Babies Need Words Every Day

Wonderful reads for babies on important topics from the Association for Library Services to Children updated booklist.

Updated December 21, 2024
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Baby's here!
Young, Jessica
Paper Book
Tickle, rock, cuddle, and kiss the babies in this interactive board book! Rhyming text and sweet illustrations are perfect for toddlers and newly minted big brothers and sisters celebrating the arrival of a new baby. Baby's Here! is a sweet interactive board book with a...
The belly song
Moon, Mother
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...
Brush! Brush! Brush!
Florian, Douglas
Paper Book
Smile wide and brush! brush! brush! in this adorable rhyming board book that teaches little ones how to clean their teeth! Discover the whole Baby Steps Series with Play! Play! Play! (2018) and Bath! Bath! Bath! (2018)! Brushing teeth is fun! fun! fun!...
Calm
Roberts, Jillian
Ebook
"When little people are overwhelmed by big emotions, it's our job to share our calm, not to join their chaos." --L.R. Knost This soothing board book by child psychologist, professor and author Dr. Jillian Roberts was written to remind us that the little people in our lives need us to be...
Celebrations
Turner, Brook Sitgraves
Paper Book
No holiday is complete without CELEBRATIONS! This unique board book helps families and educators discuss belief systems, ceremonies, and holidays to spread love and understanding for all faiths. Complete with family discussion questions and a glossary detailing each celebration, faith,...
City baby
Elmquist, Laurie
Ebook
★ "While the spare text is developmentally perfect for children, the illustrations elevate this offering with entrancing collages in a vivid palette. A first purchase for all libraries."--School Library Journal, starred review Bustling streets, lively squares and busy restaurants are...
Count to love!
Pinkney, Andrea Davis
Paper Book
Cuddle up with your little one and get ready to count to L-O-V-E, in this precious board book from New York Times bestselling and award-winning duo Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney! Count to love on fingers and toes. 1-2-3-4, touch your nose! ...
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...
Families
Shrivastav, Archaa
Paper Book
2021 Stonewall Award Winner - the first ever board book to win an American Library Association medal! Beautiful photos of real LGBTQ and ally families showcase all the wonderful forms of family, gender, and sexuality while poetic text builds both vocabulary and empathy. FAMILIES helps families and...
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...
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...
Hair
Turner, Brook Sitgraves
Paper Book
Beautiful, full-color photos of real-life families showcase all the wonderful forms of hair (curly, straight, twists, locs, covered hair, body hair, even no hair) in this empowering and delightful board book. Each spread features simple, poetic text for building vocabulary and empathy. This...
Hands on!
Wynter, Anne
Paper Book
Hands On! is a joyful board book celebration of a baby's journey from crawling to taking their very first steps. The perfect board book for babies and their parents to share! A great gift for expecting and new parents, Hands On! sweetly encapsulates this special time in a...
Hello, baby : say hello in 15 languages!
Stilwell, Stephani
Paper Book
This adorable, photo-filled board book will teach toddlers how to say "hello" in fifteen of the world's most spoken languages. Selected as a 2024 Best Books for Babies by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh! Hola! Ni Hao! Marhaba! Bonjour! Say hello in...
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...
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...
May we have enough to share
Van Camp, Richard
Paper Book
Award-winning author Richard Van Camp wrote this book to express his gratitude for all that surrounds him and his family. The strength of their connections, the nature that provides for them, the love that is endless. Complemented by photos from photographers who celebrate their own...
Me and the family tree
Weatherford, Carole Boston
Ebook
On-the-go
Turner, Brook Sitgraves
Paper Book
Beautiful photos of kids with disabilities celebrate all types of movement and mobility aids (like wheelchairs, service dogs, and crutches), while poetic text builds both vocabulary and empathy. ON-THE-GO helps families and educators discuss ability and mobility at home and in the classroom. Created...
The pronoun book
Ayala-Kronos, Chris
Paper Book
They, she, he . . . all together, us! Join along in this vibrant board book's joyful celebration of people and their pronouns. How do you know what someone wants to be called? Ask! This lively board book features eye-catching illustrations of a diverse cast of people and simple text...
Raven squawk, orca squeak
Vickers, Roy Henry
Paper Book
With bright and bold illustrations by celebrated Indigenous artist Roy Henry Vickers, this sturdy board book introduces iconic sounds of the West Coast and supports the language development of babies and toddlers. From the the crackle of a beach campfire to the swoosh of canoe paddles, the rustle...
I See You, Baby!
Flowerpot Press
Paper Book
I see you, baby! I see you reading, smiling, playing and so much more! Enjoy all the exciting baby can do in this delightful board book filled with bright photographs of adorable babies. About the Baby Firsts series: The Baby Firsts series from Flowerpot Press is the perfect introduction...
Up to my knees!
Lin, Grace
Paper Book
Caldecott Honor winner Grace Lin celebrates math for every kid, everywhere! Mei explores measurement as she plants a sunflower seed and watches it grow. The plant starts off as tall as her toe, but soon it's up to her knees, then her waist, then her shoulders. How tall will it...
What will fit?
Lin, Grace
Paper Book
Caldecott Honor winner Grace Lin celebrates math for every kid, everywhere! A fall-ready favorite for any autumn reading list. Take a trip to the farmers' market in this playful story about spatial sense. Olivia is searching for something just the right size to fill her...
Where are the eggs?
Lin, Grace
Paper Book
Caldecott Honor winner Grace Lin celebrates math for every kid, everywhere! The chickens have laid their eggs all over the yard! Mei looks for the eggs, searching next to a watering can, behind a flower pot, inside a wheelbarrow . . . and under a...
You are getting sleepy
Alexander, Lori
Paper Book
Lull your little one to sleep with this adorable bedtime board book, about a wide-awake baby who does not want to go to sleep! Tick-tock, peek at the clock. It's time to sleep, sweet baby. First a bath to soak...relax. Are you getting sleepy?<...

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