2024 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 July 8, 2025
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Sussex County Library System (NJ)
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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,
Ebook
★ "The rhyming cadence makes this title a great one for baby story times and one-on-one readings...A first purchase for all libraries, and not limited to the conventional board book audience."--School Library Journal, starred review A hug and a giggle? Who doesn't love a good higgle!...
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!...
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...
Grandma and me /
Weatherford, Carole Boston,
Paper Book
A timeless gift for every grandchild--and a love letter to grandmas everywhere. There's no one like Grandma. Her stories, her laughter, her hugs--every moment shared becomes a memory to cherish. In Grandma and Me, 2025-2026 Young People's Poet Laureate Carole Boston Weatherford captures...

2025 Children's Literature Legacy Award to author Carole Boston Weatherford.

Marta! big & small /
Arena, Jen
Paper Book
With simple Spanish and a glossary at the end, this fun read-aloud picture book, Marta! Big and Small, teaches little ones to identify opposites and animals and learn new words. Marta is una niña, an ordinary girl . . . with some extraordinary animal friends!

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