Baby Talk

I've been thinking about children's stories a lot lately (and the reason for that is Another Story, a very long one, for Another Time).

If you were starting from scratch, filling a bookcase for a little one, what books would you get them?

I can't remember many special truly young books in my childhood.  I had a freakishly high reading age, so I just about remember making the leap from Famous Five to Alistair MacLean.  Then there were the 'family' books, stories read together or read to us - Watership Down and the Narnia stories. 

I have fleeting memories of Ladybird books, though, strangely visual ones, so I can remember the exact shade of the golden ball the princess played with, before she lost it in the Frog Prince's pool.  I seem to remember Mister Men books - my favourite was Mr Tickle, I think.  But there was no Beatrix Potter in my childhood, and I don't think there was Winnie the Pooh, either (sacrilege!).

So building my imaginary children's library is a bit of a challenge.

What do you recommend?