Skip to main content

NewFolks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

10 books your baby will love

Babies are never too young to start enjoying a good book. In fact, reading to your baby even before birth initiates your parent-child bond.

According to Carolyn Cates, a research assistant professor in the pediatrics department at NYU Langone Medical Center, there are many ways your child will benefit from you reading to him or her at an early age. Aside from acquiring language, other advantages to reading aloud include:

  • Building literacy skills that will be helpful in the pre-k years
  • Promoting cognitive development, especially when parents point out pictures or talk about the story
  • Facilitating conversational skills

So what are the best books for a 1-year-old or for newborns? The book choice matters. Below are 10 cute choices that include not just the best books for newborns but for older babies, as well:

All of Baby, Nose to Toes written by Victoria Adler; illustrated by Hiroe Nakata

Family members welcome a newborn with open arms and a ton of love. And the board-book version of All Baby, Nose to Toes is one of the best books for newborns and their siblings. Lively language with a catchy rhythm and bright, joyful pictures capture the attention of little ones throughout this entire celebratory book that illustrates the excitement and emotions that come with watching your baby play and grow.

Toddler reading book with her mom
Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

First 100 Words (Bright Baby) by Roger Priddy

This vibrant, engaging board book displays everyday objects, people, and animals in brightly colored boxes labeled in bold font. Words and photographs show feelings, mealtime, home, and more than 100 things that make this one of the most ideal books for your 1-year-old who’s picking up new words. As your child grows older going into the pre-K years, you can also ask him or her to switch roles and read the book to you as he or she learns to sound out the words.

Lullaby and Kisses Sweet written by Lee Bennett Hopkins; illustrated by Alyssa Nassner

What is a better way to introduce your baby or toddler to poetry than by sharing this volume written by the master of anthologies? This collection of 30 poems falls into the category of one of the best books for newborns and toddlers because it features five fun themes — from family to play, and even food, “firsts,” and bedtime. The rhythmic quality of the poems is sure to captivate parent and child alike.

Max’s First Word by Rosemary Wells

This one appeals to the fans of the Max and Ruby series. Ruby, the attentive big sister tries hard to teach her baby brother the names of the objects around him in hopes of increasing his vocabulary. Then, one day, Ruby receives a great surprise from Max’s first word, which parents and children would find both amusing and clever.

Dad reading to baby
Pexels/Nappy

Look, Look! by Peter Linenthal

As one of the best books for a newborn whose vision is still developing, Look, Look! presents high-contrast images in black, white, gray, and red. These black-and-white illustrations combined with punchy descriptions proves to be an excellent first book for your newborn.

Guess How Much I Love You written by Sam MacBratney; illustrated by Anita Jeram

At last, this cherished classic has made its way to the board-book world, thus placing it in the category of one of the finest books for 1-year-olds. The heartwarming story centers around Little Nutbrown Hare and his daddy, Big Nutbrown Hare, and their love for each other. As you read to your little one, you will have the chance to assure him or her that your love is limitless, too.

All the World written by Liz Garton Scanlon; illustrated by Marla Frazee

The wonderful world and all that’s in it comprise this simple, rhyming text with lovely, detailed pictures. This snapshot of a single day describes the sights, sounds, and emotions that coincide with going on the perfect outing with your loved ones.

The Going-to-Bed Book by Sandra Boynton

This book follows a goofy group of animals as they prepare for bed. Your baby or toddler will giggle when following the catchy, rhythmic repetition while gazing at the cute illustrations of the pals as they “brush, brush, brush” and then “rock, rock, rock to sleep.”

Say Goodnight written and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

This board book provides more playful inspiration for the bedtime routine. No matter how active and energetic your baby might be in the evening, at some point he or she must get some necessary rest. With the help of the adorable children in this story who “say goodnight,” you can prepare your tot for a great night’s sleep.

8 Little Planets written by Chris Ferrie; illustrated by Lizzy Doyle

Babies might not remember the rhyming facts about the solar system, but with the smiling faces of all the celestial bodies, they will have a good time settling down for the night. As one of the best books for newborns, this board book comes from the creator of the Baby University series.

Now that you have a list of the best books for newborns and toddlers, you can enjoy a story or narrative poem with your child during playtime or as the perfect way to end a busy day. All in all, reading aloud serves quite well as a memorable time for bonding with your baby and helping him or her to acquire new words as time goes on.

If you are looking for more activities that will help your baby develop motor skills or abilities, check out the best educational baby toys we found.

Editors' Recommendations

Leslie Anderson
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Leslie Anderson is a freelance writer/writing coach from Roswell, N.M. She enjoys gardening, cooking, and helping students…
Are your kids watching TV too much? The screen time guide every parent needs
Everything you need to know about screen time and your kids
Two siblings lying on the floor watching tv together.

By now, every parent has gotten the message that the time their kids are watching TV should be limited. Parents are inundated with messaging around screen time and how much is too much, but the reality is that kids watching TV can often give parents a much-needed break. Whether it's to get a meal ready, throw in a load of laundry, or simply enjoy a few minutes without a child asking you for something, letting your kids watch TV feels like an easy and harmless way to keep them occupied, but what amount is okay and how much is too much?
Watching TV can impact children in a few ways, and it all depends on multiple factors. For instance, are you spending time with them while they watch? How many hours per day do they spend glued to the tube? What shows do they watch? We've collected the important information so you can make the best decision about your child's television intake.

What age is too young for kids to watch TV?
According to pediatrician Dr. David Hill, MD, FAAP, "it takes around 18 months for a baby's brain to develop to the point where the symbols on a screen come to represent their equivalents in the real world." So, it's important that babies get real-life social interaction, and not stare at screens all day.

Read more
Should you have bottle warmers for breast milk in your home? It’s complicated
Find out if bottle warmers for breast milk are a good idea
Milk temperature check

If you choose to store your breast milk to be able to feed your baby a bottle when needed, you may find yourself wondering what is the best way to heat it up. You may get lucky and have a baby who will drink cold milk, but for most of you, that isn't going to happen. Instead, you'll need some way to safely warm up milk to at least room temperature without curdling it, affecting the nutrition density, or developing hot spots.

Many parents opt for a bottle warmer to warm a baby bottle safely. This handy appliance is a staple in modern households, but before you put it on your baby shower registry, let's take a closer look at bottle warmers. As with all your baby gear, the truth about using bottle warmers for breastmilk is a little more complicated.

Read more
Are baby walkers safe? 5 dangerous reasons you shouldn’t add one to your registry
Learn why baby walkers are unsafe
Infant in baby walker

Baby walkers are a common shower gift and considered a must-have item in some circles. While in others baby walkers are considered taboo. So, what should parents know about baby walkers? Are baby walkers safe for your child to use? These are questions you may be asking as your infant is getting to the age where he or she is starting to walk and explore. Although baby walkers may be a popular gift and toy, the reality is they are actually quite unsafe.

Even though you may have used a baby walker as a child yourself, in this day and age, there is quite a bit of information about just how hazardous baby walkers can be. If you're considering getting a baby walker, putting one on your registry, or if you already have a baby walker in your home, keep reading before you pop your toddler in.

Read more