2025 Recommended Baby Books @ Sussex County Library System!

As depicted by the Association for Library Services for Children, babies need words every day: talk, read, sing, and play.This resource was created to help provide recommended board books and picture books that can help build children’s literacy skills. These books are available at the Sussex County Library System.


Updated July 8, 2025
S
Sussex County Library System (NJ)
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Being home /
Sorell, Traci
Paper Book
From Sibert Honor-winning author Traci Sorell and Caldecott Medal-winning artist Michaela Goade comes a heartwarming picture book about a Native American family and the joy of moving back to their ancestral land. Today is a day of excitement--it's time to move! As a young...
Big Bear and Little Bear go fishing /
Hest, Amy
Paper Book
An unhurried fishing trip, with blueberry scones in tow, introduces a new bear duo sure to charm fans of Little Bear and Frog and Toad. One day Big Bear says to Little Bear, I'm just in the mood for fishing. Me, too, says Little Bear. Just in the mood...
The boy and the elephant /
Blackwood, Freya,
Paper Book
From an award-winning illustrator comes a tender, magical, and gorgeously rendered wordless picture book about a boy who saves the trees in the lot next door from being cut down. Amongst the hustle and bustle of the city is an overgrown piece of land where trees and wildlife...
Bye land, bye sea /
Spencer, Renáe
Paper Book
Two children from different backgrounds show that friendship has no language in this epic bilingual story about being lost and finding a friend who understands. I'm lost. Soy naufrago. A boy and a girl lost at sea run into each other on an...
Counting Winter
Carlstrom, Nancy White/ McGehee, Claudia (ILT)
Paper Book
An Amazon Editor's Pick: Best Books Ages 3-5 "It's a counting book. It's a winter animal book. It's a just plain beautiful book! . . . The prettiest nondenominational winter book seen in ages."  -- Kirkus Reviews (STARRED REVIEW)<...
Crick, crack, crow! /
Lord, Janet
Paper Book
Crow's mischievous antics are featured in this playful and informative picture book that illustrates the cleverness of crows and their intriguing behavior. Crows are crafty birds. In this picture book about a particularly noisy and mischievous young crow, their intriguing...
Desert Song
Kemp, Laekan Zea/ Gutierrez Hernandez, Beatriz (ILT)
Paper Book
A family joins the music of the Texas desert night in this tale of tradition and memory from Pura Belpré Honor author Laekan Zea Kemp. It starts with a soft tapping, Uncle Eduardo drumming his hands against his dusty jeans. As the...
Emma full of wonders /
Cooper, Elisha
Paper Book
Emma is a big dog with a lot of little dreams. She dreams of a cool roll in the grass, a warm spring walk, and food, of course. Every day her dreams get bigger, and bigger, until one day...they all come true! A beautiful classic-in-the-making,...
Everyone starts small /
Scanlon, Liz Garton
Paper Book
Sun and Grass, Water and Tree, Fire and Rain--nature's cycle of creation unfolds in a compelling lyrical text and striking illustrations. Sun grows beams and Grass grows blades and Cloud cannot contain herself. Spring rains change...
Finding things /
Henkes, Kevin
Paper Book
From bestselling and award-winning husband-and-wife team Kevin Henkes and Laura Dronzek, Finding Things is a child-centered, cozy, and conceptually rich picture book that explores storytelling, connections, luck, nature, and responsibility. For readers of Antoinette Portis, Marla...
Flora and friends colors
Idle, Molly
Paper Book
Brighten your day with the help of Flora and her rainbow of feathered friends, inspired by the Caldecott Honor-winning children's book Flora and the Flamingo. Birds of a feather learn colors together An instant hit upon its release, Flora and the Flamingo now celebrates over ten years in print....
Go and get with Rex /
LaRochelle, David
Paper Book
The Geisel Award-winning creators of See the Cat channel their comic sensibility into a rousing alphabetical exercise in thinking outside the box. Jack, Jill, and Rex are excited to play a game of Go and Get! The rules are simple: on the count of three, each player must...
The good little mermaid's guide to bedtime /
Sumner, Eija
Paper Book
This little mermaid is too FIERCE and SCARY and FEROCIOUS to follow The Good Little Mermaid's Guide to Bedtime . . . well, except the part about snuggling her shark stuffie. A hilarious picture book for kids ages 3 to 7 who are experts at resisting sleep. Once upon an...
