographs, forty reusable stickers, and chances to learn about subjects like Clothes, Farm, Things That Go and Home. (each $6.95 from Dorling Kindersley; ages 2-5)

Starting Stories

When preschoolers are old enough to want stories, I recommend starting simple, finding themes that will interest them, and relying on expert authors. Three authors you can trust are publishing titles this year.

I was delighted to see the re-release of two of my favorite John Burningham first stories: The Baby and The Blanket. (both from $6.95; Candlewick Press; ages 3-5). Each weaves story around emotional situations that trouble the very young; the former involves a new sibling and the latter a missing comfort toy.

Helen Oxenbury's new book, It's My Birthday (Candlewick Press, $9.95; ages 3-5) revolves around every young child's favorite event. In Oxenbury's story a young child gets help from animal friends in making a very special cake. This has all the elements of a pleasing first tale: animals, friendship, a story that builds, and a very satisfying conclusion.

Nancy Tafuri's This is the Farmer (Greenwillow, $14.00; ages 2-5) has cheerful illustrations that spread across pages to tell of an early farm morning. There's a delightful chain of events that make for a lovely and complete circle of cooperation.

Helping Young Children Keep Loving the World

Children come into the world loving it and parents can reinforce that love from an early age. Karen Pandell's board book I Love You, Sun I Love You Moon (Putnam, $5.95; ages 1-3) is a simple affirmation of a child's love. Its text can be easily extended to include many other things children have come to love and the end has the perfection of simply stated belief system as it concludes: "I love you, earth. And you love me." Illustrations by Tomie dePaola provide a vibrant picturing of a child's enjoyment of living.

There's nothing that brings about the feeling of being loved more than being held in a lap and becoming part of a story. Many adults remember certain books they treasured, but I suspect what they really treasure are the nurturing that surrounded them when they were being read to.

Best Baby Books, 1993

Baby Talk, 1993

When I read in a recent copy of Publisher's Weekly that the children's book market boom is flattening out, I was relieved. One would think that a reviewer might welcome the 1,2000 a year title increase and doubling of children's bookstores that took place from 1985-1992. But this reviewer found herself wading through the glut of books, searching for quality in all that quantity. Now publishers are tightening their belts and focusing on books with "long-term survival." Now, those are the books that reviewers, parents, and children will appreciate... the books we want to read again and again! The happy news is that when I look back over the 1993 children's books, I already saw an increase in quality!

Board Books

Frank Asch , Moonbear (Little Simon, $3.95; ages 12 months- 3 years)

Tana Hoban, Black on White and White on Black (Greenwillow, $4.95; ages 6 mo-2yrs)

Let's Look at series, My World and Animals . (both from Scholastic, $5.95; Ages 6 months-2yrs.)

Ruth Krauss, The Carrot Seed. (HarperCollins, $4.95; ages 18 months- 5 years)

Rhythm and Rhyme

Michael Hague, Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear (Morrow, $14.00; ages 0-4)

David McPhail's Pigs Aplenty, Pigs Galore (Dial, $13.99; ages 1-6)

Mem Fox andJane Dyer, Time for Bed, (HBJ, $13.9; ages 1-5)

Sing, Sing, Sing

Eric Carle,Today is Monday (Philomel, $15.95; ages 6 mo-4 yrs)

Raffi Spider on the Floor (Crown, $13.00; ages 1-5)

Raffi's Everything Grows (Crown, $3.99; ages 1-5)

Christopher Manson, The Tree In the Wood (North-South Books, $14.95; Ages 0-6.)

Books to Learn From

Etta Wilson's Music in the Night (Dutton, $12.99; ages 1-4)

Margaret Miller's Can You Guess? (Greenwillow, $14.00; ages 1-4)

Lucy Micklethwait's A Child's Book of Art: Great Pictures, First Words (Dorling Kindersley, $16.95; ages 1-6)

Starting Stories

Byron Barton, The Little Red Hen (HarperCollins, $12.95; ages 1-4)

Tim Arnold, The Three Billy Goats Gruff. (McElderry, $14.95; ages 1-4)

Shirley Hughes, The Alfie Collection (Tupelo Books, $16.95; ages 3-6)

1991 Best Baby Books

Baby Talk

Every year new books flood library and book store shelves. There are so many that I find it more and more difficult to keep up. Or is life just busier? My frenetic days always end by previewing books with my children. They love this perk as much as I do. One of my other perks is being allowed to choose and communicate favorite titles with people who share my appreciation for children's books. So here follow some of the special books I discovered during 1991 for all of you who want to fill your family's 1992 with delightful reading experiences.

The Most Important Book Your Family May Ever Own

Memory Book: Our New Baby (Pleasant Company, 1991; ages 0-2)

Our New Baby: Pop-up Book (Pleasant Company, 1991; Ages 2-5.)

