Your nephew is adorable. How old is he? He looks about 18 months in the picture. Definitely, Goodnight Moon and Pokey Little Puppy. My children loved all the books by Richard Scarry. He has one named Cars and Trucks from A-Z which is good for toddlers if your nephew is into cars and trucks. His illustrations are great. I loved his books when I was a child and my children did too. When he gets a little older, I’d recommend the Curious George series of books by H.A. and Margret Ray.
My first grandchild, Jack, was born this past leap year day. I bought Good Night Moon for him months before he was born. I wanted to be able to say that I bought him his first book.
Your nephew is lucky to have you for an uncle. Can you talk his parents into reading to him? Try to make them understand that the love of reading is one of the greatest gifts you can give a child. It is so important that I can’t understand why any parent wouldn’t do it.
Tryston will be a year old in a few weeks. The first time I met and babysat him I just read what I had available—a few things from “the Dangerous Book for Boys” and I’d read The Limbaugh Letter out loud to him.
I also have The Complete Works of Shakespeare where I would read and kind of act out some Macbeth and King Lear. He’d smile and giggle as well as look at me like “what the hell is my uncle doing?” But at any rate, I do appreciate the sugggestions. :)