How to Create Baby’s First Library

Top 10 Books for Babies! (the easy approach)

Do you just want a list of books that for sure will be beloved by baby (and parent)? I’ve got you covered! Grab a few from this list and you are all set to go!

1. Any board book from Priddy Books (a children’s book publisher), like My Little Word Book or First 100 Books (highly recommend both these titles!)
2. Any book from the DK Baby Touch and Feel series (a children’s book publisher), like Baby Touch and Feel: Animals
3. Peek-A-Who? by Nina Laden (a lift-a-flap book)
4. Fast and Slow by Britta Teckentrup (an opposites book, also available in bilingual Spanish)
5. Global Babies, a Global Fund for Children Book
6. I Kissed the Baby! by Mary Murphy
7. Look Look! by Peter Linenthal
8. My First Busy Book by Eric Carle
9. Daddy Kisses or Mommy Hugs (pick the one best for your child, or get both!) by Anne Gutman
10. Tomie’s Little Mother Goose by Tomie dePaola

Top 10 Book Types for Babies!

Stock up the new baby’s library by choosing one book from each of these book types.

Most of these books will be board books. Fabric and washable plastic are also great choices.

Steer clear of paperback – unless you’re ok with baby eating the book, tearing the pages etc. :).

These books help babies with the skills they gain in the first year including dexterity, language acquisition, visual and auditory development, and speech!

1. A soft book made from fabric, vinyl, or plastic material
2. Touch and Feel book
3. Black and white, high contrast book, like Black & White by Tana Hoban
4. Counting book
5. Alphabet book
6. Opposites book
7. Colors book
8. Lift-a-Flap book
9. Activity book
10. Sound book (push the button, hear the sound)

Books for Babies AND Toddlers!

Books on this list will outlive the first year and carry a child as far as kindergarten.

These tried and true favorites are perfect in every way, which means parent and child will enjoy reading them over and over and OVER again. (Pro tip: Don’t discard your child’s first board books. I recommend keeping those books. Kids love them and will return to them often.)

Many of these stories were first published in hardback or paperback and are now also available in board book versions. Choose these board book versions for your little one’s library!

1. Dear Zoo written and illustrated by Rod Campbell (This is a lift-a-flap book.)
2. Guess How Much I Love You written by Sam McBratney, illustrated by Anita Jeram
3. Brown Bear, Brown Bear written by Bill Martin, Jr, illustrated by Eric Carle
4. Toes, Ears, & Nose! written by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Karen Katz
5. Tubby or Potty written and illustrated by Leslie Patricelli (they are both so good for babies and toddlers that I can’t pick just one!)
6. Any of the Pigeon series books written and illustrated by Mo Willems, such as Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (a Caldecott Honor Book)
7. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom written by Bill Martin, Jr, illustrated by Lois Ehlert
8. Night-Night, Little Pookie written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton
9. Dinosaur Roar! written by Henrietta Stickland, illustrated by Paul Stickland
10. No Two Alike written and illustrated by Keith Baker

My Top Three Places to Buy Books at Great Prices!

Board books are pricey, as you will quickly discover. Ten new board books could cost just shy of $100.

Here’s a way you can save your dollars. You my three top places to find books in “like new” condition for pennies on the dollar.

The less you spend per book means the MORE books you can buy!

Added bonus – be aware that some great books are not being published any more. They are out of print. As a result you can only find some books at stores and websites that sell used books.

• Consignment shops are a great place to buy books for babies.
• Libraries! Check out the “for sale” corner at your local library, often stocked with “like new” used books.
• Book Sales. Keep your eyes posted for book sales. I’ve found some of our most favorite books at book sales, including totally 100% new board books.