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
S
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...
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!...
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...
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...
?Daonde estaan los huevos? =
Lin, Grace.
Paper Book
¡Libro de cartón grueso ahora disponible en español-inglés bilingüe! La ganadora del Honor de Caldecott, Grace Lin, celebra las matemáticas para todos los niños, ¡en todas partes! Now available in bilingual Spanish-English! Caldecott Honor winner Grace Lin's beloved board books...
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 baby's...
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...
I See You, Baby!
Flowerpot Press (COR)
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...
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?<...
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.

Me and my family tree
Sweeney, Joan
Paper Book
Where am I on my family tree?A beloved bestseller that shows children how to understand their place among their relatives, now refreshed with new art from Emma Trithart. Who is part of your family? How are they related to you? In this edition ofMe...
La Catrina :
Rodrâiguez, Patty
Paper Book
Introduce little ones to numbers and counting through the help of La Catrina in both English and Spanish! Count the days left until Dia de los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead. La Catrina, dressed in her traditional clothes, will introduce little ones to numbers and...
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! ...
Marta! big & small /
Arena, Jen
Paper Book
Marta, a curious, science-loving girl, explores the world of opposites and animals in this Spanish bilingual board book, illustrated by bestselling artist, Angela Dominguez. ¡Hola, Marta! Marta is una niña, an ordinary girl . . . with some...

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