One trend that has been rapidly gaining momentum over the last few years is gifting baby books instead of cards at baby showers. Books are a popular alternative to cards because parents need a lot of them and they may not have time to shop for them individually. Whether you’re looking to purchase one baby book for your own child or put together a baby book gift set for an expecting friend or family member, we’ve compiled a list of ten of the best baby books that are guaranteed to please both parent and child alike.
Never Touch a Monster
Of course you should never touch a monster, unless you own this touch-and-feel book. Each page contains a goofy monster and a few silly rhymes, but that’s not all you can expect from this brightly colored story book. Tactile surfaces added to the composition of each of the scaly or hairy monsters creates an interactive experience that both parent and child will enjoy. Put it all together and Never Touch a Monster is clearly a must-have book for the little monster in your life.
Travels with The Little Prince
As a parent, you probably want to share some of your fondest reading memories with your child. If one of your favorites happens to be The Little Prince, you can begin introducing your little prince or princess to the beloved stories created by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry with this beautifully illustrated and simply worded board book.
Dinosaur Dance!
Who says story time can’t be full of action? With Dinosaur Dance!, you and yours can have fun dancing the Shimmy Shimmy Shake or the Quivery Quake alongside your new dino friends! If it’s time for bed, giggle along with these silly dinos as they move, groove, and get down!
Baby Faces
We all know that babies are simply fascinated with faces, which makes Baby Faces the perfect interactive book for the baby on your list. This brightly colored book is a great way to introduce infants to feelings, and contains a rattling cover and interactive flaps throughout that, when lifted, reveal expressive baby faces.
I Love Mommy Because…
It’s never too early to begin appreciating mom! This heart-warming and beautifully illustrated book shows how the mothers of the animal kingdom care for their young. Reading this book with your child is the perfect time to bond over all of the things that you do for your wee one.
123 Sea!
The earlier your child starts learning about numbers, the better. In 123 Sea!, your child will love counting the many brightly colored sea creatures.
The Itsy Bitsy Duckling
We’ve all heard of the nursery rhyme, “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”, but we can all agree that ducklings are much, much cuter. Sing along as the little duckling welcomes his animal friends as they awaken from their long winter naps. No icky spiders to worry about here!
I Love You Night and Day
There’s nothing better than spending time with someone you love, and when you love someone, you want the whole world to know! Of course, there will be good times and bad times, cloudy days and sunny ones, but love will always remain. This touching story book by Smriti Prasadam-Halls combines simple rhymes with soft, beautiful illustrations by Alison Brown, and will remind your little one that no matter what happens, you’ll always be there for them.
The Babies on the Bus
A fresh take on everyone’s favorite bus-themed sing-along song, The Babies on the Bus features a multicultural cast of babies as they travel across town. While this brightly illustrated and eye-catching book features some of the original lyrics of the song, author Karen Katz’ version puts a different spin on something warm and familiar. Not only will you have fun singing this catchy tune, but you can also both enjoy making all the fun gestures that go along with it!
First 100 Numbers
Learning to count from one to 100 has never been more fun thanks to this bright board book! Each number is accompanied by a unique image that adds an additional layer of discovery when learning to count to 100.
Make no mistake, there are many, many baby and infant books from which to choose and each offers something a little different. If you feel overwhelmed when tasked with shopping for the best baby books, you can’t go wrong with any of the ones listed above.