Board books are the best choice for babies and toddlers due to their durability. Classics like Goodnight Moon and new books by authors like Eric Carle and Leo Lionni are great options. Avoid pop-up books and opt for books that engage the senses, like Pat the Bunny. Other recommended titles include Guess How Much I Love You, Go Dog Go, and No, David.
Good books for babies and children are widely available. You may recall some classics from your childhood when selecting books for babies and toddlers, and there are many new books written since that are excellent. Many of these come in the form of board books, more durable board books with board pages, which are easier for children to handle and can stand up to the abuse that young children certainly can give. As books of all kinds have become more and more expensive, there’s no need to replace those with torn pages or disallow an infant or young child access to books they can handle on their own; board books are the clear choice for the younger group of pre-readers.
There are a number of books for babies and toddlers that you may want to avoid. Any type of pop-out book may break or tear from frequent use. Unless you’re buying a book for the more observant child, ripped books are a pretty common affair, and most pop-up books won’t be able to survive multiple uses. There are other books for babies and toddlers that can evoke the senses. One of them is Pat the Bunny written by Dorothy Kunhardt and published in 1940. Children are invited in the book to explore their sense of touch by feeling various textures. This type of participation helps keep toddlers and even toddlers on the go engaged and learning.
A few other books for babies and toddlers, most of them in the form of board books, come from children’s author Margaret Wise Brown. Among her works, the classic is Goodnight Moon, a wonderful book to read before bed. One of her other books, The Runaway Bunny, is also a favorite of hers, but the text is longer and may not hold the attention of more active children. Goodnight Moon works well because the language is short and repetitive. Another author using this technique is Eric Carle. Look for his titles like The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Very Busy Spider, and Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? co-author with Bill Martin.
One book that has attracted children because of its subject is the book Babies by Gyo Fujikawa. With images of children engaging in various activities, such as eating and sleeping, and with simple text, this cardboard book is often appealing to children. Similarly BaFaces by DK Publishing can have the same appeal with numerous photographs of children. Fujikawa’s book is more portable and also larger than the standard book, making it easier to handle. Another larger board book is the story I am a Bunny by Ole Risom, with illustrations by Richard Scary. The book accompanies a child in simple text through the different seasons.
When you’re looking for good books for babies and toddlers, look for the works of Leo Lionni, which again use very simple language. Swimmy, Inch Inch and It’s Mine are colorful and fun to read. Maurice Sendak’s works have exceptional appeal as books for babies and toddlers. Especially popular is Where the Wild Things Are and Chicken Rice Soup. Rosemary Wells’ Voyage to the Bunny Planet three-book set is another adorable addition.
You’ll find many more books for babies and toddlers that you’ll absolutely adore (as well as your baby). Some other books to try if you’re starting a collection are as follows:
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram
Mr. Brown can moo, right? by Dr. Seuss
Go Dog Go by PD Eastman
Sandra Boynton’s Go to Bed book
No, David by David Shannon
Where is the baby’s navel? by Karen Katz
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper, George Hauman and Doris Hauman
My Bedtime Book by Eloise Wilkin
I Will Always Love You by Robert Munsch and Sheila McGraw
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