Welcome Guest. Please 
Recommended Reading
The Early Childhood Project Toy library was set up in 1988, pre data base and so many of the old records are in copperplate script, written with a quill!
We intend to put as many books from our back catalogue online that are still in print and we feel bring something useful into the lives of young children and the adults who care for them.
So, bear with us, it is going to be an uphill task to keep this list up to date but putting books online is now the Early Childhood Project official hobby! We look for books that have good stories, are beautifully illustrated, with excellent vocabulary and that broaden the scope of topics available for families and workers to use with their young children.
There are still gaps on the shelves; we have yet to find a book that deals with IVF and artificial insemination in a way that is non-judgmental and non-patronising. We have also been floored by the request for a book that explains trans-gender to the pre-school age group. Any suggestions for titles and ideas for other books will be gratefully received; we can then buy them as funds are raised.
We use books as “door openers” when the subject matter is issue based or brings difficult feelings for the child and the adult to the fore.
Search The Reading Lists
Input keywords or phrases into the search box below to search the available reading lists.
Reading Lists
Babies
Welcoming a new baby into the family is a big event for everyone and we are often asked in the Toy Library for titles for baby number one to look at when baby two is due. Will there be lap for me? If the swelling baby- bump isn’t a big enough clue, ... 
More
Birth
A big event in any family.. popular topic, especially when baby number two arrives and number one is very thoughtful about it all! We have some good books about waiting for baby, a useful way to start the conversation..... More
Body Image
We think Barbie and Action Man have a lot to answer for and our Gender group has re-visited the discussion about children’s body image many times over the last 15 years. This subject ties in with healthy eating and food, as well as some beautiful books ... More
Clothes
What do you wear to do…? Good for topics about the weather, climates around the world and what clothes people wear for their work. Lots of gender bias around some books we have rejected. Do men wear skirts? Leads into looking at the way children use ... More
Custody, Separation and Divorce
Ties in with separation and divorce. Yes, we would rather not have to talk about it too, but for many families this is a fact of life and needs sensitive handling. For settings helping families cope with break ups and for adults trying to understand ... More
Customs
Do you know why some people eat pancakes on certain days or throw powder paint at each? Ties in with religion, faith and festivals.... More
Dads
We probably have more requests for books about dads than any other subject. Absent dads, dads on their own, Saturday dads, granddads, two dads, step dads, working dads, stay at home dads, living with mum dads…. the list and the demand seems endless. ... More
Dentists, Doctors and Healthcare
Lots of worries for young children when they find out they are off to see one of the healthcare professionals; use a story or picture book to describe what happens at the dentist, what is an x ray, what the nurses will do, what goes on at the optometrist. ... More
Difference and Family Life
Comparing one with another, we all do it all the time. Numerous research studies about the process of identity and attitude development conclude that children learn by observing the differences and similarities among people and by absorbing the spoken ... More
Disabilities
Fewer good titles in this section than any other, why is that? At least books have moved away from having children with disabilities featured only on the sidelines of the story, so things have improved over the last 10 years. We are always looking out ... More
Domestic Violence
Another issue we would all rather ignore but mustn’t. We haven’t seen any books for young children. Any suggestions?... More
Feelings
Most of our good books could come under this heading! We are all for “emotional intelligence’’ and any book that helps adults and children talk about feelings in an open way that is respectful and helps for greater understanding gets our vote.... More
Festivals
It helps to consider experiences from the point of view of the children in your care. Understanding that a friend celebrates different festivals, or the same festival in a different way, and is still a friend, is the most important lesson for appreciating ... More
Friendships
It isn’t always easy or straightforward making friends and we like books that enable children to understand that friends come in all shapes, sizes, colours and creeds. Shyness and anxiety when meeting new people can loom large for young children; we ... More
Gender Issues
We've spent many years and many training and discussion sessions trying to combat gender stereotyping in the workplace, at home, in education and most particularly in children's books and literature. Gender stereotyping really does inhibit a child's ... More
Good Manners
Manners maketh man, and woman and young children? Most of us get on in life better when we consider the needs of other people and are respectful and courteous. It is also very nice when some good manners come back to us..what goes around comes around! ... More
Hair
Another look at ourselves and those around us. What is your hair like? Do boys have long hair; can girls have theirs cut with razor? What is it like not to have hair? Who wears wigs and why? Good topic for pre-school, lots to talk about.... More
Homes
Big topic area for pre-schoolers, big need for books and stories reflecting all types of homes. We are building up our list of books reflecting life as a traveller, watch this space. We would also include books about asylum seeking and being a refugee, ... More
Pets and Animals
We tend not to have the cutsey bunny/kitten type of book; respect to the animals! We use animal and pet themes to explore our feelings and caring for something else like a pet or to find out the many ways that animals live, what they eat and what there ... More
Play
We all learn through play; playing is sometimes referred to as children’s work… however we see it, play is an important aspect of children’s lives and the opportunities to play should be encouraged and valued.... More
Positive Images
It is difficult for a child to feel that they are acknowledged as an individual worthy of respect if their family lifestyle is not portrayed in books, stories, pictures, puzzles, posters, etc. We only choose resources that we feel reflect a child and ... More
Potty/Toilet Training
All the dolls in the Toy Library wear Real Nappies and leaflets explaining the advantages of washable nappies are handed out at our Toy Library drop-ins or whenever a ‘new baby arriving book’ is borrowed. Potty training is a hot topic and we have put ... More
Religion and Faith
See also customs and festivals. It really helps to have some facts to hand to start conversations off with families.. not everyone of any of the faiths in these books will celebrate or believe exactly as these reference books will tell you. However, ... More
School
Starting school or nursery is one of life’s milestones for many children and their families. We work with families who are home educating too, so there is a wide variety of experience to include. Stories that follow the school or nursery day are especially ... More
Twins and Multiple Births
A selection of books to ensure that twins and multiples are represented in your resources.... there are now a whole world of interesting, individual and thought provoking characters beyond Topsy and Tim!... More