Our pick for most familiesToys & books by ageBirth to ~3 years

Mem Fox & Judy Horacek (Puffin) Where Is the Green Sheep? (board book)

A short rhyming Australian classic in chewable board-book form — the best value thing to read on repeat.

MamaLoop mums pick

Cover of Where Is the Green Sheep? board book by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek — Photo: Penguin Books Australia

MamaLoop mums pick

Our pick for this category is a book, on purpose. Reading together from the early weeks costs almost nothing, and a sturdy board book survives drool, chewing and being dropped from the highchair. Mem Fox's rhyming search for the green sheep is short enough to finish before a baby loses interest, and the bold pictures give you plenty to point at as your child starts to name things. It won the CBCA Early Childhood Book of the Year and has sold over a million copies, so grandparents will probably know it too. The trade-off: it is simple by design, so older toddlers move on — but by then you will know the words by heart.

Researched, not used by us

Pros

Board pages survive chewing and dropping
Short rhyming text you can finish in one sitting
Bold, simple pictures to point at and name
Australian classic, CBCA award winner

Cons

Very simple, so older toddlers outgrow it
Board edition is small
Several editions exist — check you are buying the board book

Who it suits

Newborn to about 3 years
Gifts
Building a bedtime routine

Who should look elsewhere

Older preschoolers who want longer stories

Price

< $25

Typically $10–$15 at our last check (11 Nov 2026). Prices change — check the retailer.

Specs

Age milestone tags	m6-puts-things-in-their-mouth-to-explore-them, m15-looks-at-a-familiar-object-when-you-name-it, m18-looks-at-a-few-pages-in-a-book-with-you
Small parts warning	none — board book
Batteries	none
Washable	wipe clean
Open ended rating	n/a (book)
Format	Board book, 32 pages
Isbn	9780143501763