Looking for more in Reading and Stories or Bookbug Story Library?
Everyone is Special: Babies by Fiona Munro
Celebrate your little one as each page explores the different qualities that make them unique, with plenty of vibrant illustrations to point to together.
Story tips
- Babies love high-contrast focus – hold the book close so your baby can clearly see the bold black, white, and coloured shapes. Point and pause – touch each picture, pause and say simple words like ‘baby’, smile’, ‘hat’, ‘hair’ so your baby can focus their gaze.
- Try using a gentle, sing-song tone (almost like a lullaby) when reading the book to keep their attention. Babies respond most to your tone and expression. Keep it close and cosy – snuggle while you read; the closeness is just as important as the words.
- Copy the baby faces in the book (smiles, yawns, frowns) and encourage your baby to copy too. Celebrate differences – talk about hair colour, skin tone, clothes: “Look, that baby has curly hair, and this baby has no hair!”
- Personalise the story and relate it to you and your wee one, ask: 'Which baby looks like you?' or 'Do you remember what you did when you were a baby?'
- Why not use the Bookbug app for inspiration and find some songs and rhymes that will complement the story:
– Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes: point out body parts like the babies in the pictures
– If You’re Happy and You Know It: add actions that match the babies’ expressions (smile, clap, yawn)
– Gentle lullabies: to link with the sleepy baby images e.g. Twinkle Twinkle