educational books for 6 month old

The 24 Best Books for Babies 6 to 12 Months – Keep Your Baby Busy!

There are countless benefits to introducing and reading books to babies at an early age. From quality time spent cuddling and exploring colorful pages to building baby’s vocabulary and language skills, it’s never too early for parents to read to their babies. We’ve put together a list of the best books for babies 6 to 12 months to give you ideas for books that will engage, educate, and entertain little ones.

Whether you’re looking for books about animals, the Bible, and learning to count, or you’re interested in interactive formats to give a little one endless fun with finger puppets or pop-ups, this list has you covered!

Books for Babies About Animals

Finger puppet books for 6-12 months, pop up books for your baby, books for learning = numbers + counting, shapes and colors, sweet biblical books for your 6-12 month old baby, books for girls 6-12 months old, books for boys 6-12 months old, in conclusion, top 24 books for babies 6 to 12 months.

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1. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Children have loved this Eric Carle classic since 1967 and for good reason! Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See ? is filled with illustrations of a variety of animals, each in a primary color. Its imagery and simple text make it one of the best books for babies 6 to 12 months old.

2. I’ve Loved You Since Forever

A beautifully illustrated book sharing the love felt between a parent and child, I’ve Loved You Since Forever is a heartwarming story. Authored by Hoda Kotb, co-anchor of the Today Show, the book has become popular thanks to its precious artwork and its message of a parent’s destined love for their child.

3. Look Look!

Even the youngest babies are drawn to the high-contrast, artful pages of Look Look! Engaging little ones with its graphics and older babies with exciting cars and animals, Look Look! has a simple premise and exciting visuals that babies and parents can enjoy together.

1. If Animals Kissed Goodnight

Based on the sweet premise of how animals would kiss each other goodnight if they kissed like we kiss, If Animals Kissed Goodnight is an adorable book. The story includes many mother and father animals and their young, accompanied by simple yet beautiful illustrations.

2. Baby Animals

This book not only includes precious photos of baby animals, but it has touch-and-feel pages that babies and toddlers will love exploring. Baby Animals introduces children to a variety of animals from birds to bunnies and offers soft textures they will have fun feeling with their little fingers!

3. Dear Zoo

Families have adored Dear Zoo for many years thanks to its bright visuals and the mystery of lifting flaps to discover different animals from the zoo. This popular book’s repetitive language is perfect for babies and toddlers who like catchy phrases.

1. Little Horse

Little ones will delight in watching mom and dad animate Little Horse with their fingers, or trying it out themselves! The book takes readers along as Little Horse plays in the sun at the farm where he lives, with charming illustrations and a simple interactive story.

If your baby gets hooked on this book, you might introduce them to other books in the Little Finger Puppet Board Books series, such as Little Puppy and Little Crab .

2. Curious George Pat-a-Cake

Set to the pat-a-cake rhyme so many babies love, Curious George Pat-a-Cake is filled with excitement for little readers. In this book, everyone’s favorite little monkey prepares for a birthday party with text to be said in rhyme with pat-a-cake. Curious George Pat-a-Cake is the perfect way to introduce your baby to George and his antics

3. Five Little Monkeys

Five Little Monkeys is a classic rhyme for babies to bounce and eventually jump to! It features a precious finger monkey finger puppet for interactive play with babies and parents alike. A fun little twist on the classic story about the dangers of jumping on the bed.

1. Splish Splash Pop-up Fun

With bright colors and cute illustrations, Splish Splash Pop-Up Fun is a perfect book to entertain babies! Each page has a pop-up or lift-the-flap feature, encouraging discovery and exploration! Parents will appreciate the sturdy and enduring pop-up and flap elements that last through many story times

2. Colors Pop-Up Peekaboo

Babies can start to engage in playing peekaboo around 4-5 months old and will continue to love to play well into being a toddler. Colors Pop-Up Peekaboo incorporates the sweet game into a book with colorful animals and hide-and-seek. Babies will be fascinated by the anticipation of the adorable animals leaping from the page. 

3. Pop-Up Dinosaurs

A sturdy pop-up book that will last years of being read over and over again, Pop-Up Dinosaurs is sure to be a hit with your little one. This book is engaging and educational, presenting facts about dinosaurs alongside five dinosaur pop-ups. With four colorful pages, baby can memorize and look forward to each one!

1. One Fish Two Fish

Dr. Seuss books often become family treasures thanks to their memorable phrases and unique illustrations. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish is one of these treasured classics, and one of the best books for babies 6 to 12 months old, with its silly rhymes and funny and magical animals. This book is a wonderful introduction to Dr. Seuss and the imaginative world of his books.   

2. Color Zoo Board Book

Not only does the Color Zoo Board Book introduce babies to colors, but it also shows them a world of shapes and animals they’ll delight in. With die-cut pages that line up to create the shapes of many different animals, this book is both fun and educational and babies will love it.

3. My Very First Book of Shapes

With Eric Carle’s signature illustrations and the excitement of flipping its split-pages, My Very First Book of Shapes is a fantastic first shapes book for babies of any age. Parents and caregivers can help babies to align the upper page shapes with the matching bottom shape pages, and as babies get older, they can navigate matching the pages all on their own!

1. Noah’s Ark

A beautiful and simple presentation of the story of Noah’s Ark, Noah’s Ark is created especially for babies and toddlers. Along with its sharing of the lesson God’s promise, the book helps babies learn to count and get to know the colors of the rainbow. Modern illustrations and simple text make it perfect for the youngest readers.

2. In the Beginning

In the Beginning tells the story of creation with language and visuals designed just for babies. With minimal but effective text, bold and simple artwork, and sweet presentations of Adam and Eve and the earliest animals, this book is a wonderful introduction of little ones to the stories of the bible and God’s love.

3. Found: Psalm 23

The powerful message of Psalm 23 is put into words babies will learn and love in Found: Psalm 23 . This colorfully illustrated story brings Psalm 23 to life in a padded board book that is just the right size for a baby. The book is part of the series that includes the popular Jesus Storybook Bible.

1. Flora and the Flamingo

A book that little girls will cherish from baby years through school age, Flora and the Flamingo tells the whimsical story of Flora and her flamingo friend. Without any words, the sweetly feminine illustrations will engage any baby girl, and as she grows, she will love understanding how the story unfolds. 

2. Guess How Much I Love You

Guess How Much I Love You was first published more than 25 years ago and it continues to be one of the best books for babies 6 to 12 months old. The charming story of Little Nutbrown Hare captures the immense love between parents and their children, and little ones will adore the watercolor illustrations that bring the words to life.  

3. Ten, Nine, Eight

The perfect book for winding down as bedtime nears, Ten, Nine, Eight is a calming tale of a father and daughter. The wonderfully detailed illustrations and vibrant colors used throughout the book’s pages will capture baby’s attention, while the timeless story will be enjoyed for years to come. 

1. Love You Forever

If ever there was a book to bring tears to the eyes of a boy-mom, Love You Forever is it! Love You Forever tells the story of a mother’s love for her son, and his love for her as they go through life. The book’s words, though simple and paced well for reading to little ones, will resonate with any parent, while its artwork beautifully and perfectly accompany them. Love You Forever is especially wonderful as a gift for parents of a. baby boy.   

2. Buildablock

Little ones showing an early interest in trucks and machines will adore Buildablock , a fascinating board book featuring more than 24 construction machines. The book is filled with die-cut shapes that will intrigue little readers, as well as detailed illustrations they will love studying as you read to them. 

3. Where’s Spot?

Mischievous play is often synonymous with little boys, and Where’s Spot? is the perfect book for curious, growing little guys. The pages in Where’s Spot? feature lift-the-flap discoveries as readers search to find the elusive yellow puppy. The book’s simple story and illustrations make it one of the best books for babies 6 to 12 months old.

Reading to babies is a wonderful thing for parents and caregivers to do early and to do often. This list of books for babies 6 to 12 months old will give you ideas about what books you might want to start with, whether you’re getting books for your family or as a gift for others. 

With thousands of children’s books in publication, we hope these highly rated books shared in the categories we’ve provided will let you narrow down your options and find a book perfect for the baby in your life.

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30 Best Books for 6- to 12-Month-Olds

We don’t have to tell you that this is a great age. Your baby is starting to sit up or will soon; is tracking you across the room with their sweet little eyes; and the world is bursting with information and colors that fascinate them. Now that the newborn stupor is in the rearview mirror, but the toddler days are still many months away, you can connect and bond so much with your 6-12-month-old baby through reading. 

In this age range, babies no longer need high-contrast imagery to help them focus…they’re ready to explore colors! It’ll probably be some time before they learn which one is which, but it’s a perfect moment to introduce these—plus shapes, human faces, and animal types—to them. Reach for books that inspire them to move, clap, and giggle, and have a few on your shelves that prep them for bath and bedtime. Babies love exploring with their hands and mouths, so add a few soft, touch-and-feel, and lift-the-flap books to their growing collection. 

From classics that have delighted generations to newer picks you can discover together, these are our 30 favorite books for babies, ages 6 to 12 months. 

Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt

It doesn’t get any sweeter than this classic tactile baby book, with simple words and illustrations that you and your little will love.  

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox

This cute book uses the cadence of a nursery rhyme to tell a new story, complete with simple illustrations to catch your bub’s eye.

Global Babies by the Global Fund for Children

Faces are so important for your baby to look at, especially at this age when they are grasping the world around them. This beautiful book features photographs of babies from around the world, exposing littles to other cultures and a wide array of skin tones and facial features.  

See, Touch, Feel by Roger Priddy

An early sensory book geared toward young babies, the pages are bursting with texture and color to engage growing minds. 

Read to Your Baby Every Day by Rachel Williams

As the title puts it, you should aim to read to your baby every day…and this lovely book makes it easy to do so! It features appealing illustrations alongside short retellings of thirty classic nursery rhymes, making storytime seamlessly fit into your daily routine.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar: Soft Book by Eric Carle

The classic tale of the hungry caterpillar nummering up lots of snacks ahead of metamorphosis gets a baby-friendly boost with this soft version. The illustrations are plucked from the original, in a soft book form that Baby can even chew on. There are simple words to accompany the pictures, and when you introduce the real book in a few months, they’ll be ready to love it from the first page.  

Look Look! by Peter Linenthal 

A charming early board book that can be read to them before 6 months, but starts to really click now. From cars to stars, it covers lots of interesting themes for your little explorer.  

Baby Touch and Feel: Cuddly Animals

Any book in this series will delight, but the cuddly animals that cozy-up these pages make it a must. Featuring an array of textures to explore and illustrated with beautiful photographs of animals, this is sure to be among your favorites. Pro tip: It’s a great diaper bag book for entertainment on the run, as its pages can be explored independently, too. 

BabyLit Series: A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Jennifer Adams

Hand down your love of literature to your baby with the entire BabyLit series, featuring reworked classic novels into beautifully illustrated “primers” that give a loose concept of the story at hand. Starting with Shakespeare certainly can’t be a bad idea!

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin & Eric Carle

You can introduce the pared-down Baby Bear board book or cut right to the classic with your babe. A warning: your child will not tire of this book, so get ready to read it often, now and throughout the next several years.  

Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell

A classic lift-the-flap book designed to keep your little one guessing, it’s been beloved for over 30 years with sweet animals on every page. 

Five Little Monkeys by Eileen Christelow

Books that teach early rhymes are a great for kickstarting language exploration and a love of reading. And this one amps it all up with engaging illustrations to bring this much-loved story to life. We’ll bet it ends up being one your tot reaches for again and again!

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss

This classic serves up the familiar sing-song patter, colorful illustrations, and big dash of silliness that one can expect from a Dr. Seuss book. And yet, it’s still simple enough to grab a baby’s attention…making it the perfect introduction to Seuss’s work.

Pop-Up Peekaboo! Colors Board Book 

All of the Pop-Up Peekaboo! books (from Baby Animals to The Farm ) are designed to get your baby interacting with their environment, and color learning is a great place to start. With pretty images, surprise-packed flaps, and a simple story, you will both have so much fun reading this one. 

Flutter By Birdie

Not all soft books are created equally. This one is exceptionally beautiful in its aesthetic and illustrations with cute, exploratory language. A variety of textures from silky to fuzzy make it a favorite for Baby to explore on their own or in your arms.

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

It doesn’t get much sweeter than this classic story of a parent’s love. You might even tear up at times, but it’s worth it to share this beautiful story with your baby. 

