Books for Babies

Early experiences with books and language lay the foundation for success in learning to read. You can help build reading readiness. Talk, sing, read, write and play with your child - all of these activities help to develop language and literacy skills. Use this list of recommended stories to celebrate the joy of reading with your child.

Updated March 28, 2024
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Bed! Bed! Bed!
Florian, Douglas
Paper Book
Lead kids through their wind-down routine as they get ready for Bed! Bed! Bed!, the latest board book in the popular series for toddlers! Sweet dreams fill your head! head! head! In your cozy bed! bed! bed! Bright smiles and enthusiastic kids...
Hello, world!
Hepworth, Amelia
Paper Book
Babies can see black-and-white images from birth, and this captivating series has been specially designed to delight even the youngest readers. Babies will love to experience the appealing, high-contrast black-and-white images in this engaging board book. With a tactile die...
Hello, hands!
Khalil, Aya
Paper Book
Books made for the very youngest of readers! Hello, waving hands! From saying hello to playing peekaboo, from gripping toys to blowing kisses, join baby in discovering what tiny hands can do. High-contrast designs and photographs engage infants...
You are new
Knisley, Lucy
Paper Book
"A delightfully assured debut picture book . . . a true standout." -- The New York Times Book celebrates the joys of having -- and being! -- a baby: A world of being new is waiting for little ones and the grown-ups who love them in this warm and funny book. From...
Leo at the park
McQuinn, Anna
Paper Book
Leo, Lola's little brother, is back with a fun-filled day with Mom at the park! A perfect everyday read-aloud for little ones, this playful spin-off of the best-selling Lola Reads series is sure to delight. Leo is hot hot hot! So he and Mommy head to the park to cool...
The nose, toes, and tummy book
Nicholls, Sally
Paper Book
What happens when you press my nose? Can you tell a stinky foot from a sweet one? Join in and play silly games as families name the different parts of the body. "Humorous play throughout ends with the featured child being told 'Good Night!' Good...
It's tummy time!
Parsley, Elise
Paper Book
Celebrate babies' daily exercise with this exuberant board book from a New York Times bestselling children's book creator! Play time. Game time. Nap time. Tummy time! All ages of family members will want to recite this jaunty, infectious verse during...
Let's eat
Penfold, Alexandra
Paper Book
It's time to come together and eat with the beloved characters from the New York Times bestseller All Are Welcome! A great introduction to different food groups for the very youngest foodies. Do you like noodles? Rice? Greens? No need to choose, we like them all! A...
Nibi is water = Nibi aawon nbiish
Robertson, Joanne
Paper Book
A first conversation about the importance of Nibi, which means water in Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe), and our role to thank, respect, love, and protect it. Babies and toddlers can follow Nibi as it rains and snows, splashes or rows, drips and sips. Written from an Anishinaabe water protector's...
The wheels on the tuk tuk
Sehgal, Kabir
Paper Book
From the mother-son duo behind the New York Times bestselling A Bucket of Blessings comes a zany Classic Board Book about a wild ride on a tuk tuk taxi in India! In this international twist to the beloved nursery rhyme, "The Wheels on the Bus," anything can happen...
Sometimes babies... : a book for a new baby
Trounce, Charlotte
Paper Book
Babies change and babies grow. They're different every day. But you're the baby I love best . . . in every single way. There are so many different kinds of babies in the world: big, small, short, tall. They can even be jumpy or grumpy! With bold animal artwork on every spread and...
Rock-a-bye romp
Ashman, Linda
Paper Book
Turning a beloved lullaby on its head, this wonderful read-aloud pairs playful text and enchanting paintings to create a rollicking escapade with a clever premise and a cozy conclusion. 'Rock-a-bye, Baby, in the treetop. How did you ever get so high up?' That's a good...
Babymoon
Barrett, Hayley
Paper Book
In a perfect gift for new and expectant parents (and siblings), a gentle story pays tribute to the wonder and emotion of a family's first quiet days with a newborn. The house is hushed. The lights are low. We're basking in a newborn glow. Inside...
Love you head to toe
Barron, Ashley
Paper Book
Pairing creative rhyming similes with cut-paper collage art, Love You Head to Toeis an adorable book that compares newborn babies to baby animals on every page. Bright, playful illustrations show a different baby and a different species of animal, both engaged in similar behavior: babies...
Canadian author.
King Baby
Beaton, Kate
Paper Book
A laugh-out-loud picture book with royal appeal! All hail King Baby! He greets his adoring public with giggles and wiggles and coos, posing for photos and allowing hugs and kisses. But this royal ruler also has many demands, and when his subjects can't quite keep up, King Baby takes...
Canadian author.
Shhh! The baby's asleep
Brown-Wood, JaNay
Paper Book
Celebrate the silliness that comes with a big family in this playful read aloud about a big brother, a sleeping baby, and a very noisy family. Baby is finally asleep. But everyone is much too loud! Can Mom, Daddy, Grammy, Pop Pop, Shae, Dante, Rover the dog, and even the...
Love
de la Pen?a, Matt
Paper Book
#1NEW YORK TIMESBESTSELLER " A poetic reckoning of the importance of love in a child's life . . . eloquent and moving."-People "Everything that can be called love -- from shared joy to comfort in the darkness -- is gathered in the pages of this...
Here we are : notes for living on planet Earth
Jeffers, Oliver
Paper Book
#1 New York Times bestseller A TIME Magazine Best Book of the Year A NPR Best Book of 2017 A Boston Globe Best Book of 2017 "Moments of human intimacy jostle with scenes that inspire cosmic awe, and the broad diversity of...
Nous sommes là : notes concernant la vie sur la planète Terre
Jeffers, Oliver
Paper Book
#1 New York Times bestseller A TIME Magazine Best Book of the Year A NPR Best Book of 2017 A Boston Globe Best Book of 2017 "Moments of human intimacy jostle with scenes that inspire cosmic awe, and the broad diversity of...
That's me loving you
Rosenthal, Amy Krouse
Paper Book
From the author of the New York Times bestselling author of I Wish You More comes a book that promises continuous love in the traditon of the classic The Runaway Bunny. A heartwarming story that will comfort kids with separation anxiety about going back to school!...

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