12 Best Books for Babies Under 1-Year-Old

Muhiuddin Alam
ReadingAndThinking.com
17 min readFeb 14, 2023

Best Books for Babies Under 1-Year-Old — Parenting books advice for new parents to read this year.

As the concept of early education has become more and more popular, more and more parents and friends have begun to pay attention to parent-child reading.

How choose picture books and interesting reading according to the developmental characteristics of children has become a skill that new parents urgently need to master. I will use a few articles to recommend reading guides and book lists for children under one-year-old. I hope it will be helpful to you.

Today I will combine the reading characteristics of children under one year old to give parents and friends some suggestions on how to choose and how to read reading materials.

12 Best Books for Babies Under 1-Year-Old

Reading characteristics of babies under 1 year old

Babies from 0 to 3 months old have weaker visual contrast sensitivity. They only see rough outlines, which is a vague black-and-white world, but they can feel the brightness of the light, and they have the ability to listen at birth.

Therefore, after the baby is born, visual materials with strong contrast, simple structure, and clear outline can be introduced.

During the 4 to 6 months, the baby’s perception of the color of the object becomes stronger and stronger, can distinguish the four colors of red, yellow, blue, and green, can see the difference between distance and distance, and can look at the picture for a relatively long time to distinguish the details.

Babies at this stage are in the period of oral desire. They like to chew and bite things including books. Their mouth is a tools for them to explore the world. Therefore, at this time, when introducing brightly colored reading materials, it is necessary to consider that the material is best to be safe, hygienic, and convenient to chew. Bite.

From 6 to 12 months, the baby’s vision gradually develops, and the visual sensitivity has gradually approached the adult level. It can gradually distinguish three-dimensional images such as distance, size, height, etc., and the ability to distinguish the details of books has also matured.

At this stage, babies’ fine finger movements are developing. They like to move their little fingers to exercise and develop their own abilities. With the improvement of their cognition level, they have gradually shown greater interest in stories that have plots and are closer to life scenarios.

How to choose reading materials suitable for babies under 1 year old

From 0 to 3 months, based on the baby’s physiological basis, black-and-white cards with strong contrast, simple structure, and sharp outlines are the first choice for reading.

It is not only beneficial to the child’s visual development, but also to the intimate interaction between you and the child. Can pull into the parent-child relationship.

Look, Look! by Peter Linenthal

Combining the abilities of babies from 4 to 6 months, we recommend the color card and cloth book series. The color card has bright colors and clear outlines. It is very attractive to babies who can just distinguish colors and is beneficial to the baby’s visual development.

Studies have shown that 83% of the information entering the brain is through vision, and good visual stimulation can promote the development of the brain.

God Made You (Cloth Books) by Lori C. Froeb

A cloth book, as the name suggests, is a book made of cloth, colorful, and some are even designed to make a sound to attract children’s attention, not afraid of biting, and can be safely provided to children when they are washed home. The prerequisite is that the quality must pass, and the product that does not fade and has no safety hazards is selected. I believe that the brand is still necessary.

After 6 months, as the baby’s developmental level improves, we can even call the “five senses” to increase the richness of the baby’s reading materials.

12 Best Books for under 1-year-old Baby to read this year

In terms of vision, the best books for babies under one-year-old prefer picture books that are concise, with fewer big characters, closer to life scenes, and babies are born with an inexplicable intimacy towards small animals. Many classic picture books use animals as themes or metaphors. Physical. These factors can be taken into consideration when choosing a book.

Because each baby has a different personality and living environment, no one can guarantee that all the recommended books will be enjoyed by the baby. To be on the safe side, you can choose international award-winning works at the beginning, such as the “Oscars” in the picture book industry.

Catic Grand Prize works, International Andersen Prize Painter Prize works, German Picture Book Prize works, British Greenway Prize works, etc. After the waves and sands, the classic works naturally have their reason to pass down.

My family’s picture books are basically obtained through these websites, and I will also recommend several picture books for parents and friends based on the preferences of my 12-month-old baby.

1. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Book Review: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. & Eric Carle

The whole book actually only has two sentence patterns with one question and one answer: “Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see? I see a red bird looking at me.” Then changing red bird to yellow duck, blue horse, green frog, purple cat… is substituted into the sentence pattern respectively.

On the one hand, the rhymes such as see and me are repeated repeatedly, which strengthens the sense of rhythm. On the other hand, it is the sequence of the display of various animals and colors. Repetition and sequence are the most interesting ways for children to recognize the outside world.

In the eyes of us adults, the boring city sequence of weather forecasts and Sol’s boring commercials are some of the most popular programs in the eyes of young children.

In fact, combined with the resume of the author Bill Martin Jr, a former elementary school teacher, and principal, I find that this book is more like a lesson plan for kindergarten teachers, or a reference book for parents to accompany their babies to study. for example:

  • This is a good way to teach babies to learn animal words and color words.
  • The answer mode of one question and one answer can establish interaction with the baby.
  • When referring to an animal, everyone simulates the animal’s sound or walking posture, etc.
  • Use the fill-in-the-blank method to inspire children to see which other animals? Is there any color not mentioned?
  • After printing out the black and white outline drawing of the animal or letting the baby draw by himself, fill in the color.
  • Use who do you see instead of what do you see? Ask the baby to say the names of other children or other family members.
  • The most important thing is that once babies master this questioning method, they can produce their own “brown bear” book. The content of the book can be animals, plants, or even everything around them.