First 100 Words by Roger Priddy 

Once Baby discovers their own interests (like trucks or animals) there are so many more books in this series to explore together. First 100 Words exposes them to photographs of everyday items and people with the word associated, a perfect start to their journey of speaking on their own.  

Sesame Street Beginnings

Not one book but a set of four, these adorable books for Baby introduce them to the Sesame Street gang in baby form. With soft images and sweet stories, they teach your baby about basic concepts like bathtime and animals, opening the door to lots more learning ahead with these beloved characters.  

Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang

A Caldecott winner that the whole family will love cuddling up to enjoy, this sweet counting book helps Baby get ready for bed while the story counts items and even fingers and toes.

Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill

You really can’t beat the curious little puppy and his mother on a mission in this adorable lift-the-flap book that babies and toddlers alike will enjoy. 

Baby, See the Colors Indestructible Book by Ekaterina Trukhan

Every baby’s library needs at least one indestructible book. These nontoxic books can be chewed, crinkled, and sucked on, and will not be destroyed. The pages are not even rippable, making them a go-to for toy boxes and diaper bags. See the Colors is a perfect introduction to shape and color. 

Are You My Mother? Cloth Book by PD Eastman

A precious tale that brings baby animals to life for your little one, this starter version is soft, cozy, and squishy for babies under 1. 

Moo, Baa, La La La! by Sandra Boynton  

It wouldn’t be childhood without Sandra Boynton. Her board books are sure to be fast favorites! But if we had to pick one to seed your collection, you can’t go wrong with Moo, Baa, La La La! , which offers humor, rhyming, and cute farm animals on every page.

Where is Baby’s Belly Button? by Karen Katz

It’s not too early to introduce Baby to their body! This colorful lift-the-flap book is a darling way to start. 

Little You by Richard Van Camp

A beautiful testimony to the promise and potential of every baby and child, it’s a moving and hopeful book to read to little ones of every age, starting right now. 

My First: I See You by Eric Carle

Mirrors are so important from a young age, and the 6- to 12-month range is a perfect time to start using mirrored books. Babies get to know themselves in the mirrors on each page, while lovely rhymes and pictures enhance the experience. (You can learn about the Montessori learning link and the importance of mirrors for babies here ).

Yes, Baby! Baby Signing

Introducing sign language to your baby can help exponentially with communication in these early months (and beyond!). Have fun reading and learning together with your baby using this book that highlights 25 key signs.

This Is Baby by Jimmy Fallon

Who would have thought that late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallon would become a best-selling author of children's books? If you haven’t checked them out yet, this cutie is a great place to start, teaching Baby about their body parts with clear illustrations and simple language.

Welcome to the Party by Gabrielle Union

A love letter from Mama to Baby, inspired by the author’s excited anticipation for the birth of her little one. It’s a fun, positive take on the early days with Baby, staging life as a party where the baby is the guest of honor.

Wonderful Babies by Emily Winfield Martin

A board book preamble to the beloved The Wonderful Things You Will Be , breathtaking illustrations pair with clear explanations of emotions and moods for Baby in this adorable quick read.

 More Books to Add to Your Library:

• Best Bedtime Books
• Books for a Baby's First Year
• Interactive Books
• Books About Big Emotions
• Books About Friendship  

About Jenny Studenroth Gerson

Jenny Studenroth Gerson is an Atlanta-based lifestyle journalist and novelist ( Let Me Let You Go , 2020). Her work can be seen in publications including HuffPost, Cosmo, and WSJ, among many others. Jenny has researched thousands of baby names, combed through hundreds of nursery designs, and curated dozens of baby shower guides, making her absolutely the mom—and writer—you want to talk to when planning for Baby. When not meeting deadlines, she is chasing toddlers or chugging coffee—or both! Find her on Instagram @ourlifeinrosegold for mom hacks and more.

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25 Best Baby Books for Your Baby’s First Year

By Yasmine Moussa Published: May 22, 2022 Updated: July 8, 2024 This article contains affiliate links. Please see our full affiliate policy .

We’ve selected the best baby books for babies 0-12 months of age. Start your baby’s first library with these unique baby books.

Reading to your baby is such a special experience. I always feel so connected to my kids when we read. To me, sitting in an armchair or lying on the bed and reading a few books with my kids is an expression of love. And I feel like supermom afterward because I know that it was time well spent — time invested in bonding with my kids, teaching new things, and developing their minds.

When Should You Start Reading to Your Baby?

Tips for reading to your baby, the 25 best baby books for your baby’s first year, reading to your baby age by age.

Turns out, this is backed by science. From even the earliest stages of infancy, reading is one of the most powerful ways you can influence your baby’s speech and cognitive development. But reading to your baby also plays a large role in strengthening your relationship.

Children who are read to during infancy and preschool years have better language skills…. In addition, parents who spend time reading to their children create nurturing relationships, which is important for a child’s cognitive, language and social-emotional development. – American Academy of Pediatrics

Through reading, we teach our babies about the world around them. Reading is such a magical part of childhood, so I believe it’s never too early to build your baby’s library and start reading to them. It’s a great way to connect and build your child’s language skills.

In a sea of children’s books, I’ve put together this list of the best baby books for your baby’s starter library – according to my boys. Below are our 25 favorite children’s books for your baby’s first year. We hope you find some unexpected titles you and your baby will love!

Even the youngest of babies can benefit from seeing the pictures in books and following the patterns and rhythms of your voice as you read. Even as new parents, you can start making a habit of reading to your kids as soon as they’re a few weeks old. Hearing the sound of your voice will offer so many benefits, even at this young age.

Then, once you have established some routines and gotten into a groove, introduce reading into your baby’s bedtime routine (the 4 Bs: books, bath, breastmilk or bottle, bed). And then try to stick to this daily and truly make reading a priority in your home.

I subscribe to the idea that if you aren’t reading, you aren’t learning. And this goes double for my kids!

Though your baby may not comprehend what you are saying, they will take in everything they hear and see when you read together. And before you know it, your baby will be reciting their favorite books along with you.

Here are a few tips to make reading a magical experience for you both:

• Cuddle with your baby while reading
• Make reading fun by using silly voices and an enthusiastic tone
• Give reading your undivided attention
• Read at your baby’s pace; don’t rush through a book
• Point to the pictures and talk about them
• Let them look at the pictures before you turn the page
• Let your baby touch the book if they are interested
• Don’t worry about variety; kids love repetition
• Schedule reading time into your daily routines

Related: 20+ Best Baby Songs to Sing to Your Baby

Here is my list of the 25 best baby books for your baby’s first year. It was difficult to limit this list to only 25 titles because there are so many great books from some of our favorite authors, like Caroline Jayne Church and Sandra Boynton.

But these books below will give you plenty of variety and age-appropriate reading for your baby’s first year. (Note: unless otherwise indicated, I recommend buying board books for your baby because they will last longer than traditional hardcover books.)

1) Look Look by Peter Linenthal

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Best for newborns and younger babies, Look Look is a high-contrast board book that is perfect for helping your little one develop their eyesight. My littlest gets very excited when he sees this book. It’s also a very quick read, which is perfect for babies 0-3 months of age. It’s also a great book to use during baby’s tummy time.

2) Indestructibles: Baby Faces by Kate Merritt

Indestructibles Books have to be the coolest books for babies. These baby-proof books can’t be ripped (seriously!) and can withstand even the largest puddles of drool. If they get dirty, they can be thrown in the wash. They feature bright, colorful illustrations that make this line of books one of our top picks for your baby’s home library.

While there are plenty of Indestructibles to choose from , I like the Baby Faces book because babies love looking at faces and in theory, this helps build empathy (though it might be a bit early for that). These books are short and sweet and perfect for babies 6 months of age or less, though even toddlers might like to look at them every now and then. They’re perfect for curious, little hands.

3) Ten Tiny Toes by Caroline Jayne Church

Written by one of our favorite authors, Ten Tiny Toes is a sweet ode to your baby that teaches the body parts. As always, Church’s illustrations are adorable and the rhyming text is short, sweet, and perfectly written.

4) When the World Was Waiting For You by Gillian Shields  

Any list of the best baby books would be incomplete without When the World Was Waiting For You . This is the first baby book that I bought for my oldest, and we both still love reading it three years later. This sweet, loving story tells your baby about what it was like before they were born: the excitement in the air and the eager anticipation of their arrival. This is one of my go-to baby shower gifts and a must for every baby’s library. Just a great book overall!

5) Baby Touch & Feel: Animals

Baby Touch & Feel books are great for sensory learning and exploration. With different textures for your baby to explore through touch, they help your baby develop their fine motor skills. I love the Baby Touch & Feel: Animals book in particular because it also teaches the names of many different animals as well as the sounds they make.

6) First 100 Words by Roger Priddy

A picture book that teaches your baby to identify different foods, pets and farm animals, toys, and items found around the house, First 100 Words is pretty much an essential book for babies. It teaches your baby simple words like car, duck, and dog, but in a fun and exciting way.

The images are brightly colored and the book itself is small enough to be tucked into your diaper bag . The bright colors are visually stimulating and great for babies.

7) Moo, Baa, La La La by Sandra Boynton

File this one under SILLY! Moo, Baa, La La La is a board book for babies that has fun with different animal sounds. This is one book where you can really make reading to your baby fun and silly.

8) I Love You, Daddy and I Love You, Mommy by Edie Evans

Two simple rhyming books about how much a child loves their parents, the I Love You Books are sweet and well-written. Told from the child’s perspective, they tell their parents what they like about the different activities they do together. You’ll be able to read these books with your baby well into toddlerhood.

9) Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

One of the best classic books that makes it onto nearly any list of the best baby books, Goodnight Moon is a perfect read for the end of the day. As he gets ready to sleep, a little bunny says goodnight to everything around him. The pacing is perfect, and there’s just something sweet and special about this book. This classic book is a definite must for every starter library!

Reader tip: follow the clock as the pages go on and you’ll see just how long it takes little bunny to fall asleep in this beloved, classic baby book.

10) The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton

One of many Boynton books to make this list, The Going to Bed Book is one of our favorites. It’s another great read for the end of the day that mixes in a little silliness with some soothing, calming text. We love this book!

11)  Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? by Dr. Seuss

I love silly children’s books, so it’s probably no surprise to see a Dr. Seuss book on this list. Mr. Brown can make all sorts of fun sounds; he can buzz like a bee and moo like a cow. All of these silly sounds make for one fun read! Don’t leave this one off your list.

12) I Will Love You Forever by Caroline Jayne Church

This sweet book expresses a parent’s unconditional love to your baby – from the very first moment you met them and as they continue to grow. I have to admit I usually fight back tears when I read this to my oldest. This wonderful book builds your baby’s confidence by letting them know you love them always,  unconditionally. Definitely add this one to your baby’s library.

13) Dr. Seuss’s ABC by Dr. Seuss

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This is a silly ABC book that makes little sense – but kids love it! And, I think it teaches the alphabet very effectively to babies at a very young age. If you buy this, be sure to buy the hardcover and *not* the board book because the board book has been shortened and loses some of its charm.

14) Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

This is one of our favorites! It tells the story of a little nutbrown hare who is trying to tell the big nutbrown hare just how much he loves him. He goes above and beyond to express his love. It’s so sweet and very well-written. A must have in every baby’s starter library.

15) Good Night, I Love You by Caroline Jayne Church  

Good Night, I Love You is a sweet story about getting ready for bed. From taking a bath and brushing their teeth, the little boy and girl in this story go through the bedtime routine, as told through short and sweet rhymes. It’s short enough that you could read it to a younger baby but is also appropriate for your baby well into toddlerhood.

16) Baby Happy, Baby Sad by Leslie Patricelli  

Baby Happy, Baby Sad is quite possibly one of the most underrated children’s books! Through a series of pictures, the book shows the main character (a cute, nameless baby who only wears a diaper most of the time) in different scenarios where he is either happy or sad. For example, he is happy when he is holding an ice cream cone and sad when he drops it. What I love about this book is that it is a great tool for teaching empathy. I love to explain what is happening in the photos and then ask my toddler which one he thinks the baby is sad or happy in and why.

17) Barnyard Dance! by Sandra Boynton

This book is so much fun to read! It’s a square dance song for barnyard animals, wish such lines as “Bow to the horse. Bow to the cow. Twirl with the pig if you know how.” This is a great, high-energy read that is sure to engage your baby and create lasting memories for you both.

18) Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr. and Eric Carle

On each page, we meet a new animal that describes what they see: “I see a yellow duck looking at me”. The words follow a repetitive pattern, making it a fun and educational read for your baby. I like this book for older babies, 10-12 months of age and older. I also used this to practice baby sign language with my oldest and it was very helpful.

19) God Bless You and Good Night by Hannah C. Hall

This is a sweet book that takes your baby through the bedtime routine and ends with a simple prayer: God bless you and good night. On each page, the book’s beautiful illustrations show a baby animal and their family as they are getting ready for bed.

(Have you noticed a theme with all of the bedtime books on this list? Books about bedtime – or anything else your baby has to do – are really helpful!) This is another book I like to give as a gift.

20) Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae

All Gerald the Giraffe wants to do is dance in the jungle dance, but the other animals sneer at him because he isn’t a good dancer. Giraffes Can’t Dance is a beautiful, rhyming tale of a giraffe that finds the music inside himself and learns to dance. At the end, all the animals that laughed at him want to know how he learned to dance so beautifully. It’s well-written and beautifully illustrated and is a great read for your baby as they get a little closer to turning one, and will stay a part of your baby’s library for many years.

21) Where Is Baby’s Belly Button? by Karen Katz

A simple rhyming book with flaps for your baby to lift, Where Is Baby’s Belly Button? is an interactive book that is perfect for the youngest of readers. Interactive books like this are especially engaging and fun for babies during their awake/play times; don’t use a fun book like this right before naptime.

22)  I Love You Because You’re You by Liza Baker  

This is a book that should be in every home! It expresses unconditional love to your child by explaining that you will love them no matter what: when they are happy, when they are snuggly, when they yell, when they cry, when they are sick, and when they are silly. This is such an important concept to communicate to children and I find that this book does it perfectly.

If there were a perfect book for babies and toddlers, perhaps this would be it!

23) A to Z by Sandra Boynton  

I love teaching the alphabet through books, and A to Z is a short, fun, and simple book that gets the job done. I like reading this to my kids when they are even just a few months old. It’s so fun that it doesn’t really feel like you’re “teaching”.

24) Five Little Ducks by Raffi

This is a sing-along book for the “Five Little Ducks” song. (“Five little ducks went out one day, over the hills and far away…”). I love singing along to the pretty illustrations and it’s a fun book to read with your little one. We also love Raffi’s baby songs .

Based on the classic nursery rhyme, Five Little Ducks is sure to build wonderful memories for you and your littles!

25)  You Made Me a Mother by Laurenne Sala

Buy on Amazon

Another book I like to gift at baby showers , You Made Me a Mother is one of the most beautifully written children’s books. Told from the perspective of the mom, it expresses just how much a mom loves her baby. It is so beautiful and so perfectly expresses the overwhelming emotion that sums us motherhood, that it makes me cry every time I read it. 

You Might Also Like: The Best Bedtime Stories for Children

Reading with your baby will look a little different as they grow from stage to stage.

Newborns (0-3 Months): When your baby is in the newborn stage from months 0-3, they will be growing rapidly and adjusting to their new environment outside of the womb. Reading gives them an opportunity to help develop their eyesight, so board books with high-contrast colors such as red, black, and white will be visually stimulating and appropriate for this age. Sit on an armchair with your baby during their awake times and read 1-2 books per day. Let your baby have a chance to look at the pictures.

4-6 Months: During this stage, your baby will be more alert and attuned to the world around them. They’ll be more interactive than in the newborn stage, and will have become familiar with your daily activities and routines. (This is one of my favorite stages!) Reading begins to take on a more important role in your baby’s day and they’ll love seeing vivid colors and bright pictures. At this stage, you could introduce short board books with 1-2 sentences per page. Your little one will be captivated by what they see and will be exploring the world around them by touching things and putting them in their mouth – including books. Let them play with durable board books, Indestructibles, and sensory books that have different textures they can play with.

7-9 Months: During this stage, your baby will be more mobile and will show more interest in reading with you. This is a great time to begin introducing picture books that teach animals, colors, and more. Babies also love to look at faces, so this is the perfect age to read picture books with pictures of babies. At this age, your baby may not be able to sit still for very long so try to read to them in short increments throughout the day.

10-12 Months: As your baby gets closer to their first birthday, they will become more engaged with what you are reading. They might be a wiggle worm who loves to move around but you can still get in plenty of reading together because their attention span is growing. This is the age I like to bring some teaching books like an alphabet book or some longer stories with more words.

Still, I like to read above my children’s reading level so I would read any of the books to my baby from about 3 months on.

Did you find some great books for your baby? It was hard to choose just 25, but that does it for my list of the 25 best baby books for your baby’s first year.

If you’d like to look at books beyond baby’s first year, I would encourage you to buy the full collection of Laura Numeroff “If You Give” books as well as other favorites like “ Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site ” and “ The Very Hungry Caterpillar “. They are fun and silly and very toddler-friendly. You can also check out our recommendations for the best toddler books .

What are some of your favorite baby books? Let me know in the comments! I hope you found some new gems to add to your baby’s library. And I wish you lots of baby snuggles and reading time together.

You Might Also Like:

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Founder and Chief Mama Officer of The Gentle Nursery. Yasmine is the founder of The Gentle Nursery as well as the CEO of Biomeology , a prenatal wellness company. She is a wife, proud mom of two boys, a graduate of the University of Southern California, and a Functional Nutrition Coach. With a 10-year background in research, analytics, and leadership for a Fortune 100 company, Yasmine applies the same principles and attention to detail to every article she writes and researches.

Reader Interactions

October 12, 2018 at 11:15 pm

Thanks a lot for this list! Look,Look is great for tummy time! And I was able to find Guess how much I love you in French and English and Leo loves it.

October 14, 2018 at 7:34 am

Awesome! So glad it’s helpful ????

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40 Best Baby Books for Baby's First Year

Our selects include best-selling classics, new releases and even a few that can be personalized.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Studies show it's never too early to start reading the best children's books to infants. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics notes that reading baby books out loud to your kids starting from birth strengthens your parent-child bond and gets your baby started on important language and literacy skills. And in truth, it doesn’t matter what you read to your babies: Just hearing any words will get them the foundations for a later vocabulary, and it’s the lap-sitting, not the book choice, that makes for good bonding time. You could read your to-do list for the week, and it wouldn’t matter to a baby. But it does matter to you, because reading a to-do list isn't that much fun. And instead there's a world of fantastic baby books with wonderful illustrations, innovative interactive features, ingenious wordplay and great read-aloud rhythms, all available at your fingertips. You might even get to learn a thing or two about quantum physics while you're it. Add the best baby books to your child's home library, and get ready for snuggly story time. (Bonus: They also make for great baby gifts .)

Cottage Door Press Feelings

At first, your child will just get a kick out of seeing their own face in the mirror. As they get older, the book gives prompts like, "Little lion looks so happy! Can you look happy, too?" which gets them to explore their emotions.

Cartwheel Books Count to LOVE!

This book offers sweet, rhyming instructions, like, "Count to LOVE on your fingers and toes. 1-2-3-4 touch your nose." Your baby will love watching you play along!

Sourcebooks Explore 8 Little Planets

Sure, babies may not remember this book's rhyming facts about our solar system, but, staring at the smiling faces of all the celestial bodies, they'll still have a good time.

RELATED: 20 Books All Students Should Read Before They Turn 18

Nosy Crow Peekaboo: House

For kids who love to get their hands into things, this book features a sliding mechanism on every page that reveals a surprise. Plus, the reveals are usually adorable, courtesy of illustrator Ingela P. Arrhenius.

Little Simon All the World

This book combines simple, rhyming text with Caldecott Honor-winning pictures. It's a snapshot of a day told with so much depth you won't tire of it.

Roaring Brook Press Dishwasher's Big Job (The Big Jobs Books)

At Good Housekeeping , we love our appliances , but Steven Weinberg just might love them more. His books — Dishwasher's Big Job , Fridge and Oven's Big Job and Washer and Dryer's Big Job — are all love letters to the machines that make our homes run. And babies also love the googly eyes!

Little Simon Once Upon a World

If you're sick of seeing the same style of illustrations for the same fairy tales over and over, the Once Upon a World series is the antidote. It sets common fairy tales in specific locations: Rapunzel escapes from a tower in India, Snow White hikes through the woods of Japan, Cinderella attends a ball in Mexico and The Little Mermaid swims in the waters of the Caribbean.

Candlewick Where Is Little Fish?

Little Fish is hiding, and babies get to check under flaps to find him and his fishy friends. The brightly colored coral, shells and seaweed they conceal themselves in makes for a happy hide-and-seek book. It's by Lucy Cousins , who delights preschoolers with her Maisy books.

Little Bee Books Bath! Bath! Bath!

Bath time, like story time, could be a cherished part of the nighttime routine. This book uses rhyming lines with lots of repetition to celebrate the joys of the tub.

duopress TummyTime: Happy Baby

Tummy time is hard for babies. This book folds out like an accordion, so you can stand it up in front of your baby for some extra motivation to pick that head up. The illustrations are a mix of high-contrast black-and-white patterns, images of smiling babes and mirrored pages so your baby can gaze at her own reflection.

RELATED: The 40 Children's Books That Belong in Every Family Library

duopress One, Two, Three Dim Sum

For a delicious twist on a counting book, this board book lets kids count the offerings at a dim sum outing, starting with one menu. (Five egg rolls, please!) The words are written in both Mandarin and English.

Kokila Antiracist Baby

Research shows that babies as young as 3 months already recognize race, so it really is never too early to start conversations about anti-racism . This board book, written by Ibram X. Kendi, the Founding Director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, offers nine steps to becoming an antiracist baby.

Little Simon The Going-to-Bed Book

You really can't go wrong with any board book by the great Sandra Boynton . (And there are so, so many of them.) But this book follows animals as they get ready for bed, so it might inspire your little one to get some shut-eye, too.

Clarion Books I Love Us: A Book About Family

This books shows how there's many ways to be a family, and how families have different routines for everything from getting breakfast in the morning to celebrating special occasions. It also comes with a mirror surprise and a fill-in family tree.

Lil' Libros First 100 Words in English and Spanish

Start building that baby vocabulary! This board book's sweet illustrations are labeled with both English and Spanish words, so your baby can get double the vocab out of the same number of pages.

LB Kids Think Big Little One

If you want to feel inspired about your baby's future, pick up this book, which introduces kids to 18 different inspiring women, like Disney artist Mary Blair, musician Sister Rosetta Tharpe or scientist Wang Zhenyi. There's also Follow Your Dreams, Little One , which features figures like tennis star Arthur Ashe, civil rights leader John Lewis and dancer Alvin Ailey.

Dutton Books for Young Readers Look, Look!

Newborns only see black, white and gray at first, which makes these high-contrast, black-and-white pictures all the more engaging to young eyes.

Cartwheel Books You Are My Cupcake

Ultra-adorable illustrations make this book feel like a sweet treat. Each page is another delicious term of endearment, like sweet pea or pumpkin — all with happy, smiling faces.

Nosy Crow Where's the Astronaut?

This book combines two things kids love: outer space and hide-and-seek. You look for extra-terrestrial elements on the pages, finding them under the flaps of the book. ("Where's the space dog? Here he is!")

Candlewick Oh No, George!

George the Dog tries to be good while his owner is out, but just can't stop himself from chasing the cat and making a mess. If your child is too young to glean the themes of self-control and restraint, they'll still love the doggie mayhem — most of which end with a chorus of, "Oh no, George!"

Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; she previously wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother . She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found dominating the audio round at her local bar trivia night or tweeting about movies.

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10+ Of Our Favorite Books For 6 Month-Olds to 12 Month-Olds

Reading with babies that are 6 months-old to 12 months-old can be so much fun and there is a HUGE selection out there of fabulous books for this age group.  They include everything form bright illustrations to touch-and-feel aspects that are wonderful.  Below is a list of ten of our favorite books for this age group.  They have been tried and tested over and over again in our home and we hope that you find a few new favorites yourself.  Enjoy!

*this post contains affilaite links

“Good Night, Gorilla”  by Peggy Rathmann- I have read this book 800 kazillion times.  Honestly.  Our copy is so well loved that it has been taped back together with packing tape not one time, but two times.  It may need a third here eventually…

If you are looking for story time tips for this age group or tips on what books to read then check out these posts: story time tips , tips on what books to read .

