baby’s first books
baby doesn’t know this yet, but nothing beats being in a bookstore. gives real “you’ve got mail” vibes. or even “notting hill”? yessss, you can be anyone in a bookstore so why not be Julia Roberts pretending to be a totally different super famous movie star (Anna Scott?)?! anyway, go to your local bookstore. who you role play while browsing is none of my business. but in the real world, there are times when you need something quick and can’t get out of the house (maybe you have 2 children under 2 and book store browsing while pretending to be a celebrity pretending to be a different celebrity just isn’t in the cards for you right now, not to name any names -me-) or maybe you are last minute with everything and need it to ship directly to the person so you don’t look like you forgot their birthday or shower or whatever you definitely forgot about (also me). i get it. obviously amazon makes it TOO easy and while shopping small and local is certainly ideal, it isn’t always possible. i am committed to shopping consciously, local, and small when i have the time, the luxury, and the finances to do so. but when you find yourself in a pinch, here are my favorite baby books available on amazon.
*note: if you can find these items at your local book or toy store, by all means! I encourage you to support small and local business. if you buy through the provided link to an item on amazon, I may be eligible for some compensation. thank you!
- babies love: the “babies love” books are great little board books because they are simple, have durable lift-a-flaps that baby isn’t going to just rip off, and have a great variety of stories. my babies started really getting into looking at the pictures around 3 months old and my 2 year old still loves to flip through and “read” them. i find them often at my second hand book and baby store so check for them frequently!
- TouchThinkLearn-Farm: i especially love this one for littles. the raised images are the perfect tactile/kinisthetic feature for young ones getting their hands on books for the first time. minimalist baby book that they will continue to love!
- priddy books: love me some priddy books. there are various age ranges but honestly when my kids were little little, during tummy time i would prop these books up and surround them with the pictures. they loved it. thick pages, great because there is no “story” to follow, it’s just common words from various categories paired with images on colorful backgrounds. simple. excellent gift. the first 50 words book has lift a flaps!
- little pookie: oh pookie, we love you so! get ready for books you’ll be reading over and over and over… but they are short and sweet and adorable so you won’t mind!
- indestructibles: if you’ve seen my first post, you know how obsessed i am with these books. i include them in EVERY baby gift because it’s exciting when your little one finally is able to grab hold of things and if you give this book a good crinkle it is soooo easy for them to grab on to, bring to mouth, etc. they are non-toxic, rip proof, washable, inexpensive, and so many different stories to choose from. keep one in the car, with the bath toys, and in the diaper bag. oh and there are spanish/english ones!
indestructible mama & baby
indestructible wheels on the bus
indestructible baby animals
- poke-a-dot: melissa and doug know what’s up, the pictures are great, stories are fun, and baby gets to participate in “reading” before they can even turn a page! the poking dots are on every page, such a great way to engage littles in books early on! they come in small and larger sizes, not going to lie we have a couple of each and they get used daily.
- sweetest kulu: what a beautiful book! the story is just as heartwarming as the illustrations are magical. written by an Inuit-Canadian, it reads like a song that praises the beauty and gifts nature has to offer! i am so grateful we were gifted this book.
- todd parr: ok, so todd is a gold mine. at first glance it’s like, uhm, i could draw this? i could write this? but you didn’t. todd did. and he is absolutely crushing it. kids freaking LOVE these books, let me tell you. my sister in law said her second graders are obsessed, which is awesome because my kids started loving on todd around 6 months so he has got some serious crowd pleasing longevity. p.s. there are spanish/english versions too!
- goodnight gorilla: peggy rathmann= genius. ruby the copycat ring a bell? also peggy rathmann. goodnight gorilla is so brilliant because words are minimal to none but tells a story nonetheless.you can keep it very simple and stick to pictures only or you can add your own words to the story, or read it as is. as a speech-language pathologist, i used this book in therapy ALL the time and read it to my own kids every single night before bed. it is so sweet and perfect for setting a predictable routine in a story and encouraging early language.
- little you: maybe my favorite baby board book. first, i want the outfits in the illustrations in my closet NOW. seriously. second, this book is cool. the little rhyming ode to baby is adorable and sweet and pictures are frame worthy. written and illustrated by Indigenous Canadians, great gift.
- dream big, little one: these board books are inspiring, beautifully illustrated, it’s no wonder they are best-sellers. babies, toddlers, caregivers, big siblings, there is a little something for everyone in these gems.
- where’s the owl: fun spin on the lift a flaps, it’s felt! these books are perfect for little little ones; repetitive, simple, interactive, and a fun treat on the last page! many to choose from, you might need more than one…
thanks for reading, hope you found something you liked :) be sure to check out my next list of favorite books for babies and beyond! toddler treasures coming soon
-kegan