Every first words book uses photographs or illustrations. This one uses crochet. Lauren Espy hooked every single object in the book by hand, then photographed them, so a toddler learning the word pineapple is looking at an actual yarn pineapple with a green top and a slightly wonky smile.

The effect on a small child is immediate. Handmade objects read as friendly in a way that stock photography never manages, and the tactile look of yarn holds attention on a page longer than a flat illustration does. Categories run through the great outdoors, fruits and veggies, pets, on the farm, under the sea, safari animals, forest friends and holiday fun.

The build is made for the age it targets. A padded cover that softens the inevitable face plant, thick board pages, and a trim small enough for a one year old to carry around the house by themselves.

There is a bonus for the crafters in the family: many of the creatures photographed here have published patterns in Lauren Espy's crochet books, so a favorite page can become a real toy.