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Best books for babies 0-12 months

Babies love snuggling up close with you and listening to the sound of your voice.

Newborn babies in particular often love high-contrast images such as black-and-white patterns. As they get a little bit older, they’re likely to be fascinated by photos of other babies and gentle rhymes.

Here's a selection of fantastic books to try with your baby.

You might also like...

Best Books for 1-year-olds ;  Best Books for 2-year-olds ;  Best Books for 3-year-olds ;  Best Books for 4-year-olds ;  Best Books for 5-year-olds

Tummy Time!

Author: n/a

Interest level: 0-1

Reading age:

This lovely stand-up book contains pictures of a variety of baby faces and two mirrors. Ideal for tummy time, babies can look at t…

Playtime: A Tummy Time Play Book for Babies

Author: Mama Makes Books

A delightful book to play with when it's propped in front of a baby.

Cuddly Ladybird

Author: Ingela P. Arrhenius

Interest level: 2-3

Lift the colourful felt flaps to reveal black and white animals. T his cuddly cloth book is perfect for sharing with little babies …

Baby’s First Stories

Author: Lily Murray Illustrator: Jane Foster

A charming board book for babies from birth to three months old. Great for encouraging the early bonding experiences between careg…

Amazing Baby: Black and White

Author: Emma Dodd

Turn the cut-out pages of this excellent black-and-white baby book and discover spotty frogs, stripy bees and even a sleepy teddy …

Babies Laugh at Tickles

Author: Dr Caspar Addyman Illustrator: Ania Simeone

A delightful board book depicting lots of giggling babies. With an irresistible sound button to press.   

Author: Nicola Smee

Interest level: 0-3

Cat, Dog, Pig and Duck all want a ride on Mr Horse. Once on board, they want to go faster and faster.. but will that lead to disas…

Peekaboo Bear

Author: Camilla Reid Illustrator: Ingela P Arrhenius

Add new elements to a game of peekaboo with this exciting board book that has 9 sliders and a mirror for hours of interactive enjo…

Goodnight Moon

Author: Margaret Wise Brown & Clement Herd

Margaret Wise Brown's comforting, rhythmical text makes Goodnight Moon a timeless picture book, which is known and loved around th…

Little Truck

Author: Taro Gomi

Little Truck is eager to get ahead but he needs the help of his ever-watchful parent when he gets tired. A cute and concise story …

Where’s Mr Lion?

Author: Ingela Arrhenius

Interest level: 0-2

Five beautifully illustrated spreads show a series of friendly savannah animals hiding behind bright felt flaps. You're in for a t…

Where's Spot?

Author: Eric Hill

This adorable board book about Spot the dog is the first in the Spot series

Everywhere Babies

Author: Susan Meyers Illustrator: Marla Frazee

This gorgeous board book follows all sorts of babies – 'small babies, tall babies, winter and spring babies' – over the cours…

Look Out! Hungry Snake: A hide-and-seek flap book

Author: Paul Delaney

This lovely lift-the-flap book – with good, thick pages and flaps–  is colourful and playful, and introduces little ones…

Author: Robie H Harris Illustrator: Natascha Rosenberg

This board book will delight babies who love to look at pictures of other babies. Each page asks ‘Who?’ and then answers with a di…

Each Peach Pear Plum

Author: Allan Ahlberg Illustrator: Janet Ahlberg

Interest level: 0-4

This classic book from author and illustrator team Janet and Allan Ahlberg is a real favourite with families

Best 6 Month Old Books for Early Learning

As little ones blossom from infancy into curious explorers, the best 6 month old books become invaluable tools in their developmental treasury. The period between six and twelve months is ripe with potential, with babies keenly attuned to their burgeoning senses and newfound abilities. An array of educational books for 6 month olds awaits, each designed to captivate, nurture, and enchant those rapidly expanding minds. Parents who are on a quest for the most popular books for 6 month olds can delight in the abundance of options—from the softest sensory books to the most colorful board books—each promising to be a gateway to discovery and joy.

Table of Contents

Key takeaways, importance of introducing colors and shapes, the role of human faces and animal types in early learning, selecting books that encourage movement and interaction, top sensory books for 6 month olds, combining classic nursery rhymes with engaging illustrations, why rhyme and repetition matter, lift-the-flap and textured books, sound books: listening and learning fun, 6 month old books for bedtime routines, fostering a lifetime love for reading, fitting storytime seamlessly into daily routines, educational books for 6 month olds: foundations of learning, time-tested classics and modern must-haves, what makes a baby book popular and endearing, developmental books for early learners: a focus on growth, source links.

• Books for 6 month olds serve as a cornerstone for visual and sensory development.
• Educational content for this age should prioritize vibrant visuals and tactile experiences.
• The most popular baby books often combine classic narratives with engaging, modern illustrations.
• It’s essential for children’s books to drive cognitive development through interactive play.
• Reading at this stage sets the stage for lifelong learning and a deep love for literature.
• Choosing the right books can help cater to an infant’s growing curiosity about the world around them.
• Storytime is not just about reading—it’s about bonding, exploring, and growing together.

The Magic of Reading to Your 6 Month Old

Embarking on the literary journey with your infant is an enchanting experience that lays the groundwork for future growth and development. As babies advance through the half-year mark, the literary landscape expands to feature an array of developmental books for 6 month olds , brimming with color, interaction, and exploration.

Integrating books that illuminate the world in a kaleidoscope of shapes and colors is more than mere entertainment; it’s a strategy to ignite cognitive development and visual tracking skills. Such stimulating visual content captivates and holds the attention of little ones, fostering their burgeoning curiosity and understanding.

The stark contrasts that once held your baby’s gaze are now the foundations upon which a more vivid world is constructed. Through interactive books for 6 month olds , the introduction of varied hues and geometries is not just visually stimulating; it’s vital for their perception of the encompassing environment.

Recognizing the human visage and diverse fauna is an intrinsic part of a child’s early social and environmental understanding. Illustrated with care and precision, books featuring faces and animals serve as mirrors to reality, helping infants in making sense of the world’s complex tapestry of creatures and cultures.

The act of reaching out to touch a textured surface or to turn a flap encourages physical engagement that harmonizes with mental stimulation. Books that promote clapping, pointing, and babbling play a dynamic role in physical coordination and language acquisition, defining a holistic learning encounter for the child.

For parents seeking the right 6 month old books , those brimming with interactivity, colorful imagery, and the essence of nature’s variety, mark the essential next chapter in their child’s educational odyssey. Striking the delicate balance between enjoyment and education, the selected reads nurture not only the intellect but the bond between parent and child in these formative months.

When it comes to nurturing a baby’s burgeoning senses, sensory books for 6 month olds stand out as essential tools for development. These books offer a tapestry of tactile experiences—smooth, bumpy, soft, and everything in between—drawing little ones into a world of exploration. Beyond the tactile, these colorful books engage vision, promoting an understanding of the vibrant environment around them. With interactive books for 6 month olds , parents can deepen the sensory experience, offering opportunities for babies to grip, turn, and even taste these literary delights.

The tactile journey that baby books for 6 month olds offer is foundational for sensory development. The variation in materials used in these books sparks curiosity, leading babies to discover how different surfaces feel and sound. This multi-sensory approach does more than entertain; it opens gateways to cognitive pathways that are forming during this crucial developmental period.

Babies are instinctively drawn to new sensory stimuli, which makes these carefully curated sensory books for 6 month olds an indispensable addition to any infant’s library. Each page turn is an invitation to engage, eliciting giggles and surprises as they make contact with the unexpected. Notably, the resilience of such interactive books allows for a worry-free exploration, ensuring durability even in the most curious of little hands (and mouths).

The simple act of reading paired with sensory stimulation strengthens the bond between parent and child—a connection underscored by mutual discovery. This formative experience not only enriches their sensory repertoire but fortifies the emotional ties that make these moments inextricably woven into the fabric of early childhood development. By incorporating sensory books for 6 month olds into daily routines, parents pave the way for meaningful sensory and interactive play that sets the stage for lifelong learning.

Board Books to Nurture Early Language Development

For parents and educators, the significance of board books for 6 month olds in nurturing the initial stages of language development cannot be overstated. At this pivotal point in a child’s growth, the introduction of literature is not simply to entertain but to lay a profound foundation for language and communication skills. These foundational developmental books for 6 month olds serve as more than just a medium for storytelling; they are precursors to linguistic proficiency and childhood literacy.

Classic nursery rhymes have stood the test of time, nurturing generations of children through their formative years. These rhymes become even more powerful when paired with vibrant, engaging illustrations. The visual stimuli of these illustrations in best books for 6 month olds bolster children’s imaginations and augment the rhythmic cadences of the rhymes. This combination supports memory retention, ensures the enjoyment of the reading experience, and helps build a connection to the written word that will last well into their later years.

When it comes to early childhood education, rhyme and repetition are principles that resonate deeply within the framework of learning. Rhymes within the board books for 6 month olds showcase a playful use of language and sound, creating a natural yearning for speech and auditory exploration. The repetitive nature of these rhymes fortifies neural pathways, making it simpler for young children to grasp the basics of language structure and phonetics. The act of repetition also brings rhythm and predictability to the reading process, a comfort to the young listener and an aid in the natural acquisition of language.

As a practical example, the cherished book “The Wheels on the Bus” – with its recurring phrases and melodic meter – becomes more than just a singalong favorite; it’s a potent tool for cultivating early speech and auditory discrimination. Similarly, “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” provides an opportunity to engage with the predictability of repeating sentences alongside the curiosity of anticipating which animal will appear next, fostering both conversational skills and creative anticipation.

The continued popularity and efficacy of nursery rhyme board books for 6 month olds are due in no small part to their inherent ability to make language fun, accessible, and memorable. By incorporating these carefully selected developmental books for 6 month olds into their daily routine, parents provide their infants with the key for unlocking the treasure of language, setting the stage for the many wonders of literacy that lie ahead.

Interactive Books for 6 Month Olds

As infants reach the half-year mark, the world of interactive books for 6 month olds opens up, offering rich experiences that stimulate their growing senses and developing motor skills. These educational books for 6 month olds not only provide delightful storytelling but also facilitate essential developmental milestones through engaging and playful interaction.

Lift-the-flap and textured books are a staple in the library of little learners. This type of 6 month old books is specifically designed to encourage curiosity and fine motor skill development. By lifting flaps, babies learn the concept of cause and effect and nurture their spatial awareness, while different textures under their fingertips support tactile exploration and sensory processing.

Interactive elements in books for 6 month olds provide an immersive literary playground where infants can experience the joy of discovery with each turn of the page.

Below is a selection of books that incorporate these interactive features, empowering parents and caregivers to create a dynamic reading environment:

Sound books present an auditory adventure for young ears, blending colorful illustrations with real-life sounds. These interactive books for 6 month olds bring stories to life and support language acquisition through hearing and identification. By pressing buttons and hearing corresponding noises, babies build associative skills between sounds and the images they see, a crucial step in auditory and cognitive development.

• Sounds of farm animals can teach babies to match noises with visuals of the respective creatures.
• Nursery rhyme books with built-in sound modules encourage children to engage with rhythm and melody.
• Nature sounds integrated into stories can expand an infant’s awareness of the world beyond their immediate surroundings.

The incorporation of sounds into reading time amplifies the sensory experience, making it a fun and rewarding activity that can captivate and teach simultaneously. Such books are designed to enchant and educate, setting little ones on an early path of auditory discovery and a growing appreciation for the soundscapes of storytelling.

Establishing a bedtime routine is integral to the development of young infants, providing them with the comfort and predictability needed for a restful night. Among the array of tools parents use to craft these routines, 6 month old books reign as a tranquil cornerstone, seamlessly blending education with relaxation. The best books for 6 month olds at bedtime are those that envelop the nightscape in a gentle lull, carrying both caregiver and child through a world of serene narratives and soothing visuals.

In the quiet moments before sleep, the rhythmic cadence of parental voices reading aloud from board books for 6 month olds becomes a signal to wind down, as eyes flutter to the lilt of soft-spoken words and tender illustrations. This nightly tradition not only fosters an environment conducive to sleep but also instills a nascent love for reading and a companionship with books.

“Books at bedtime create a sanctuary of calm, guiding babies through dreamscapes of imagination before they drift into slumber.”

Bedtime books often feature counting sequences or tales of nighttime wonder, gently nudging babies toward the land of dreams while subtly reinforcing cognitive skills. Such books are cherished not just for their narrative but for the whisper of numbers, the turn of pages—a ballet of senses towards sleep.