Harriet's reflections /
Kadi, Marion,
Paper Book
Kirkus Reviews Most Empowering Picture Books List (2024) "This self-reflective story truly shines." -- Booklist (STARRED REVIEW) "[A] fun romp." -- BookPage (STARRED REVIEW) "A...
Heatwave /
Redniss, Lauren
Paper Book
A picture book from an award-winning artist that uses vibrant reds and blues to stunningly evoke the intensity of a heatwave and the refreshing relief that comes with an unexpected downpour of a cooling rain. A NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR . A KIRKUS REVIEWS, SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL,<...
A horse called Now /
Doyle, Ruth,
Paper Book
A calm and reassuring story about overcoming worries and living in the present moment."When I'm afraid, I breathe in and out and let the feelings come . . . and then go. Nothing lasts forever."   Now the Horse enjoys the singing of the birds, the chattering...
iFiesta! =
Tonatiuh, Duncan
Paper Book
From award-winning and beloved author-illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh comes this celebratory bilingual concept picture book. This book of colors features a street fiesta with green avocados, yellow tortillas, purple dance dresses, and brown charro pants. The book includes a double gatefold finale reveal...
Jump for Joy /
Ruelle, Karen Gray
Paper Book
Kid seeks dog. Dog seeks kid. In this charming and imaginative tale of friendship, picture book readers will delight in what it means to have a furry best friend. For as long as she can remember, Joy has wanted a dog. It doesn't matter what kind: big, little, spotted, curly. She...
King lion /
Yarlett, Emma
Paper Book
Why does everyone run away whenever this lonely beast roars "HELLO!" at them? A story about the art of making friends--and the bravery of one kind little girl. King Lion wants a friend. But the only way he knows to communicate is to ROAR! Waving his paw, flashing a smile, and...
Knight Owl and Early Bird /
Denise, Christopher,
Paper Book
A New York Times and Indie Bestseller * In this exciting adventure and follow-up to the #1 New York Times bestselling and Caldecott Honor award-winning classic, Knight Owl makes an unlikely friend in the over-zealous Early Bird--who wants to be a brave knight,...
Love is my favorite color /
Laden, Nina
Paper Book
A sparkling and tender picture book about all the things that are bright and loving in the world and fill our lives with joy. From caring to hoping to peace to sharing, there are many ways to find joy in the everyday. Celebrate the things that make life wonderful and each day...
My book and me /
Park, Linda Sue
Paper Book
A celebration of books and reading from Newbery medal winner Linda Sue Park and illustrated by two-time Caldecott medal winner, Chris Raschka. This is my book. My favorite book. I carry it with me wherever I go. Meet the child who loves books in this...
My daddy is a cowboy /
Seales, Stephanie,
Paper Book
Tall. High as the clouds. Strong as a horse's back. Like a cowboy. In the early hours before dawn, a young girl and her father greet their horses and ride together through the waking city streets. As they trot along, Daddy tells cowboy stories filled with fun and...
Night Song
Smith Despres, Mk/ Yum, Hyewon (ILT)
Paper Book
A sad sack frog, who bemoans his inability to sing like a bird, discovers the vital role he's meant to play in his woodland home in this debut picture book from Mk Smith Despres, gorgeously illustrated by award-winning artist Hyewon Yum. Every morning as the sun rises,...
On a summer night /
Hopkinson, Deborah
Paper Book
Step into the quiet magic of this celebration of summer nighttime and the mystery of a world lit differently by the moon. On a summer night, the world is still. Even the crickets think it's too hot to sing. But all at once, a girl wakes. In the kitchen,...
One giant leap /
Lam, Thao
Paper Book
A playful wordless story about the power of imagination and creativity in play A child zips up their orange suit, pulls on a pair of boots, and adjusts their hat. They're ready for an adventure. But where are they going? With the push of an elevator button, their adventure begins, and they...
Pretty ugly :
Sedaris, David
Paper Book
Amazon Best Children's Book of the Year winner for ages 6 to 8 Most Anticipated Books of 2024 List, Kirkus Reviews Most Anticipated Kids Books List - February, Barnes & Noble Kids Indie Next Pick March/April 2024 2025 Capitol Choices A...