Board Books Galore

Juan Wijngaard's series Bear; Cat; Dog and Duck (Crown, 1991; ages 6 mo-3 yrs)

Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon (HarperCollins, 1991; ages 1-3)

Rachel Isadora's I See and I Touch (Greenwillow, 1991; ages 1-3)

Ann Jonas' When You Were a Baby (Greenwillow, 1991; ages 1-3)

Judith Stuller Hannant's Doorknob Collection of Nursery Rhymes (Little Brown, 1991; ages 1-3)

Barron's (Twinkle, twinkle little star); animals (Mary had a little lamb) play (Polly put the kettle on) ; and splash (Rub-a-dub-dub). ($5.95)

Moira Kemp, Hickory, Dickory, Dock; Baa,Baa, Black Sheep; Hey Diddle Diddle; and This Little Piggy (Simon and Schuster, $4.95)

Babies Love to Be A Part of Books

Noelle and David Carter, I'm a Little Mouse (Holt, 1991; ages 1-3)

Cathryn Falwell's Where's Nicky? (Clarion, 1991; ages 6 mo-2 yrs)

Keith Falkner, OH NO! (Simon and Schuster, 1991; Ages 2-6.)

A Mouse in the House (Dorling Kindersley, 1991; ages 3-6)

Non-fiction

Anthea Sieveking, What Color? (Dial, 1991; Ages 2-4. )

Aladdin's EyeOpeners, Jungle Animals, Diggers and Dump Trucks and Dinosaurs. (Ages 3-6).

Random's My First Look At Nature, Things that Go and and Clothes. (Ages 2-5)

Rhyme, Rhythm and Song

Jan Brett, The Owl and the Pussycat (Putnam, 1991; Ages newborn to 5.)

Karen Lee Schmidt, The Twelve Days of Summer (Morrow, 1991; Ages 0-6. )

Bill Martin and Eric Carle, Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? (Holt, $13.95; Ages 2-6. )

Don and Audrey Wood Piggies (HBJ, 1991; Ages 1-6)

David Pelham's Sam's Sandwich (Dutton, 1991; Ages 3-adult)

Best Baby Books, 1990

Baby Talk

We moved across the country this year, leaving friends and circumstances of twelve years to take residence in a new place where we knew no one. One result for me has been to rediscovered how very precious my family is to me . My strongest fantasy about moving was to slow down our fast-paced existence. It is probably the only dream that has not come true, for life is at least as busy in North Carolina as it was in California. In fact, I was surprised at how many more parents work full time. And so books have become more important to me than ever. I see them as a way that bustling families can immediately access both intimacy and meaningful communication, two elements crucial to household happiness. And do so with joy and pleasure, laughter and cuddles. When the Holiday Hectics strike your house, remember relief is often only a book away.

Bring Closeness Into Your Family With Song

Carol Jones, This Old Man. (Houghton Mifflin, 1990; Ages 0-5)

Nancy Hellen, Old MacDonald Had a Farm . (Orchard, 1990; Ages 0-5)

Paul Zelinsky, The Wheels on the Bus . (Dial , 1990)

The Lady with the Alligator Purse (Little Brown, 1990)]

Bruce McMillan &Sarah Josepha Hale's Mary Had a Little Lamb (Scholastic, 1990)

John W. Ivimey, Three Blind Mice (Little Brown, 1990).

Jim Aylesworth, The Completed Hickory Dickory Dock(Atheneum, 1990; ages 0- 5)

Raffi, Baby Beluga (Crown, 1990)

Sharing Books that Invite Involvement

Anthea Sieveking, What's Inside? Ages 8mo. to 3. (Dial, 1990)

"first look" books by Random House Home, Touch , Seasons and Colors Ages 1- 4. (Random House, 1990)

Tana Hoban, Exactly the Opposite, Ages 2-5. (Greenwillow, 1990)

Sue Williams' I Went Walking (HBJ, 1990) Ages 1-5.

James Young, A Million Chameleons Ages 2-5. (Little Brown, 1990)

Jane Yolen &Lauren Mills. Elfabet(Little Brown, 1990) Ages 2-6.

Tales to Talk About

Rachel Isadora, Friends and Babies Ages 6 months- 3 years. (Greenwillow, 1990)

Hope Slaughter Cozy Place Ages 3-5. (Red Hen Press, 1990)

Audrey Wood's Oh My Baby Bear (HBJ, 1990)

Vera Williams, More, More, More Ages 1-4. (Greenwillow,1990)

Derek Radford, Harry Builds A House Ages 3-5. (Macmillan, 1990)

Byron Barton, Bones, Bones, Dinosaur Bones (Harper and Row, 1990)

Alison Lester's Imagine Ages 3-6. (Houghton Mifflin, 1990)

Holiday Books Become Part of Family

Carol Ewing's Jingle Bells(Aladdin Books, 1990)

Good King Wenceslas by John Wallner. (Philomel, 1990)

Jan Brett's The Twelve Days of Christmas (Putnam, 1990).