The potent blend of narrative charm and educational subtlety found in the best books for 6 month olds makes them not just a tool for teaching but a rite of passage into a world where learning and leisure converge under the calming veil of night. As infants grow, the stories read at bedtime become interwoven with their own dreams, memories, and the irreplaceable warmth of time spent in the glow of a reading light, deepening the roots of lifelong learning engraved within these quiet moments.

6 Month Old Books: Starting the Journey of Reading

The introduction of baby books for 6 month olds marks the early chapters in a child’s lifelong journey with literature. These first pages read to an infant can spark an enduring affinity for storytelling, knowledge, and imagination that stretches far beyond these formative years. As babies grow more aware of their surroundings and develop their cognitive abilities, the books we share with them become key tools for discovery and bonding.

To guide little ones on this path, books lined with cuddly characters and tales reflecting simple life routines are instrumental. Best books for 6 month olds fit effortlessly into the nooks and crannies of daily life, allowing storytime to harmoniously intersect with bath time, mealtime, or playtime. This integration instils a love for reading at the earliest opportunity and fortifies a routine that interweaves learning with life’s simplest moments.

By introducing sensory books for 6 month olds , parents can spark a profound appreciation for the textures, sounds, and colors that books offer. Embracing tales that center around familiar experiences or endearing creatures makes the act of reading all the more personal and enjoyable, which is essential in creating positive associations with books for a lifetime.

Within the myriad activities that make up an infant’s day, reading often becomes a heartwarming interlude. Carefully chosen 6 month old books that mirror daily tasks not only provide contextually relevant narratives but also pave the way for literacy to be housed within the framework of regular activities. The result? Storytime becomes a treasured ritual, eagerly anticipated by parent and child alike.

The rhythmic lull of a parent’s voice reading aloud can weave itself into the fabric of early memories, culminating in a deep-rooted love for the stories shared and the moments spent together in literary wonder.

The journey of learning begins in the earliest stages of life, with educational books for 6 month olds playing a critical role. For a baby, each book is a treasury of new concepts, medley of colors, and ensemble of shapes that cultivate a rich sensory and learning environment. When these elements come together in developmental books for 6 month olds , they create a vibrant symphony that sings to curious young minds, heightening their understanding and fostering word recognition.

Illustrations in vivid detail are more than mere decoration; they are an integral part of the learning process, forming clear connections in the baby’s mind between words and the wondrous world around them. Engaging their visual senses, board books for 6 month olds often incorporate everyday scenes and items, serving as visual aids to accompany the gentle rhythm of parental narration.

Language development at this stage is particularly receptive to the strategic introduction of sign language, which is a visual means of communication that supplements and enriches verbal development.

Books with simple language and clear imagery lay down pathways in a baby’s brain, setting the stage for a lifelong journey of learning and discovery.

The table below presents a selection of highly-regarded educational books designed for infants, focusing on their content and the ways in which they support foundational learning:

A well-chosen book can offer more than just time for cooing and cuddling—it’s an integral part of sensory and language development for a 6-month-old. With the turn of every page, babies expand their understanding, laying down the building blocks for future verbal and visual comprehension. Parents who diligently select educational books for 6 month olds ensure a robust foundation of learning that promises benefits extending far beyond these tender months.

Popular Books for 6 Month Olds: Parental Favorites

As young families navigate the literary landscape, they often find themselves returning to the cozy nooks of time-tested tales and the fresh horizons of modern must-haves. These popular books for 6 month olds have cemented their place in the hearts of families, resonating through their charming narratives and the tender bonds they forge between parent and child.

There is an undeniable charm in sharing a book with your little one that you, too, once enjoyed as a child. This nostalgic journey through 6 month old books stands as a tribute to the enduring magic of stories passed down through generations. Yet, the allure of discovering new titles together refreshes the joy of reading and adds to the rich tapestry of a child’s growing world.

Among the myriad of options, certain books have become staples in nurseries across the globe. They continue to be chosen not only for their delightful content but also for their ability to support developmental milestones synonymous with half a year of growth.

The criteria for what makes a book a favorite among the myriad of best books for 6 month olds are as varied as the little readers themselves. Nonetheless, certain attributes consistently capture the adulation of parents and the curiosity of babies.

• Endearing Characters: Relatable and charming characters spark imagination and emotional connection.
• Repetitive, Soothing Cadences: The rhythm and repetition within these books bring comfort and familiarity, key ingredients for an infant’s auditory development.
• Vivid Illustrations: Bright and engaging pictures not only catch the eye of young readers but also support visual tracking and cognitive recognition.
• Interactive Elements: Features like flaps, textures, and sounds transform reading time into an immersive, multi-sensory experience.

Moreover, the popularity of a book among six-month-old readers is often a testament to its appeal to the caregivers as well. The bond that reading creates, as families explore stories together, is what truly elevates a book to the status of ‘favorite’.

Below is a curated selection of books that have won the hearts of countless families, offering worlds of wonder for six-month-olds eager to touch, see, and hear.

The common thread among these cherished selections is their ability to engage, soothe, and educate. Each turn of the page is an opportunity to deepen the connection between the reader and the listener, bridging generations through the beautiful simplicity of a well-told tale.

The landscape of developmental books for 6 month olds is fertile ground for the seeds of early learning, nurturing both cognitive and emotional development in burgeoning young minds. These volumes are expressly designed with interactive elements that do more than just amuse; they cultivate crucial developmental milestones. Mirrors hidden within their pages do not merely reflect a baby’s image; they support burgeoning self-recognition and bolster awareness of the ‘self’ in the context of the broader world.

Educators and parents place high value on educational books for 6 month olds that engage infants in a broader dialogue with their environment. Cultural representation in these books is essential, offering a spectrum of skin tones, facial features, and a plethora of human emotions to explore. It’s an approach that doesn’t just educate but enriches young lives with empathy, making inclusiveness and diversity part of their early mold of understanding. Moreover, such books act as an interactive bridge connecting little ones to a world pulsating with varied emotions, and human conditions, encouraging them to recognize and embrace the multitude of expressions reflected back at them.

Beyond the aesthetics and tactile allure, interactive books for 6 month olds are fundamentally about growth. They serve as a microcosm of the world—an exhibit of nature, humanity, and the emotions that intertwine our lives. These books are more than mere pastime; they present a dynamic and interactive experience that supports the cultivation of a well-rounded, empathetic, and culturally aware individual. In the tender months of infancy, these books are invaluable companions that guide tiny learners along their early, exploratory paths toward responsible global citizenry and self-discovery.

What makes the best books for 6 month olds?

The best books for 6 month olds are those that cater to their developmental milestones and reading levels, such as board and sensory books with bright colors, simple illustrations, tactile experiences, and repetitive, rhyming text to nurture their curiosity and language skills.

Why are educational books important for 6 month olds?

Educational books for 6 month olds introduce basic concepts like colors, shapes, and numbers, and can include elements like photographs, simple language, and even sign language, laying essential foundations for learning and advancing language development.

What makes a book popular with 6 month olds and their parents?

Books become popular among this age group and their parents when they feature relatable characters, endearing stories, and soothing, repetitive cadences that appeal to both. Parental nostalgia and the potential for bonding over storytime also contribute to a book’s popularity.

How can reading introduce colors and shapes to a 6 month old?

Reading books with vibrant colors and clear shape depictions draws the attention of 6 month olds and helps them distinguish different visual patterns, fostering their recognition skills, which is a critical aspect of their visual development.

Why include books with human faces and animals in a 6 month old’s reading list?

Books with human faces and animals help 6 month olds recognize and differentiate between various facial structures, skin tones, and types of creatures, supporting their cognitive development and understanding of the diversity in the world around them.

How can books encourage movement and interaction for 6 month olds?

Books that include elements like flaps to lift and textures to touch engage 6 month olds in physical activity, enhancing their motor skills. Interactive books also promote cause-and-effect learning when babies make movements in response to the book’s features.

What are the best sensory books for 6 month olds?

Sensory books ideal for 6 month olds provide various textures, colors, and interactive elements such as flaps and mirrors. These elements offer tactile experiences that stimulate the child’s senses and support their sensory development.

What is the role of classic nursery rhymes in early language development?

Classic nursery rhymes in books serve an important role in early language development by familiarizing infants with the sounds and rhythms of language. The repetition helps with memory retention and laying the groundwork for future reading and speaking skills.

Why do lift-the-flap and textured books appeal to 6 month olds?

Lift-the-flap and textured books captivate 6 month olds because of the surprise element and the tactile experience they offer. Engaging with these books fosters curiosity, encourages exploration, and enhances hand-eye coordination.

How do sound books support a 6 month old’s auditory learning?

Sound books enrich a 6 month old’s auditory learning by coupling lifelike sounds with images, helping to establish connections between the sounds they hear and the corresponding visuals, which promotes auditory recognition and cognitive development.

Why are books important for a 6 month old’s bedtime routine?

Incorporating books into a 6 month old’s bedtime routine can provide comfort and a sense of routine, while gently introducing educational concepts like numbers and narratives, aiding in winding down and preparing for sleep in a soothing manner.

How can reading foster a lifelong love of literature?

By introducing enjoyable and relevant books early on in a child’s life and embedding reading into daily routines, parents can create positive associations with books, fostering a lifelong love for reading and literature.

How does fitting storytime into daily routines benefit a 6 month old?

Integrating storytime into daily activities such as mealtime or bath time normalizes reading, making it a familiar and anticipated part of a child’s day. This consistent exposure to books cultivates an early habit of reading and learning.

What are some developmental goals that books for 6 month olds can support?

Books for 6 month olds can support developmental goals like language acquisition, sensory exploration, emotional understanding, and cognitive growth, including self-awareness, concept of cause-and-effect, and familiarity with diversity and inclusivity.

• https://www.happiestbaby.com/blogs/baby/best-books-6-to-12-months
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/article/best-baby-books/
• https://bookswithbaby.com/2020/11/16/12-of-the-best-interactive-books-for-babies-and-toddlers/

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The Perpetual Page-Turner

Book Recommendations and Book Lists For Adults And Kids

Our Favorite Books For Babies Under 1 (0-12 months)

February 24, 2022 - Updated April 6, 2022 // 20 Comments

As a book lover who has been obsessed with books since I was little, it was really important for me to try and cultivate a love for books in Riley. Books have meant so much in my life and I hope one day they will mean a lot to her as well.

It was so important to me to read to her from as early as I could manage for many reasons aside from just wanting to cultivate that love for reading early.

From the developmental benefits to the fact they entertained her visually to the wonderful bonding and snuggling time reading gave us — it’s just an all around good idea to read with your baby!

All that being said, I’d love to share some of our favorite books that I think are great books to read with baby if you are looking to make it a part of your daily routine and life as well and are in need of some good books for babies!

It’s a good thing I am meticulous about keeping track of everything we read (with little notes sometimes!) so that I can reference them when I inevitable wait forever to share about what books we love in each stages.

If I tried to rely on my memory this post of our best books for babies under 1 would be incredibly difficult to write. So let’s get to it!

I often get asked, “ What kind of books are the best kind to read to your baby? “

At the basic level, whenever people ask me what are good books to read to babies, I’m Team honestly just read anything to them to start with. I think it’s just excellent for them to hear language and be read to in general — so read whatever picture books you have on hand. Don’t be worried about if it’s the “right” one.

But did I absolutely look for and read developmentally or age appropriate books for a baby? Yes . I absolutely did. But don’t let being unsure of that prevent you from just reading — even if it’s too long or over their head.

Just read to your baby — from as early an age as you can manage it.

( Sidenote : I always had people asking me when I started reading to Riley and I remember just pulling out some short board books we had maybe at 2 weeks while she was in my arms — more so for myself to ground me during this time of postpartum anxiety and transition. But obviously also to start our lifelong habit of reading haha).

Anyways, I had two types of books basically to read to her when she was an infant under 1 years old:

1) things that were supposed to be developmentally appropriate or like “first concept” type books or anything that reinforced that early language especially in the 6-12 month range as she started to associate things in books with the world around her.

2) any short-ish board book that would hold her attention because of the pictures/rhythm (or whatever seemed to captivate her about it) even if the story went over her head at the time. I loved books like this because most of the time they would really grow with her. What interested her about the book at 6 months would be different 6 months or a year later.

