Since you are a sewer, you could make her cloth books. My girls loved the cloth books. They would carry them around, sleep with them, and of course always want the book the other one was reading. They are now 17 and 19 and still carry a book everywhere they go. Not the cloth ones of course. :)

Little Golden Books (not well made like old times... but inexpensive and great stories)........ The Cherkindoose, any Skippy Jon Jones (when Layla is a little older)

Bernstein Bears. ( I can't spell) but they were my daughter's favorites. There are many in the series and I must have read them 100 times each before she fell asleep each night.

Think long term, The Box Car Children series is wonderful~

My sister, a teacher, turned me on to the Richard Scarry books. The first we acquired was "What do people do all day." Can't say enough about how wonderful they are for toddlers. Never get tired of reading them and looking for all the cool details.

poet jack prelutsky is fun reading out loud and very funny Highly recommend him for both the mom and child.

I don't think anyone has mentioned The Little Engine That Could....one of my all time favs.

On the Night You were born. A great go to bed story to read.

I love you through and through. I read this to my 2yr old every night.Big hit.

Good Night Moon