2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Book Review: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

In today’s picture book promotion, let’s introduce a famous caterpillar-it is “The Hungry Caterpillar”. This caterpillar has been translated into 47 languages and published and sold more than 30 million copies. Imagine how many curious pairs there are. I have read it with my eyes, how many immature little hands have touched him, and see how this little egg turns into a beautiful butterfly under the moonlight.

Eric’s books are really suitable for children. They are colorful, and most of them have large and vivid images. They are very attractive to children who are new to picture books. Brother Hou has seen his “Brown Bear”, “Moving from Head to Feet”, “Dad, I Want the Moon”, and “Mr. Sea Horse”. Of course, Hou Ma also likes it, especially “Hungry Caterpillar” and “Hippocampus”. “Sir”, through interesting paintings, to teach children some biological knowledge and love, is really commendable.

The meaning of the book is very simple, a small and hungry caterpillar crawls out of a small egg, and then after some time, it eats something, and finally becomes a butterfly. But it’s so simple, it’s not even a storybook, but the content is very rich. After reading a lot of picture books with Brother Hou, I found that one of the characteristics of picture books that children like is simple language, rich content, and silent moisturizing.

For example, the language of this book: “On Monday, he ate an apple, but his stomach was still very hungry” “On Tuesday, he ate two pears, but his stomach was still very hungry” and “On Wednesday, he ate three plums, However, the stomach is still very hungry” This sentence pattern repeats until Friday. The sentence pattern is simple and repetitive, and there are echoes and correspondences. The children will know some numbers and the concept of the day of the week, as well as fruits, and “hungry”.

In fact, the more we become accustomed to some things, the more difficult it is for us to explain them to children. For example, what is hunger, you tell him “the empty stomach wants to eat, as opposed to full”? It’s strange that he is interested in remembering, so he might as well pick up the picture book subtly. Brother Hou is two years old today. In the morning, Hou’s Mom said, “I’m going to eat!” The bastard Pippi said “Don’t eat anymore! Get hungry!” Knowing to make a joke about “hungry”, it is hard to say that there is no credit for “The Hungry Caterpillar”.

Perhaps the most attractive thing for children in this book is the holes in the things that have been eaten by caterpillars. There are really holes in the book. They are small and round, just enough to reach the baby’s fingers, and the baby smiles. It’s fun to play with your fingers. Adults find it very interesting. There are also books that feel very three-dimensional, because for example, eating an apple has only a narrow page as wide as an apple, and eating two pears has a page as wide as two pears. The following figure:

However, the book also considered that because of the influence of the length of the pages, a piece of white paper was allocated, as shown in the picture below, but this piece of white paper was matched by me, and the original one was thickly taken away and scribbled.

The caterpillar, who was still hungry after Friday, broke out on Saturday. After eating a lot of food, his stomach hurts. Here is an interesting detail. Originally, the caterpillar’s face was red, but when the stomach hurts, it is very sickly pink, and pitiful. Then the next day it felt more comfortable after eating a tender green leaf, and at this time its face was red again.

Then, the caterpillar grew bigger.

Then, the caterpillar made a cocoon.

Then, ah! The caterpillar turned into a beautiful butterfly.

This is the whole thing about this vivid book. Mom and baby are very happy to read it. Maybe, when you think that the interest of this book makes you feel that what you learn is not important, you just learned a lot.

Repetitive and slightly changed things make people happy, like a gradual life.

3. Good Night Boston

Book Review: Good Night Boston by Adam Gamble

Ages Birth to 3 years. Many of North America’s most beloved regions are artfully celebrated in these board books designed to soothe children before bedtime while instilling an early appreciation for the continent’s natural and cultural wonders.

Each book stars a multicultural group of people visiting the featured area’s attractions — such as the Rocky Mountains in Denver, the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Lake Ontario in Toronto, and volcanoes in Hawaii. Rhythmic language guides children through the passage of both a single day and the four seasons while saluting the iconic aspects of each place.

Boston is waiting for your family to explore. Watch as your toddler discovers everything the city of Boston has to offer, such as Fenway Park, Old Ironsides, the Boston Tea Party Ships, and so much more. Show them what makes our nation’s most historic city so iconic. This book is the perfect gift for little travelers everywhere, for birthdays, baby showers, housewarmings, and going away parties.

With the Good Night Our World series, toddlers and preschool-age kids can build listening and memory skills by identifying famous landmarks and the distinct character of real places. Perfect for bedtime or naptime, reading simple, soothing phrases to your infant, toddler or preschooler will help them fall gently to sleep.

Our readers love that their child will pick a favorite portion of the story to read along with you, and on top of that, these classic board books were built to last! Made from thick paperboard construction, it was designed with your kids in mind.