There were definitely things that I looked for when trying to specifically choose books to get from the library or to buy to hope they’d be on par with her age and development. Things like:

• books that weren’t TOO busy illustration wise
• bold & colorful illustrations
• nothing too wordy
• repetition, repetition, repetition (seriously books that have repetition are great fun for this age)
• good rhythms or like anything that felt “bouncy” or fun when I was reading it (I can’t explain that one — I just knew it when I found it haha)
• anything tactile
• anything interactive

[Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links which means that if you click on a link and purchase something I’ve talked about or recommended, I’ll receive a very small percentage of the sale. Please see my disclosure policy for more info.

If you want to take the guesswork out of it, after taking the recommendations below, I highly recommend a book subscription box for kids like Bookroo or Reading Bug Box as they are so adept at picking great age-appropriate books for babies (and beyond).

Don’t forget to check out these other great books for babies:

• Best lift the flap books
• Best black & white high contrast books for babies
• best Christmas books for babies
• best Fall books for babies & toddlers
• Best Books For 1 Year Olds
• best bedtime books for babies

Tips For Reading To Babies

While Riley is my only kid, I read a lot to the kids I nannied as well as my many nieces and nephews and I feel like those experience really shaped these tips experiencing different kids with different attention spans and different enjoyment of books.

• keeping it short and being okay with calling it early if she seemed squirmy
• be okay with reading the same books over and over and over again. There were some books that made me want to chuck them in the trash if I had to read them one more time but they really get so much out of reading them over again. Once I tried to remember she was learning from the experience, it helped not bug me as much.
• reminding myself that books that I think are boring AF might captivate her attention or be really good for her learning things even if I’m bored of these spread with one or two words on them.
• let them explore the book — sometimes Riley would just want to take it out of my hand or she’d want to linger on a page or go back to something and, at first, I’m like come on let’s just finish the book but that would only lead to frustration. And plus, I don’t want to hinder whatever is going on in that brain when she is having a moment with a book haha.
• when they start being on the move be okay with a bit of “on-and-off” reading. Sometimes I’d sit on the floor and read and the child would be engaged but then go crawl off and grab a toy or look at something and then come back. I’d always keep reading because I’d notice that if i stopped reading, more often they would notice and be annoyed. Sometimes I know Riley was listening to me reading but she just didn’t want to sit.
• don’t give up on a book if they don’t like it initially — sometimes Riley would consistently not be interested in a book so I’d put it away for a month (or get it back out in a couple months from the library) and try again and what a difference time can make with certain books! Sometimes they just won’t vibe with a book ever but so many of her favorites were ones that seemed like duds at first.

Alright let’s get to these great books for babies 0-12 months, now shall we?

Best Books For Babies Under 1

As you read above about how I approach picking books to read for the baby age, I just want to say that that approach is reflected in these picks. I think there is value in having a mix of more books that are more story-oriented as well as books that are conceptional/educational and experience based (touch and feel).

While books that just had an object and a word on them were boring for me (give me the substance!), I saw the value of these type of simple books in connecting things to the larger world as well as just sometimes they really called to her in a way that my grownup brain couldn’t understand.

So, yes, some of these books will be great books for babies not in the award-winning, great literature sense but more so in the “babies really dig this/are entertained by it” or “this is good for development/learning/concepts” sense.

This was a thing I had to remind myself often as someone who often felt bored by some of the books Riley would love. I wanted great books and stories but sometimes those were not the books she was drawn to initially. I found having a mix of everything to be a well-rounded approach to building her early love for reading! Plus as she got older we could really dive into those story-based books I was so eager to introduce to her.

Baby Goes Beep

I got this as a baby shower gift from a friend who was a children’s librarian and it ended up being one of Riley’s favorite books as a baby. I think she loved the boldness and the brightness earlier on but when she was like 9-12 months she really loved the repetition and the anticipating us doing all the sounds or moves.

I Kissed The Baby

It’s not just hype about these black and white high-contrast books — they are the real deal and this is one of my favorites. Perfect for newborns and young babies and this one is so adorable as it combines the high contrast concept with the sweetness of all the animals being excited about a new baby! It’s an easy one to turn interactive for a fun & cuddly story time together!

Baby’s First Words series

If you are looking for some “first words” type books, I love these. I like to, when I can, pull out any of the words that they feature (like socks) to show her it in real life. I’m shocked these aren’t more popular when I was looking them up to go in this post because, while boring for us as adults, these are perfect for babies — bright and bold illustrations that stand out and are simple/not busy for baby to focus on. Each spread had the accompanying word and sometimes I’d elaborate and talk about whatever was on the page. She loved looking at these on her own, too, which is always a win in my book!

Baby Animals Black and White

This one is wordless but it was easy to talk about each page and animal — talk about the sounds and where they live (as she got older). As a younger baby as a newborn & around 3 months old she really dug the black and white images with the realistic pictures of animals — even without any narration from me. We’d just look at it a lot of the times after the first initial “reading” and narrating from me.

Looking for great books for your baby ?

Find engaging age-appropriate books your kids will love with a Bookroo subscription! We discovered so many great books for babies from our Bookroo packages!

Helen Oxenbury’s books

There are two main little “series” she has that are great books for babies (especially if you like realistic/Montessori aligned books for babies). These ones are perfect books to read to newborns as they are short and simple! ALL FALL DOWN / CLAP HANDS /TICKLE TICKLE / SAY GOODNIGHT –The charm about these books are that they feel truly meant for young babies despite how let down I was initially after I ordered them and was like “that’s it??”. They are short (literally like 4 big spreads) but they are truly perfect for that age — they aren’t busy, simple text and are great for short attention spans while also letting baby linger on the oversized spreads that feature simple yet captivating scenes with babies. Riley didn’t get on with these much after 12 months but they were great lapbooks when she was a newborn/young infant but she really loved this book on her own from 6-12 months. Plus I found as she got older we made them into “action books” to make them more fun and engaging. They also came out with a set of these that are tiny and perfect for baby hands (and throwing in your diaper bag!) — different from the oversized board book version I’m talking about. I SEE / I CAN / I HEAR / I TOUCH — Again, very simple but in the best way for babies. The “I Can” book was really fun because when she got older she’d do the movements. Don’t expect anything flashy here but they have withstood the test of time as baby favorite books for a reason! Simple and not busy so that baby can focus and they are fun because they reflect baby & toddler’s world back at them in an easy way.

Indestructibles books

The first time I heard about these I was like “yeah right” — sounded like a big claim that wouldn’t hold true. But, they really did hold up to be quite indestructible — not one rip, didn’t fall apart considering she mouthed the crap out of them. (I won’t lie — I even tried to rip one). I also really loved being able to throw a bunch of these in the diaper bag or whatever and they weren’t heavy/didn’t take up a lot of room. There are SO many of them but here are a couple of our favorites. Such good books for babies under 1 especially with how they hold up! Some of the books are definitely, concept-wise, more geared towards toddlers but they got a lot of mileage regardless when she was an infant.

Global Babies

A sweet & affirming book about how all babies, all over the world, are loved and special. The cute little faces of other babies are what kept Riley mesmerized by this one as a baby but the beautiful diversity and message was the keeper for me. For me, it was important from early on for Riley to see the world as diverse as it really is and to know the world is bigger than just our little corner of it. This book is just wonderful as is the other one in this series Global Baby Bedtimes. Also gets a place on our shelf for the fact she loved it as a toddler too. Makes a great gift idea for a new baby!

Black Bird Yellow Sun

Simple, colorful book with bold color use that captivates babies and then later on is a GREAT book to talk about colors especially because the color on each page is isolated with the contrast of the black bird (plus the illustrations are very textured and beautiful). The story itself of the black bird going through it’s day, told mostly by the photos, was nice to expand on and talk about as she got older. It’s also a nice book if you are looking for something animal themed that’s not anthropomorphic as the black bird is doing what it naturally does as opposed to human-like things.

Who Says I Love You

Highlights came out with these fantastic board books for babies that are full of crisp and engaging photos of babies/animals with bright colors. AND THIS ONE HAS A MIRROR AT THE END! There’s several of them in the series — this was just one we loved!

All things Sandra Boynton

Truly. These were among the first books I read to her at 3 weeks old and they got read often even until she was a toddler. There’s so many of them but the first ones were: Moo Baa La La La and The Going To Bed book. I don’t know what it is but Sandra Boynton books were like baby crack and are well-loved in this house more than any other books. They are short and bouncy and fun! She loved them just as much during toddlerhood and then we grew our collection with even more Sandra Boynton books — like my favorite Happy Hippo, Angry Duck (great one for mood/emotions!) or the one that caused so many giggles at bedtime when she was 1 years old — Are You A Cow?

Brown Bear Brown Bear (slider board book version)

A classic that I loved as a kid! The version of this book that I have is a new one to me format-wise (same story)…it has a slide out feature that when you slide it you can see the animals that each animal sees. It’s really cute and I like that when she gets older she can work on those motor skills while trying to slide out the pictures.

Cleo The Cat

Conceptually this book hit its stride when Riley was a toddler (understanding Cleo is lonely/is a stray cat in search of a home) but this was a hit around 9 months old in terms of engagement and enjoyment. Simple text & rhymes, bright illustrations chronicling Cleo the Cat’s day — a day in which Cleo the stray wanders and finds a home. Another one of those books that will grow with your child (could even be a great early reader book!). It’s the first in the Cleo series and I highly recommend Cleo’s Adventures too!

Baby Dance By Ann Taylor

Such a cute and playful book that is great for interacting with baby. It’s about a daddy doing all sorts of things to soothe baby while mommy rests. It’s rhythmic and full of movement so we’d always do some movements while reading it — especially by the point I new it by heart.

All things Karen Katz

If I could only have books by one author during the baby/early toddler stage, Karen Katz would be high in the running. Her books were among Riley’s FAVES. She has some wonderful lift-the-flap books that were perfect for the under 1 year old infant crowd (as well as early toddlers) and she has some just really sweet books that are perfect to cuddle up and read together featuring sweet babies and lots of affection between baby/parents.

Counting Kisses — This book is just the sweetest book and a great bedtime book to read with baby along with Daddy Kisses and Mommy Hugs. The covers of these books are falling off because they were in our rotation so often.

Ten Tiny Babies — This was an all time favorite as a baby AND a toddler. Riley loved these cute, silly babies plus it was a good one for counting as she got older.

The B abies on the Bus — takes the Wheels on a Bus to a much cuter level. I have so many good memories of reading this with her and she’d do the actions but my favorite is how often she’d “read” this to herself and be silly with the actions on her own.

Zoom, Zoom, Baby and all the other lift the flap books — Karen Katz lift the flaps are the BEST! We had so many of them. This one is great among others like “Where is Baby’s Belly Button?” “Where is Baby’s Puppy” and countless others (including some fun seasonal ones!)

Peekaboo Morning by Rachel Isadora

This was one that grew with her as an older baby (in the 6-12 month range) and as a young toddler in which she’d really get into anticipating what was next! A simple peekaboo game between a young toddler and various members of their family.

That’s Not My Puppy

The “That’s Not My” series of books was a big hit for Riley as a baby! Babies love a tactile reading experience and these were among our favorite touch and feel books. A great variety of touch & feel elements plus the illustrations are bold and the text is repetitive in a way babies love.

Baby Parade

Riley got into this book when i got it from the library around 9 months and it reminded a beloved read for her well to 18 months. Lots of cute babies parading around the pages! What I loved is that it was only about a sentence for each spread and it kept her attention so much plus it was really cute when she’d wave to baby as the text prompts. The illustrations are absolutely darling too! Baby Party, a companion to this book, was also really cute too!

Who? A Celebration of Babies

This one is a great call-and-answer type book with repetition that babies will quickly catch on to! Each page, using the same pattern, we are asked who we are seeing on the page — mama, daddy, puppy, etc. Lots of diverse babies, too. I’ve gifted this one and it’s always been a hit.

Babies Can Sleep Anywhere

This was a great book that Riley enjoyed as a baby and it grew with her as a toddler. A simple little book that shows where a variety of animals sleep and then repeats the refrain “but babies can sleep anywhere” and shows babies sleeping in a variety of places. It’s a catchy, rhyming book and aesthetically I just loved the illustrations and colors. As Riley got older it was fun to talk about the different animals and how they sleep. I always wanted to laugh/cry reading this sometimes because I had a baby that seemed not to sleep ANYWHERE. (nah, not me feeling salty at a picture book HA!)