Prunella /
Ferry, Beth.
Paper Book
Five starred reviews! From New York Times bestselling author Beth Ferry comes a fantastical and unforgettable picture book about an unusual girl whose purple thumb helps her cultivate a truly macabre garden. When Prunella is born with a purple thumb...
Shine /
Valasse, Bruno,
Paper Book
A little moth hides from the dark, and doesn't want to leave his bright and cozy home. But here's a secret: he loves watching the stars. They only come out at night, though . . . when it's dark outside. One night, the stars give the moth the courage to go outside into the night. There, he makes...
The Strangest Fish
Arden, Katherine/ Marwan, Zahra (ILT)
Paper Book
Hicklebee's Picture Book of the Year 2024 A Kids Indie Next List Pick - American Booksellers Association In this bewitching picture book debut from bestselling fantasy author Katherine Arden, a girl wins an odd-looking goldfish at a county fair that ends up being secretly...
Summer is here /
Watson, Renâee
Paper Book
Celebrate iconic childhood joys in this love letter to summer featuring bright, sun-drenched art, from New York Times bestselling creators Renée Watson and Bea Jackson. Summer is here! No dark clouds in the sky, it's a perfect day for play. What joy...
The teeny-weeny unicorn /
Harris, Shawn
Paper Book
Meet this pint-sized unicorn in this funny, modern fairy tale about perception and self-confidence from a Caldecott-Honor winning creator. Once upon a time, in a land where horses were mythical beasts, there lived a unicorn-a Teeny-Weeny Unicorn. He lived with his family in a...
There was a shadow /
Handy, Bruce
Paper Book
From New York Times Best Children's Book author Bruce Handy, a luminous picture book that invites careful observation of light and shadow in the natural world, as well as in our own emotional landscape. A New York Times Best Children's Book of...
This baby. That baby /
Best, Cari
Paper Book
In this bouncy, playful picture book for very young listeners, follow two baby friends who live in facing buildings through their day--playing, singing, and napping--till they meet in the park! Somewhere in the big, big city two happy babies look out their morning...
Touch the sky /
Lucianovic, Stephanie V. W.
Paper Book
Praise for Touch the Sky by Stephanie V. W. Lucianovic, illustrated by Chris Park: Booklist Editor's Choice A Kirkus Best Picture Book NPR Best Books of the Year Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books Evanston Public Library...
Two together /
Wenzel, Brendan
Paper Book
In this companion book to They All Saw a Cat and Inside Cat, a journey home leads to unexpected adventures for a cat and dog. A playful, imaginative story of friendship, empathy, and discovery by Caldecott Honor winner Brendan Wenzel. Cat and Dog...
Ursula upside down /
Tabor, Corey R.
Paper Book
Ursula the catfish finds confidence in seeing the world her own way in another innovative, flipped-format picture book from Caldecott Honoree and Geisel Award winner Corey R. Tabor. Ursula is a happy catfish, swimming through a shimmering river with weeds waving...
What's new, Daniel? /
Archer, Micha,
Paper Book
Caldecott Honor winner Micha Archer's gloriously detailed collages invite readers into Daniel's blossoming world, encouraging them to appreciate all the wonderful new things in their own lives, big and small. "What's new?" We casually say this to each other all the time, but when...
When you find the right rock /
Ray, Mary Lyn
Paper Book
A marvelous exploration of the special relationship children find with the natural world and the fascination and friendship they find in special rocks, from poet Mary Lyn Ray and artist Felicita Sala. Somewhere, a rock is waiting for you. One just the right color for your windowsill, or just...
Where to hide a star /
Jeffers, Oliver
Paper Book
World-renowned artist and picture book creator Oliver Jeffers brings to life an endearing story about the magic of friendship--and sharing what brings us joy. Celebrate twenty years of The Boy in this highly anticipated new adventure from the internationally bestselling picture...
The wrong book /
Daywalt, Drew
Paper Book
What if the narrator of the book you're reading is just...WRONG?! This hilarious book from the author of The Day the Crayons Quit will have you correcting what you're reading--and laughing! Do bicycles say cock-a-doodle-doo? Do firefighters shout Ding Dong!<...

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