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...
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!...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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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