Wild Baby by Cori Doerrfeld

A baby favorite turned toddler favorite for Riley — she couldn’t get enough of the wild baby orangutan running amok with the mommy chasing after (teeny bit helicopter mom but hey we all know what it’s like trying to take care of a baby/toddler who seems intent on dare-deviling themselves right into trouble so there’s no judgment from me hah). Good length for baby and is engaging in the flow/pictures and grows along with them as toddlers.

Peekaboo game in cute book form with farm animals! We actually discovered this one at baby storytime and it was a hit with all the babies. Big bright colors and lift the flaps that reveal different farm animals and the sound they make. I loved listening to Riley practice all the animal sounds by herself when she’d “read” it alone — I really do think books like this encourage language even though to adults these type of books can seem bland. Riley practiced those sounds SO often before she really could talk. There’s a whole series of these if you like this!

Hooray For Fish

I found this one on a whim when Riley and I were browsing the library and she immediately was drawn to the bright colors and the fish. It’s a simple book that goes throughout the ocean to say hi to the fish friends — nothing crazy exciting for us adults but this was a winner around here under 12 months old — it didn’t hold much attention for long after that but we would talk about colors and counting the fish. In general though, we love Lucy Cousins around here!

Won’t You Be My Kissaroo

A sweet little book all about the affection of a different momma/baby animals throughout the day! Riley loved giving and getting little smooches during part of the book. Very adorable and heartwarming little book with great illustrations and lyrical text. There’s a companion book called Won’t You Be My Huggaroo but I liked this one better even though I’m much more of a hugger than a kisser haha

Wiggle, Walk, Wash!

A cheerful novelty board book full of adorable baby animals and a mirror at the end! This one is really cute — it’s nothing that is over-the-top different or amazing but it nails just being so inviting for babies and I found it easy to add more to the story (sounds, different interactive invitations) when I wanted to. It’s one of those books you just won’t understand why your baby is constantly reach for but they just are — probably the illustrations if I’m being honest. Really cute!

Ten Tiny Toes by Caroline Jayne Church

An adorable little book with large images that grab baby’s attention but we loved this one for how much FUN it was to read. Definitely a fun interactive experience with the text as we pointed to the body parts mentioned and I would ham it up with some of the actions mentioned. REALLY great rhymes and definitely a great way to learn body parts for a little one.

Little Truck by Taro Gomi

Did NOT expect Riley to love this one as much as she did but loved it she did! I think the illustrations, while very sparse and simple (some would argue too simple), are perfect for babies in my opinion. The text was also very simple making it great for the under 12 months babies and gives plenty of space to expand upon as she got to be a toddler — especially because the story really is about a little truck exploring with a mom/dad truck following enough distance behind. I did try to make it fun when she was on my lap and do sounds and move my legs like she was a little truck bumping fast or slow on the road. This whole series of books was great especially if you are a bit bored of baby or animal books which, let’s face it, ends up being the bulk of books for babies.

Ten Little Fingers & Ten Little Toes

A classic for a reason! We ended up buying three copies of this padded board book because this was 100% one of our most read books and it got destroyed often. I think it was a combination of excessive reading but, if I’m being honest, I think the spine is a bit weak on this book. Sweet sweet book if you aren’t familiar with it — the rhythm is pitch perfect and the babies are adorable. A must for your shelves!

Baby Touch & Feel series

T his series is great — there is like 20 books in it. I love love love books with different textures for her to feel — gets some of that sensory input in there plus it also has real photographs in it which I love too. Riley loves looking at the pictures and touching the variety of textures. This one was a favorite as well as the trucks , animals , bedtime and bathtime ones ! It features the word with the corresponding image.

P.S. My favorite DK touch and feel series I cannot find ANYWHERE but we have this great book called Splish Splash Baby’s World that is fantastic and I thought the textures were some of the best (and so did Riley!). If you can find it, snag it!

A Parade of Elephants by Kevin Henkes

T his book really is geared towards an older crowd but now with a board book version it is a great pick for babies! It still is simple/short enough for this age with the ability to grow with them especially with interacting to count the elephants and talk about opposites. A cute little one to have on your shelves!age.

Priddy Bright Baby Touch and Feel

The Bright Baby Touch and Feel collection is another fantastic book for a baby — maybe even my favorite of the touch and feel books for the generous textures (some I feel like are stingy and only do small patches of texture)! But the best part of this one is that it actually has some decent text to accompany the bright pages and images (as opposed to just a simple corresponding word that matches the images). We got so much mileage out of this one in particular but all of them were great. Furry lions and scaly lizards in this one seemed to captivate Riley! So many good ones in this series — not all animal based by any means. They even have a small box set that have four of their most popular which makes a great gift idea.

So, that’s what we read so far out of all the books we own! I’ve been sticking to mostly her board books or ones that are really interactive. I plan to go to the library to pick out some more books to figure out which ones we want to add to our collection…so let me know what books you think are good book picks for young babies or must read pictures books for when she’s older that NEED to be in our library.

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PS. Check out Riley’s birth story & my struggle with PPD // Newborn Essentials // How To Live In A One Bedroom Apartment With A Baby

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Top Ten Tuesday, as always, is hosted at my other blog -- The Broke and…

Top Ten Tuesday, as  always, is hosted at my other blog -- The Broke &…

About Jamie

Jamie is a 32 year old married lady (with a new baby!!) who is in denial that she's actually that old to be a married lady and a mom. When she's not reading you can find her doing Pilates followed by eating ice cream, belting out Hamilton (loud and offkey) and having adventures with her husband, daughter and rescue dog.

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Annemieke says

October 24, 2017 at 9:05 am

I’m going to look into the baby lit books because those look awesome. I read a lot to Merijn as well and he loves grabbing his own books to flip through now (14 months) but he does have a hard time to sit still during story time. I don’t push him too much on that since he does grab to the books himself. Luckily he does when he gets his bed time story.

October 24, 2017 at 9:38 am

They seriously are awesome! And they are beautiful!!! I’m obsessed with them on an aesthetic level, too! Yeah, that’s exactly how I feel about babies + books…I don’t want to push her to sit and listen to the story (especially when she’s older) because I want her to associate books with a good thing. Even now I can tell when she’s not into it and then we are done. Especially because I KNOW she loves looking at them…when she feels like it. I mean, isn’t that all of us? I don’t want to do things when I don’t want to haha. What are some of your favorite books to read to him??

October 24, 2017 at 1:43 pm

Aaaw can’t find them in Dutch. ._. As much as I use English myself he’ll have to learn Dutch first, haha. I agree. I am totally going for the same thing. Books = good. These days I don’t even put him on my lap but sit on the floor with him (he’s not good at sitting still at the moment). He can just come and go as he pleases. I’ll finish the book but he doesn’t have to listen. Sometimes he’ll come and cuddle. Other times he’s not interested. Other times he’ll want to hold it himself.

We have this book The Color Train we read to him frequently before bed time. It has these ribbons in it and each page has another ribbon with a new part of the train with a different color. It is cute. But also Dikkie Dik. (I’m not sure if it is something outside of the Netherlands too), a big red cat. He has a plushie of that too that he sleeps with. Other than that books with little text, but flaps and noises are what he loves and what he’ll stand still for at the moment.

October 24, 2017 at 7:21 pm

Aw man! That’s a shame!

Checking out the books you recommended!! I’m super intrigued by both of them! Thanks for the recs!!

October 24, 2017 at 10:02 am

I can still recite Moo, Baa, lalala I read it so many times. That’s a great one.

The paper bag princess (princess rescues a prince by outsmarting a dragon and then rides off into the sunset) now comes in board book! I also love the quiet diversity of everywhere babies. It shows all different kinds of families in beautiful illustrations. And of course A is for Activist and Counting in Community are great books, too!

October 24, 2017 at 10:24 am

Ooh checking those out!!! Thank you!!

Michelle says

October 24, 2017 at 10:04 am

Well, if you have not gotten a copy of Goodnight, Moon, you need to do so soon. Other than that, my favorite books to read to the kids were Sandra Boynton’s books. They are so much fun and never grow old – important when you have to read them several times in a row every night. My favorites were Snuggle Puppy and The Barnyard Dance, both of which I would sing to Holly. Snuggle Puppy is the one book she kept from her baby stuff because it had significance for her. You can never go wrong with Sandra’s books!

October 24, 2017 at 10:25 am

OMG HOW DO WE NOT HAVE A COPY OF GOODNIGHT, MOON!!! I’m actually kind of shocked that nobody brought that to the baby shower! Seems like a popular pick!

Def checking out Snuggle Puppy and The Barnyard Dance!!

Sim @ Flipping Thru the Pages says

October 24, 2017 at 11:12 am

Aww these are so cute ❤️ I wish my parents have done same for me when I was little 🙈 but I am definitely going to save this post for my future children 😂

October 24, 2017 at 12:31 pm

YES save it for when that day comes!

Jade @ Reading With Jade says

October 24, 2017 at 3:23 pm

This is such comprehensive list, and I love it!

I’ve read to our son since day one, and although now only 4, he is an absolute bookworm and not only loves to read but loves to learn also – which I think comes from the reading. Raising readers as bookworms ourselves is something we naturally want to do and impress upon our children, but is so important in general. As Riley gets older and reading is a more interactive activity, the joy in that is so precious.

The Babylit books look so good – I’ve never seen those before! Guess How Much I Love You is well read in our household. Also, We’re Going On A Bear Hunt is one we’ve read from day one and still love now.

Wishing you many more bookish moments as a mama, Jamie.

October 24, 2017 at 7:20 pm

Awwww I love that you have a little reader!! I can’t wait until she really interacts with our snuggle storytimes 🙂

AH We’re Going On A Bear Hunt! I NEED TO GET THAT ONE! I remember singing that song when I was little.

Trina @ Between Chapters says

October 24, 2017 at 5:10 pm

THIS. IS. AMAZING. Just what I needed!

YAY! I was thinking of you when I wrote it!!

October 25, 2017 at 7:38 am

I don’t have any children but those are the cutest books ever! I love it when parents read to their children. 🙂

Sarah Emery says

October 25, 2017 at 2:56 pm

Given that cards are almost all $5 each these days (or more!) giving a book instead of a card is so smart!

When my kid was a baby I was so worried that she wouldn’t like reading; I needn’t have worried. By kindergarten she was reading at a fifth grade+ level, and she adores books. So don’t let the articles freak you out 🙂 She’s a 5th grader now, and she loves reading and writing and she’s in accelerated groups.

Sandra Boynton!

October 25, 2017 at 3:53 pm

I’m so glad you love those Baby Lit books – I thought they’d be perfect for a reader/mommy! All of them are super adorable!

October 26, 2017 at 8:34 pm

They really are!! And so gorgeous!

Chrystal says

October 29, 2017 at 12:25 pm

Great books! We love the Sandra Boynton and BabyLit books too. And Guess How Much I Love You is a great one. I’m interested in the Belly Button book as Spencer loves to at belly button now and points to hers. I’ll have to find a copy.

We also love the books written and Illustrated by Joyce Wan like You Are My Cupcake and Peekaboo Farm. 😀

[…] “The Books I’ve Read to Riley So Far” @ The Perpetual Page-Turner >> plenty of picture books and board books from new mom Jamie […]

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The 40 Best Baby Books You’ll Enjoy Reading Over And Over Again

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A cozy story time with your little one is often one of the sweetest early parenting moments we experience. Selecting the best baby books to gift or to read to your own children also offers an early literacy boost for kids.

“Reading boosts baby's brain power through positive experiences surrounding reading, and parent and child bonding together cuddling, laughing and offering rich language experiences through talking about the pictures and building vocabulary,” says Nina White, the children’s librarian at James V. Brown Library in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

The best baby books encourage a rich, interactive story time for little ones.

As a mother to three little ones and a former high school English teacher, I cherish reading to my kids. It’s simply an added benefit that reading to them at an early age—even in utero—can help them develop their communication skills . After speaking with two children’s librarians, researching classic and new bestsellers and leaning into my background as an educator, I pulled together this list of the 40 best baby books.

After perusing these top board books, you might want to read our guide to the best toys for 6-month-old babies , or consider additional story time essentials for the nursery, such as a glider or a nursery rug .

