First words, stitched instead of drawn. Every animal and object in this padded board book is a real quilted artwork by Wendy Chow, photographed so clearly you can see the seams, which gives baby's first vocabulary lesson a handmade warmth no cartoon art has. A quilted fox on the cover sets the tone, and the pages keep the promise.

Inside, one clear word sits with one cozy picture across the categories toddlers meet first: animals, food, nature and transportation. The compact format, just over 5 by 6 inches with a soft padded cover, is made to be held by hands that are still learning how holding works, and the thick pages shrug off enthusiastic page turns.

Part of the bestselling crafty series alongside the embroidered and crochet editions. One makes a sweet baby gift; two or three stack into the kind of shower present other guests photograph.