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...
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!...
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...
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?<...
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.

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
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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