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Best Books for Newborns

A good book for a newborn stimulates their senses with contrasting colors, simple shapes, and gentle textures, aiding in cognitive development. Board books with large, clear images and minimal text encourage visual tracking and language acquisition. Interactive features like flaps or textures promote tactile exploration and fine motor skills. Rhythmic patterns and repetitive phrases support early language comprehension and memory formation. Ultimately, a good book for a newborn fosters bonding, curiosity, and the joy of discovery.

Bedtime, Lovey Dovey

In a cozy bedtime chat with her mom, a young girl wonders how animal families might say good night. Would Wolf and his pup "kiss and then HOWL"? Would Bear and her cub "kiss and then GROWL"? But what about Sloth and her baby? They move soooo slooowwwww . . . they're sure to be kissing from early evening until long after everyone else is fast asleep! With whimsical art and playful rhyming verse, this picture book is now in board book format for the first time, perfect for bedtime snuggles.
average rating is 4.8 out of 5, based on 71403 votes, reviews

Ann Whitford Paul

David Walker

Vocabulary

The amazing boxset contains a set of 10 well-researched board books to introduce wide range of learning topics and everyday objects to the little scholars. Vibrant pictures and accurate word labels encourages the child to build a robust vocabulary in a very short time. The attractive and sturdy gift box sets are the perfect gifts for toddlers. The topics included in the set are - ABC, Numbers, Shapes, Colours, Wild Animals, Farm Animals & Pets, Birds, Fruits, Vegetables, Transport.
average rating is 4.6 out of 5, based on 66860 votes, reviews

Wonder House Books

Lovey Dovey

The sun rises, and a bear and cub begin their day together. They splash in the water, climb mountains, and watch the shimmering sky. They show their love by touching noses, playing chase, and of course, hugging. A sweet, gentle rhyme, perfect for sharing with a special little one!
average rating is 4.9 out of 5, based on 63195 votes, reviews

Amelia Hepworth

Tim Warnes

Classics, Food, Counting

Carle's classic tale of a voracious caterpillar who eats his way through the days of the week and then changes into a eautiful butterfly has been reissued in a sumptuous twenty-fifth anniversary edition with a shiny, silver-coated cover and wonderfully thick, durably pages.
average rating is 4.9 out of 5, based on 57042 votes, reviews

Eric Carle

Classics, Rhythmic

A big happy frog, a plump purple cat, a handsome blue horse, and a soft yellow duck--all parade across the pages of this delightful book. Children will immediately respond to Eric Carle's flat, boldly colored collages. Combined with Bill Martin's singsong text, they create unforgettable images of these endearing animals.
average rating is 4.9 out of 5, based on 49174 votes, reviews

Bill Martin Jr.

Eric Carle

Vocabulary

Your little one will soon learn some essential first words and pictures with this bright board book. There are 100 color photographs to look at and talk about, and 100 simple first words to read and learn, too. The pages are made from tough board for hours of fun reading, and the cover is softly padded for little hands to hold.
average rating is 4.7 out of 5, based on 36151 votes, reviews

Roger Priddy

Modern Favs, Rhythmic, Alphabet

There is always enough room on your child’s bookshelf for this Classic Board Book edition of the rollicking alphabet chant that has been a children’s favorite for over thirty years! A told B, and B told C, “I’ll meet you at the top of the coconut tree” In this lively alphabet rhyme, all the letters of the alphabet race each other up the coconut tree. Will there be enough room? Oh, no—Chicka Chicka Boom! Boom! Countless children—and their parents—can joyfully recite the familiar words of this beloved alphabet chant. Bill Martin, Jr., and John Archambault’s rhythmic text keeps the beat with Caldecott Honor illustrator Lois Ehlert’s bold, cheerful art. This winning combination has made the Chicka Chicka series an enduring classic.
average rating is 4.9 out of 5, based on 34835 votes, reviews

Bill Martin Jr.

Lois Ehlert

Classics, Permanence

It's supper time, and Sally the Dog is looking for her puppy, Spot. She looks for him behind doors, under stairs, inside clocks, and other hiding spots and encounters his friends on her search. But where's Spot? Part of the popular “Spot” series of books by Eric Hill, Where's Spot?
average rating is 4.9 out of 5, based on 32146 votes, reviews

Eric Hill

Animals, Permanence, Classics

Dear Zoo is thrity years old -- and still as popular as ever! And with an updated look, this classic children's storybook about a youngster loooking for a perfect pet is sure to delight a new generation of readers!
average rating is 4.8 out of 5, based on 27297 votes, reviews

Rod Campbell

Rod Campbell

Bedtime, Classic

In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. "Goodnight room, goodnight moon." And to all the familiar things in the softly lit room—to the picture of the three little bears sitting on chairs, to the clocks and his socks, to the mittens and the kittens, to everything one by one—the little bunny says goodnight. In this classic of children's literature, beloved by generations of readers and listeners, the quiet poetry of the words and the gentle, lulling illustrations combine to make a perfect book for the end of the day. This board book edition is the perfect size for little hands.
average rating is 4.9 out of 5, based on 26068 votes, reviews

