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The 10 best books to add to your nursery shelf

Jennifer Passmore
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When you have a baby on the way and you are planning out their nursery, you have their crib and their rattles and baby toys. But one spot not to neglect is their bookshelf. Reading to your baby has proven benefits and will help them in the long run. With so many options out there on the market, how do you find the best books for your baby? We have compiled a list of some of the best baby books to add to your baby’s bookshelf for when your little one makes their grand debut!

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

This is one of the most beloved books to read to babies. Its repetitive words help reinforce baby’s speech. This fun book has lift-the-flap portions of the book, so when the baby gets a little bit older, they can have even more fun with the book. It’s no wonder that it’s been a popular book for babies and young ones for over 50 years! It focuses on colors and animals, so it is a great first book to put on their nursery shelf!

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Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

“When A told B, and B told C, to meet them at the top of the coconut tree,” a lot of fun happened! This book leans much on rhyme and will have your little one clapping along to its catchy sayings! The bright colors will catch their eye and keep their attention as you read throughout the book.

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Jane Foster’s Black and White

Black-and-white images help to give a boost to your little one’s eye development. That is what makes this book such a good idea to keep in their nursery! Weaving in lovely illustrations in black-and-white images, this book will keep your baby enthralled and excited as you read to them.

Moo, Baa, La La La!

Sandra Boynton is known for her quirky illustrations and funny books, making this a natural that baby should have this book! It is a funny and silly book that you can read with baby, and it is sure to elicit a smile or a giggle when you make the funny animal sounds that accompany the illustrations in this book!

Where is Baby’s Belly Button?

Little ones will have a blast on this lift-the-flap adventure! This interactive book allows your baby to learn where certain parts of their body are, all while written in rhyme. It is definitely a classic to keep on the shelf.

The Pout-Pout Fish

Poor little pout-pout fish seems pretty gloomy and glum, and despite his friend’s best efforts, he is still pretty pouty. That is until one special friend turns his frown upside down! Your baby will love the colors and fun illustrations throughout the book, and the best thing about it is it’s a book that can grow with them. For example, when they are ready to learn to read, this is a great book for them to start with!

Look at You!

Did you know that it is a proven fact that by 5 months of age, babies can recognize other baby’s faces? This book is full of baby’s faces that your little one will love to look at! It even features a mirror on the last page so that baby will be able to look at their own reflection at the very end of the book!

First 100 Words

This book is great to start reading to your baby early on! With 100 words, accompanied by bright and stimulating pictures, this book will help to develop your child’s vocabulary in a fun and imaginative way!

TouchThinkLearn: ABC

With its beautiful clean lines and modern look, this is not your average learn-your-ABCs-book. There are die-cuts and fun things to touch and feel for baby to learn all about the alphabet.

Goodnight Moon

An absolute beloved classic, this book features simple sayings and is illustrated so beautifully. It is the perfect book to read to your baby when they are all fed, bathed, and ready for their bedtime.

All of these books would make a great addition to your baby’s burgeoning library. Some are classics and some are new, but all of them are the best of the best.

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Jennifer Passmore
Jennifer Passmore
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jennifer has written two books on how to deal with living with chronic illness using the power of positivity. She has written…
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