Babies Need Words Every Day: Talk, Read, Sing, Play by the Association for Library Service to Children

In 2024, the Association for Library Services for Children updated the book list, Babies Need Words Every Day: Talk, Read, Sing, Play. This resource was created to help bridge the 30 million word gap by providing parents with proven ways to build their children's literacy skills. This list contains the books the Sussex County Library System owned and can be checked out at any of our branches.

We encourage you to explore this list to find resources that may match or spark your children's interest.

Updated December 6, 2024
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Sussex County Library System (NJ)
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The Belly Song
Moon, Mother/ Giles, Leah (ILT)
Paper Book
Sing along in this joyful celebration of your baby's perfect belly. Named one of the Best Books of 2024 by Chicago Public Library! "As the pages celebrate many different kinds of human bellies, they simultaneously model a wealth of loving connections...
Curls
Forman, Ruth
Paper Book
A joyfully poetic board book that delivers an ode to African American girls and the beauty of their curls. Me Morning Mirror Smile Shine big hair love This simple, playful, and beautiful board book stars four...
Give me a snickle! /
Sevigny, Alisha,
Paper Book
Key Selling Points Give Me a Snickle includes photos of babies from diverse backgrounds. This book celebrates love and affection between care providers and children and makes for an engaging read-aloud. Encourages physical touch, which is necessary for healthy...
How we eat /
Fuente-Lau, Shuli de la,
Paper Book
"★ Meaningful and inclusive." - Kirkus Starred Review Mealtime just got a whole lot more fun! HOW WE EAT helps families and educators discuss ability, culture, and food at home and in the classroom. Complete with family discussion questions and a guide detailing the...
Tummy time friends /
Brisson, Pat
Paper Book
Featured in Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's 2021 Best Books for Babies list! Tummy Time Friends has been selected by Raising Readers--a nonprofit organization of pediatricians and early-reading specialists--to give to every Maine infant at the four-month-old wellness check. <...
How we play /
Mitchell, Dolisha,
Paper Book
Play is powerful! Play is creating, exploring, sharing, and caring. Whether it's inside or outside, quiet or loud, alone or with friends--there are so many ways to play. Featuring beautiful photos of all the inclusive ways kids and families play (like using imagination, creativity, adaptive...
Go, grandpa, go! /
Plourde, Lynn
Paper Book
Perfect for all the grandpas who steer the stroller, splash in puddles, and love their grandchildren dearly, this charming board book celebrates the special relationship between grandfathers and their grandkids. Zig! Zag! Zip! Zoom! Go, Grandpa, go!<...
Grandma and me /
Weatherford, Carole Boston,
Paper Book
A celebration of family love from award-winning children's author Carole Boston Weatherford, this beautiful rhyming board book is filled with all the sweet reasons why Grandma's love is so special! With simple rhyming text, a young child reflects on the many reasons they love their...

2025 Children's Literature Legacy Award to author Carole Boston Weatherford.

Marta! big & small
Arena, Jen
Paper Book
With simple Spanish and a glossary at the end, this fun read-aloud picture book, Marta! Big and Small, teaches little ones to identify opposites and animals and learn new words. Marta is una niña, an ordinary girl . . . with some extraordinary animal friends!

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