Demi'sThe Christmas Present, The Christmas Tree and The Holly Wreath

Alexandra Day's Carl's Christmas Ages 1- adult. (Farrar Straus Giroux, 1990)

Anna Grossnickle Hines' The Secret Keeper Ages 3-5. (Greenwillow, 1990)

Jan Brett's The Wild Christmas Reindeer Ages 3-6. (Putnam, 1990)

Roni Schotter's Hanukkah!Ages 3-5. (Little Brown, 1990)

Eric Kimmel , The Chanukkah Guest Ages 4-8. (Holiday House, 1990)

Las Navidades: Popular Christmas Songs from Latin America, selected and illustrated by Lulu Delacre and translated by Elena Paz. Ages 3-11. (Scholastic, 1990)

Big Favorites for Little Ones, Best Baby Books, 1989

Baby Talk

This year I coordinated the Santa Barbara County Year of the Young Reader, joining others across the country who celebrated the love of reading and books for children. I was anxious to see how the year was represented by the children's book industry, many of whom joined in the excitement of the 1989 Year of the Young Reader . It has been a fine year for children's books and I have discovered a wealth of wonderful treasures you might enjoy sharing with your children this holiday season.

The Board Books Are Exciting

Anthea Sieveking's The Baby's Book of Babies. Ages 0-2. (Dial. $9.95)

Fiona PragoffOpposites and Shapes Ages 0-3. (Doubleday, $5.95 )

Rhyme, Rhythm and Song to Thrill Your Child

Raffi Everything Grows, Ages 0-5. (Crown, $9.95)

Judy Collins, My Father Ages 0- adult. (Little Brown, $12.95)

Old MacDonald Had a Farm (Houghton Mifflin, $10.95)

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on a Bed by Eileen Christelow (Clarion, $13.95) , Skip to My Lou by Wescott (Little Brown, $12.95),

Rise and Shine by Fiona French (Little Brown, $12.95),

Iris Van Rynbach'sOver the River and Through the Woods (Little Brown, $14.95).

Monica Wellington,All My Little Ducklings Ages 2-4. (Dutton, $11.95)

Byron Barton, Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs. Ages 1-5. (Harper and Row,$13.89)

Sheep on a Ship. Ages 2-5. (Houghton Mifflin, $12.95)

Nicki Weiss Dog. Boy. Cap. Skate ;Sun. Sand. Sea. Sail Ages 0-3. (Greenwillow, $11.95)

Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino Ages 2-5. (Scholastic, $11.95)

Together by George Ella Lyon Ages 3-6. (Orchard,$14.95 )

Babies love to be involved in their stories

Dayle Ann Dodd's Wheel Away! (Harper and Row, $12.95)

The Hole Book by Suzy Kline Ages 0-3. (Putnam, $9.95)

What's Wrong Tom? Paul and Emma Rogers Ages 2-4. (Kestrel, $11.95)

For Strawberry Jam or Fireflies , Gail Harman Ages 2-5. (Bradbury, $12.95)

Simple Stories With Childview

Spot's Baby Sister. Ages 0-5. (Putnam, $10.95)

Pippo books by Helen Oxenbury. Ages 1-3. (Macmillan, $5.95)

Julia HobanAmy Loves the Snow. Ages 1-3. (Harper and Row, $9.95)

Nancy Tafuri The Ball Bounced. Ages 6mo.-3yr. (Greenwillow, $11.95)

Alice's Blue Cloth by Deborah van der Beek Ages 2-4. (Putnam, $11.95)

Books to Quiet Babies

"Paddle," Said the Swan by Gloria Kamen Ages 0-4. (Atheneum, $12.95)

Denys Cazet,Mother Night. Ages 2-4. (Orchard, $14.95)

Books that grow with babies

Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown, Baby Time: A Grownup's Handbook to Use With Baby Ages 0-adult. (Knopf, $12.95)

Jane Yolen,The Lap-time Song and Play Book. Ages 0-5. (Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, $15.95)

Holiday books for babies

Tomie de Paola, My First Chanukah. Ages one to two. (Putnam, $4.95)

Away in a Manger, Deck the Halls, and Jingle Bells illustrated by Ronald C. Lipking(Putnam, $4.95)

Chita's Christmas Tree , Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard Ages 3-5. (Macmillan, $13.95)

The Polar Express, cassette narrated by William Hurt. Ages 4- adult. (Houghton Mifflin, $22.95)