We've Got You Covered
We start you off with a diverse list of 60 books to consider, including classics, high contrast, touch, social-emotional, and more. This replaces the need to create your own list from scratch!
More books, less toys
Books are an important part of development and childhood memories, and what better time to invest in a growing mind than a birthday!
Topic-based lists
Children hear more than you think! Books provide context for new and potentially confusing topics, and give caregivers a way to approach complex topics.
Our 2026 Ultimate Guide to the Best Baby Books
We combed through our registry data to identify the 57 best baby books. We looked at a combination of factors ...
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Most gifted
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Most requested
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Diverse leads
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Social-emotional learning (SEL)
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Newborn and toddler developmental needs
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Classics
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Did You Know Books Can ...
Nurture parent-child bonding
Reading together provides opportunities for human contact, affection, attention and shared laughter - all of which lead to deeper connections.
Build lifelong capacity to learn
Being read to improves a child's ability to absorb and mentally organize information by 30%.
Reduce screen time by half
Books can be used to fill idle time, including at meal times. Children can be entertained and satisfied with engaging books more often than we think.
It's Free. Always.
We don't charge any fees. Ever.
Our revenue is generated when someone clicks on one of our affiliate links (commission-based links to Amazon and Bookshop.org). That said, we don't force the issue ... we encourage guests to buy books at their local bookstore as well. Check out our sample registry to see this in action.
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A rich library is
the best gift
you can give a child
Get up and running quickly with our quick-start lists ... well-rounded, cohesive and delightful book lists that include classics, modern favorites, diverse leads, emotional literacy, etc.
So cross one more thing off your to-do list - share your book registry today!
Complete Your Registry in Minutes
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Use Bookshelf Builder on its own, integrate with Babylist, or kickstart a "book instead of a card" effort.
Create memories, avoid duplicates.
Flexible, Memorable and Duplicate-Free
By choosing books, you’re making a sustainable choice that’s kind to the planet. Books have a unique way of enduring, bringing joy to many hands and homes over time.
Books Grow Minds,
Not Landfills
Expanding Libraries,
One Book at a Time
2,000+
registries created
74
books in a typical registry
53,000+
books claimed
43%
of books in a registry that uniquely align with a family's vibe
What started as a personal solution by an engineer for her son, Bookshelf Builder has now spread to families everywhere.
Purpose built. Thoughtful. Practical.
Built by an Engineer Mom
Reading is known to be an exceptionally powerful method for fathers to bond with their newborn.
Mom grows the baby.
Dad grows the library.
Its a win-win.