We have been reading to baby K since he was one day old. It may have meant nothing to him at first, but going on 14 months, he’s finally starting to understand. He’s been able to sit patiently listening since he was just a few months old.
When he is fussy or I need to keep him occupied (in the car, on a plane, when he’s sick), a book is the best way to do it.
Here are our top 10 favorite books for babies – and toddlers too!
(In no particular order…)
1) First 100 Words by Roger Priddy
A sweet milestone that happened in the last few weeks was that K now points to the cat in First 100 Words and say, “Ga Ga” (his word for Cat). The other 99 words are equally useful – including colors, bedtime words, eating words, and more.
2) Tails by Matthew Van Fleet
Tails is a fantastic book, though K has by now destroyed a lot of the fun functionality (sliding tabs and cool tails). Perhaps wait until baby is old enough to not destroy books (or keep a better eye on baby while he’s “reading” than I usually do!).
3) I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti Shustak
Just a very sweet baby book. Especially good to hug and cuddle while reading it.
4) Pajama Time by Sandra Boynton
Pajama Time can be used as a bedtime ritual. It’s also a rhyming book. We love it.
5) Trucks by Katie Cox
The pages of Trucks are easy to turn because they have tabs on them. A super simple book (just words for the different kinds of trucks) but colorful and K likes flipping through.
6) The Little Green Island with a Little Red House by Sharon Lovejoy
This book may be for a slightly older child, but K loves listening to us read even if he doesn’t understand it all. The Little Green Island is full of interesting color words like chartreuse and crimson. I think this one will be a keeper for many years to come.
7) Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? by Dr. Seuss
A Dr. Seuss classic. Perfect for babes learning new sounds.
8) Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt
Another classic… but be careful because babies tend to destroy books that are not board books. I love this edition because K can touch “daddy’s scratchy face” and put his finger through “mummy’s ring”.
9) Where Is Baby’s Belly Button by Karen Katz
Great for teaching baby “where” things are. Belly buttons, hands, feet – it’s a lift the flap book. (Again, be careful for baby’s grabbing hands.)
10) Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers
Everywhere Babies is probably the most recent book we’ve added to our collection and it’s fast become a new favorite. So sweet – and I love how it shows both bottle-fed and breastfed babies.
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What are your top books for babies and toddlers?