Margaret Wise Brown

Best of Boynton, Modern Favs

This raucous story about the sounds animals make—including three pigs who say "la la la!"—is just right for reading aloud. Serious silliness for all ages. Artist Sandra Boynton is back and better than ever with completely redrawn versions of her multi-million selling board books. These whimsical and hilarious books, featuring nontraditional texts and her famous animal characters, have been printed on thick board pages, and are sure to educate and entertain children of all ages.
average rating is 4.9 out of 5, based on 17263 votes, reviews

Sandra Boynton

Baby Faces, Lift the Flap

Karen Katz's adorable babies play peekaboo in this delightful interactive book. The sturdy format and easy-to-lift flaps are perfect for parents and children to share. "Where are Baby's hands? Under the bubbles!" "Where are baby's eyes? Under her hat!"
average rating is 4.8 out of 5, based on 13172 votes, reviews

Karen Katz

Modern Favs, Permanence, Lift the Flap

"A board book that's become a staple for baby showers and first libraries, little ones love Nina Laden's simple rhyming text and peek a boo cutouts." Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor Colorful pictures and simple rhyming texts help children guess what's peeking through the die cut windows in these two fun board books. The anticipation of what's hiding on the next page and the bright, engaging illustrations will keep youngsters guessing and giggling all the way to the suprise endings.
average rating is 4.8 out of 5, based on 11119 votes, reviews

Nina Laden

Modern Favs, Bedtime

Baby Llama turns bedtime into an all-out llama drama in this rhyming read-aloud favorite! Llama Llama’s tale of nighttime drama has charmed readers for over a decade and makes an ideal story for bedtime reading. With this board book edition, Anna Dewdney’s infectious rhyming text and expressive artwork are availabe to the youngest readers. Children will relate to Baby Llama's need for comfort, as much as parents will appreciate Mama Llama's reassuring message.
average rating is 4.9 out of 5, based on 11074 votes, reviews

Anna Dewdney

Engineering

The perfect science baby gift for your future genius! The bestselling Baby University baby board book set includes educational books for toddlers written by an expert that features colorful, simple introductions to scientific principles for babies. Its approach to early learning is beloved by kids and grownups! Included in this Four-Book Set: Quantum Physics for Babies Rocket Science for Babies General Relativity for Babies Newtonian Physics for Babies This baby board book set is the perfect way to introduce basic scientific concepts and STEM to even the youngest scientist and makes a wonderful newborn baby gift! If you're looking for other STEM-minded boss baby toys, books, and gifts, check out the full Baby University series, including ABCs of Biology, Organic Chemistry for Babies, and 8 Little Planets.
average rating is 4.7 out of 5, based on 5931 votes, reviews

Chris Ferrie

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Newborn Touch

An interactive touch and feel book for babies with a cute love theme and read-aloud text! Tactile elements and delightful imagery will encourage the development of motor skills and early learning. Baby Touch and Feel: I Love You is an interactive and fun way to help your child learn not only words but shapes and textures too. Bold, bright pictures and colorful love-inspired illustrations will be more than enough to keep your baby’s attention. This adorable picture book is a perfect first book for preschoolers and makes for an ideal baby gift. Not too big and not too small, this sturdy, padded sensory book is just the right size for little hands to hold. No need for Mom and Dad to turn the pages! Babies and toddlers can turn the tough board book pages themselves, which helps to develop their fine motor skills while building an early language foundation.
average rating is 4.7 out of 5, based on 3016 votes, reviews

DK

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Baby Faces, Diversity, Travel

As everyone knows, nothing is sweeter than tiny baby fingers and chubby baby toes. . . . And here, from two of the most gifted picture-book creators of our time, is a celebration of baby fingers, baby toes, and the joy they—and the babies they belong to—bring to everyone, everywhere, all over the world! This is a gorgeously simple picture book for very young children, and once you finish the rhythmic, rhyming text, all you’ll want to do is go back to the beginning . . . and read it again! The luminous watercolor illustrations of these roly-poly little ones from a variety of backgrounds are adorable, quirky, and true to life, right down to the wrinkles, dimples, and pudges in their completely squishable arms, legs, and tummies.
average rating is 4.8 out of 5, based on 2538 votes, reviews

Mem Fox

Helen Oxenbury

Food

Spaghetti is yummy, but worms - and blue crayons, and sand, and other things too gross to mention - are definitely yucky when tasted. Amiably illustrated in a bright, graphic style, Leslie Patricelli’s spirited board book, YUMMY YUCKY stars an obliging, bald, and very expressive toddler who acts out each pair of opposites with comically dramatic effect.
average rating is 4.8 out of 5, based on 1708 votes, reviews

Leslie Patricelli

Best Books for Newborns

meaningful additions

Children learn and hear more than we think.  Books provide context for new and potentially confusing topics, and give caregivers a way to approach complex topics.

Balanced Rocks
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