Introduce stories of exploration to your little one using colorful illustrations and distinct vocabulary with Good Night Books, and be sure to look through our entire line of kid’s picture books about Boston, including Good Night Massachusetts, Good Night Cape Cod, Good Night Maine, and many more!

4. Goodnight Moon

Book Review: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown & Clement Hurd

“Good Night, Moon” is a deceptive book. At first glance, it is extremely simple. The color-the main tone is red and green. On the retrospective page, it is processed in black and white tones. The sky is getting late and the colors are getting darker. Composition-a single scene, just like the bunny’s home before going to bed, and a few stars outside the window, half moonlight. Text-a few words, the little bunny said to the surrounding scenery one by one: Good night.

Just such a bedtime book. The words are over. That’s it.

That’s it? Many things can’t be finished in a few words, and the power of words will never be as powerful as you think.

If you really get this book, if you don’t turn it over and toss you a few times, you can’t see it at all. In the process of reading this book, it is as if you are the little rabbit, rolling left and right on the bed, tossing and turning, and when you are exhausted and fall asleep peacefully.

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The most interesting part of this book is that it turns over and over again. You have to look over and over again, over and over to confirm your previous impressions and impressions, over and over and over and over again be defeated by the errors and surprises, and then, you will say good night with the little rabbit with all your heart!

First, the scene, the fireplace, the paintings, the table, the bedside table, etc. The little rabbit is lying on the bed, bored. When I turned the page, two black-and-white images appeared, which turned out to be the previous hanging paintings on the wall. In order to verify, I had to turn back and take a look.

The scene inside the house reappeared, only slightly enlarged. Turning the page again, there are two more black and white pictures, one is a bedside table, and I have seen it before. Another one, wow! Don’t bring such fun! When does an old lady weaving wool come out? When you look back in a hurry, you were deceived!

After that, you will become tentative and cautious, but you still can’t stop the author’s tricky tricks-the cat, in the initial picture; the socks on the shelf-gone; the hut, turn back Only found the first few pages; where is the mouse? Where’s the mouse? Where’s the mouse?

The process of the little rabbit saying good night to everything inside and outside the house is the process of finding the existence of everything. It spared no effort to find it, and it spared no effort to be exhausted.

The light in the room slipped away, and the stars and the moon lit up quietly. The fire is booming, little rabbit, good night!

5. The Going-To-Bed Book

Book Review: The Going-To-Bed Book by Sandra Boynton

This is a super bestseller on amazon. It is also recommended by many domestic and foreign children’s book lists!

For the little guy who doesn’t want to sleep, a funny book is exactly what they want. Speaking of funny books, Sandra Boynton is undoubtedly a queen in this regard. In “It’s Time to Sleep”, a big ship full of animals is accompanied by a sinking sunset, and the animals are about to go to sleep.

They take a bath (“in a big bathtub”), find pajamas, brush their teeth, exercise on the table (imagine: elephants are jumping rope, moose are lifting weights, pigs are standing upside down), and finally, they say good night.

The moon is high, the sea is deep, shake, shake, shake to… a sweet dream! Over the years, Boynton’s unique animal characters have added luster to a large number of picture books.

She has extraordinary skills-knows that children like simple rhythms, stupid animals in stupid situations, and warm stories. This book, like many of her other cardboard books (“Moo, Bae, Lala La!”, “But No Hippo”, etc.), will be everyone’s favorite book. (Infant to preschool age)

6. What’s Wrong, Little Pookie?

Book Review: What’s Wrong, Little Pookie? by Sandra Boynton

Boynton is back! Our favorite children’s book author has written another popular work.

It talks about children having strong emotions — unhappy or angry or bored or helpless — but it cannot explain their feelings or the reasons for these feelings. A child fell into depression, and the person caring for it asked a series of questions to know the reason for it.

The adult’s question is presented in thick black font, and the reply is written in small red letters. are you tired? no. Are you hungry? no. Did you lose something? no.

In the end, the adult realized that he might not be able to receive a definite answer, so he started asking funny and boring questions, making laugh, and helping him out of his predicament.

This question-and-answer approach makes this book very suitable for parents and children to read together. This is a cute little book and a good tool to help children regulate their emotions. Super recommended!

Sandra Boynton is an American best-selling children’s book author, children’s musician, director, and cartoonist. Her six children’s books have won five stars for life in the US “Publisher Weekly” Children’s Book List, 2 books won the National Parenting Publication Gold Award, 2 times won the American Cartoonists Association Book Category, Greeting Card Illustration Award, won the American Cartoonists Association Milton Kaniff Lifetime Achievement Award, and the music album “Philadelphia Chickens” won Nominated for the Grammy Best Children’s Music Album Award… Boynton, who is extremely talented in language art, painting, and music: Making music, her 3 children’s music albums were certified as gold records, and they sold more than 500,000 copies.

“Philadelphia Chickens” was certified as a platinum record and sold more than 1 million copies; as an art designer, her greeting cards sold more than 200 million copies; she created children’s books, and her children’s books sold more than 60 million copies. The children’s books she created brought joy to three generations of American families and became a trusted children’s book writer.

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