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 unique shape that...
Bath time physics
Esbaum, Jill
Paper Book
Splish, splash! Prepare to experience the forces of physics at work. It's time for Baby's bath . . . Ooh! We made a waterfall . . . Invite your tubby-time friends to join in. Even Einstein started somewhere, so who's to say your little...
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
Paper Book
Key Selling Points Dr. Roberts is a child psychologist, professor and author who is a regular contributor to HuffPost, Global News and CBC. This book offers a gentle reminder for adults that keeping themselves calm is important to be able to bring an upset child into a state...
La Catrina : numbers = numeros
Rodríguez, 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...
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
Paper Book
Key Selling Points Mother and child explore the bustling city in this poetic board book The story is activity-oriented, giving suggestions for the reader about how to enjoy time in the city. Features a mom and baby who are Asian, and city dwellers of a host of...
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 - now includes discussion guide with age-appropriate questions for parents and educators. Beautiful, full-color photos of real LGBTQ and ally families showcase all the...
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...
Global baby playtime
Ajmera, Maya
Paper Book
Babies everywhere love to play! The newest edition of the best-selling, photo-illustrated Global Babies series. Babies all over the globe play in different ways. They clap, point, wave, and touch. They play with balls, rattles, and blocks--and with other babies. No matter how...
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 the 2025-2026 Young People's Poet Laureate 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...
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...
Hello, beautiful you!
Pinkney, Andrea Davis
Paper Book
Let your little ones know how truly beautiful they are with this this precious board book -- the fourth title in our growing BRIGHT BROWN BABY series -- from New York Times bestselling and award-winning duo Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney! Brown baby, born bright. ...
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
Paper Book
A celebration of family roots from award-winning children's author and 2025-2026 Young People's Poet Laureate Carole Boston Weatherford! I've got my brother's ears And my sister's big bright eyes. I've got my grandpa's hands Though mine are a smaller size. As a...
My hair is like the sun
Detrick-Jules, St. Clair
Paper Book
AS SEEN ON THE TODAY SHOW!  A 2023 Good Housekeeping Kids Book Award Winner  A 2023 Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book  From the creator of My Beautiful Black Hair, this joyful board book celebrates the...
My heart beats
Singh, Rina
Paper Book
Key Selling Points My Heart Beats introduces the ways different languages express the sound of a heartbeat. It includes Japanese, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Korean, Urdu, French and English. This book shares the message that our hearts beat with the same rhythm no matter...
On-the-go
Turner, Brook Sitgraves
Paper Book
An empowering and delightful board book filled with photos of kids with disabilities using their movement and mobility aids on-the-go. Run, jump, climb, ride and glide along! Beautiful, full-color photos of kids with disabilities celebrate all types of movement and mobility aids (like...
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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