• Best Baby Books Overall: Moo, Baa, La La La! ; Where Is Baby’s Belly Button? ; I Am A Baby ; If Animals Kissed Goodnight ; Look, Look! ; Kisses, Kisses, Head To Toe!
• Best Classic Baby Books: Goodnight Moon ; Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See ?; The Very Hungry Caterpillar ; Chicka Chicka Boom Boom; The Snowy Day
• Best Baby Board Books: That’s Not My Unicorn ; Where’s Ellie? ; Tummy Time Friends ; Sleepy Toes ; Duck & Goose ; I'll Love You Till The Cows Come Home ; Toesy Toes
• Best Cloth Baby Books: Itsy-Bitsy Spider ; Baby Faces ; Guess How Much I Love You ; Manhattan Toy Wimmer-Ferguson Nursery Novel Soft Cloth Book ; Baby’s Day
• Best Interactive Baby Books: Pat The Bunny ; Dear Zoo ; Garden Sounds , Baby Touch and Feel: Trucks ; Don’t Tickle the Crocodile ; Never Touch a Porcupine ; Taco Tuesday
• Best Baby Books That Celebrate Diversity: Everywhere Babies ; Antiracist Baby ; Ten Little Fingers/Tengo Diez Deditos ; Global Babies ; Love Makes A Family
• Best Educational Baby Books: Sometimes Babies... ; Baby Sees Colors! ; Alphablock ; First 100 Words ; My First Signs: American Sign Language

Best Baby Books Overall

Moo, baa, la la la: a book by a beloved children’s author, moo, baa, la la la.

I'm a freelance journalist and product reviewer specializing in parenting and education. My writing has been featured by AARP, Scholastic, Insider, Yahoo, MSN, AAA and more. I spent six years as a high school English teacher, and then began writing full time after my daughter was born. I'm the proud mom to her as well as twin boys (and a fur baby). I have a bachelor of science in education from Penn State and a master of arts in education from Michigan State. You can learn more about me or connect with me on  my website . 

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Both librarians recommended the popular Sandra Boynton baby board books. All of her books feature fun themes and pictures, and it’s easy to turn her words into a fun tune while you’re reading. “These books are impossible to read without turning them into a song, and you will have every line memorized after reading them over and over again,” says Libby McCuan, children’s librarian at Cleveland Public Library .

Where Is Baby’s Belly Button?: An Interactive Flap Book

Where is baby's belly button.

With fun prompts to interact with baby, this book will get them giggling and loving story time. White explained that lift-the-flap books are good options as babies are approaching 12 months and are beginning to understand object permanence, which is the idea that objects still exist when we can’t see them.

I Am A Baby: A Book Featuring Pictures Of Real Babies

I am a baby.

Babies enjoy looking at other babies, so the real-life pictures in this book combined with simple words that little kids hear in their daily lives, make this an engaging read. Looks at the photos and talk about what the babies are doing together.

If Animals Kissed Good Night: Perfect For Bonding And Bedtime

If animals kissed good night.

This book is a springboard for fun interaction with your baby as you imitate all the ways animals kiss goodnight. It’s a great one to cuddle up with and settle down before bed—and it won’t take too long to read.

Look, Look!: A High-Contrast Book For Newborns

Look, look.

The bold illustrations in this book can help keep babies engaged during tummy time. “I recommend that for the first five or six months choose books with bright primary colors and books with definite contrasts between dark and light to help a baby’s developing vision,” White says.

Kisses, Kisses Head to Toe!: Makes Interacting With Baby Intuitive

Kisses, kisses, head to toe.

McCuan recommends this book for babies because it provides opportunities to interact with your baby, such as kissing their head and toes. It’s easy to turn story time into a fun bonding experience with this simple book that encourages you to give baby kisses all over.

Best Classic Baby Books

Goodnight moon: help signal it’s time for bed, goodnight moon.

You might remember reading this book as a child, and it’s still a hit with babies and adults alike. It’s a feel-good baby book full of both familiar words and new vocabulary, and it’s the perfect tone for winding down the day.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?: Colors And Animals Combine In This Classic

Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see.

The repetition in this book is helpful for babies as they begin to understand language. There’s also a lot of naming of objects and colors, but as a reader, I can’t resist the sing-song nature of this sweet classic, as well as the fun final twist.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar: Beautiful Illustrations And A Clever Story

The very hungry caterpillar.

Enjoy this colorful children’s book with babies as a board book, watching the caterpillar grow larger and larger with each nourishing bite, or let older toddlers help you count and identify all that the hungry insect gobbles up. It, of course, features the beautiful illustrations of the famed Eric Carle.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom: Baby’s First Alphabet Lesson

Chicka chicka boom boom.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom has a fun rhyme and beat to it, helping those letters to just roll off the tongue. It also introduces babies to uppercase and lowercase letters and all the accompanying sounds.

The Snowy Day: Cuddle Up With This Book On A Cold Day

The snowy day.

The young boy in this book has so much fun crunching through the snow. The story is simple, which is ideal for babies who can’t yet understand complicated concepts. It’s also a classic children’s story and a Caldecott Medal winner, worthy of every shelf.

Best Baby Board Books

That’s not my unicorn: a simple book full of textures, that's not my unicorn.

This series features a different animal (or mythical creature) in each of its baby books, and each page offers a new texture for baby to feel, such as a soft mane or a scaly lizard back. With only a few pages in each of these sensory board books, combined with interactive elements, baby and parent will return to this one again and again.

Where’s Ellie?: Baby’s First Introduction To Hide And Seek

Where's ellie.

In Where’s Ellie , everyday objects look strikingly similar to Ellie’s trunk. Babies will learn about new objects as they search for Ellie on each page.

Tummy Time Friends: Real Babies Capture Their Attention

Tummy time friends.

As the title of this book suggests, it’s a good one for keeping baby entertained during tummy time. “Babies love books illustrated with photographs and delight in seeing pictures of other babies.  Photograph illustrations stimulate their awareness and recognition of the world around them,” explains White.

Sleepy Toes: Help Them Settle Before Bed

Sleepy toes.

This book encourages parents to interact with baby as they get ready for bed. It names various body parts and depicts a child getting sleepy at the end of the day. We borrowed this one from the library and liked it so much, we bought a copy of our own.

Duck & Goose: A Book That Introduces Sharing

Duck & goose.

Duck and Goose have to learn how to share the mystery object they find lying in the grass. If your baby has an older sibling who suddenly has to share their toys, this book can help them learn how to do so.

I'll Love You Till The Cows Come Home: Show Them How Much You Love Them

I'll love you till the cows come home.

This funny book places animals in interesting situations all the while reminding your baby how much you love them. It’s a sweet, sleepy tale of family love, and it’s also full of rhymes, which can help your baby develop language.

Toesy Toes: A Book With Photograph Illustrations And Fun Rhymes

With photographs of real babies, representing a diverse population, and simple phrases on each page, this book is engaging for babies of all ages. The smiling photos and lyrical language engage parents, too.

Best Cloth Baby Books

Itsy-bitsy spider: a cloth book to accompany the rhyme, itsy-bitsy spider.

This is a fun book to use while singing a certain popular nursery rhyme. White explained that singing helps babies develop phonological awareness. “When we sing, we slow language down and each syllable has a note,” she says. “I tell parents all the time, it does not matter if you are in tune, or how well you sing. Your voice to your baby is one of their favorite sounds, and you are helping to build their brain.”

Baby Faces: Happy Faces On A Book They Can Chew

Indestructibles: baby faces.

The Indestructibles washable, tear-proof baby books are well-loved in my home. They’re waterproof, and they don’t rip or tear. You can even wash them! White and McCuan both recommend them as ideal books for babies.

Guess How Much I Love You: A Book Complete With Sounds And Teethers

Guess how much i love you.

The cloth version of this classic book includes a teether, manipulatives and a sound button, making it a truly interactive baby book. Books like this help babies learn that reading and interacting with books is a fun activity that can awaken all their senses.

Nursery Novel Soft Cloth Book: Features High Contrast Images And Interactive Elements

Manhattan toy wimmer-ferguson nursery novel soft cloth book.

You can set this cloth book up for tummy time or cuddle up with baby to play and read. It includes a page with a mirror, which is always a baby favorite, crinkle paper, various textures, high-contrast images and more interesting visuals to appeal to little ones.

Baby’s Day: Full Of Familiar Words And Pictures

This cloth book walks baby through a typical day and lets young readers get involved by moving the removable cloth baby from page to page. It’s a sweet, soft 10-pages of interactive fun that highlights everyday scenes likely already familiar to babies. McCuan encourages parents to look for books that feature words and themes babies are familiar with—and this baby book delivers.

Best Interactive Baby Books

Pat the bunny: an interactive story that imitates daily life, pat the bunny.

Pat the Bunny is a touch and feel book with interactive elements that babies enjoy, such as playing peek-a-boo and looking in the mirror. It also imitates daily life, which is familiar to babies.

Dear Zoo: A Fun Book About Animals

White explained that flap books “help older babies and toddlers find excitement in locating objects under hidden flaps and making things move.” This is a silly one that introduces basic animal names and gets everyone giggling with its sense of humor.

Garden Sounds: A Book Full Of Beautifully Realistic Sounds

Garden sounds.

This book has long been a favorite in our home, because the sounds are so realistic and the pages have interactive elements. McCuan explained that story time with baby is all about the experience. The pages in this book are so rich with experience, baby can have a good time simply exploring and not even hearing the story.

Baby Touch And Feel Trucks: Fun Textures To Feel

Baby touch and feel: trucks.

Realistic pictures and simple words make this book a hit with babies. McCuan and White both recommend books for babies that are simple. This touch and feel book with plenty of trucks keeps each single page streamlined, making it easy for baby to focus. 

Don’t Tickle the Crocodile: The Interactive Element Is Easy For Baby To Activate

Don't tickle the crocodile.

This book is a favorite on my 11-month-old twins’ bookshelf. When they tickle the animal on each page, it activates the animal’s sound, which is a complete thrill for them. Unlike some other sound books, this one is really easy for babies to activate. 

Never Touch a Porcupine: A Rhyming Book With Textures To Touch

Never touch a porcupine.

With rhyming words and unique textures on each page, this book is incredibly engaging for babies and toddlers. It’s also a great way to introduce animals and new vocabulary to older babies. Let them feel the silicone porcupine quills and meet more animals through this fun series of sensory board books.

Taco Tuesday: Keeps Parents Entertained, Too

Taco tuesday.

McCuan recommends books with extra interaction, such as the built-in finger puppet found in this adorable and colorful book. In this rhyming story, the taco is tired of it being Tuesday; parents will likely find the story just as entertaining as babies find the finger puppet.

Best Baby Books That Celebrate Diversity

Everywhere babies: a book about everyday baby life, everywhere babies.

Everywhere around the world, babies are… well, babies. In this book, they’ll see all types of babies doing all the same things they do with all types of families and people.

Antiracist Baby: A Book That Teaches Babies And Parents To Be Antiracist

Antiracist baby.

This book is well-loved and for good reason. It’s engaging for babies with bold colors and illustrations, and it offers parents the vocabulary to talk about race with their young children in a non-racist way.

Ten Little Fingers/Tengo Diez Deditos: A Book Written In English And Spanish

Ten little fingers/tengo diez deditos.

This simple book all about little ones exploring the wonder of their fingers introduces babies to language sounds from two languages: English and Spanish. It’s great for bilingual families.

Global Babies: Real Pictures Of Babies Around The World

Global babies.

This is another book full of pictures of other babies. It helps introduce other cultures and ways of life at an early age. Read it to baby as you teach them to celebrate our differences.

Love Makes a Family: A Book That Celebrates Different Types Of Families

Love makes a family.

This book helps introduce babies to families of all kinds, from families with two dads to families of all different skin colors. There aren’t many words on each page, making it easy to keep baby’s attention. 

Best Educational Baby Books

Sometimes babies...: they’ll learn about animals and opposites, sometimes babies... a book for a new baby.

In this book, babies will be introduced to animals as well as opposites. “This book has a nice rhythm to the short but sweet text with bold words and big pictures,” McCuan says. “It also has a mirror on the last page which is a great way to interact further with the book.”

Baby Sees Colors!: A Book That’s Visually Appealing For Babies

Baby sees colors.

Bold colors and patterns will engage even the youngest babies in this book as they learn about various colors. “While their vision is still developing, it helps to introduce books with bold words and images that will really pop,” McCuan says.

Alpha Block: Letters They Can See And Feel

Each page in this book is shaped like a letter, adding a tactile experience to help babies and toddlers learn the alphabet. It’s a fun way to introduce letters as babies near that 1-year-old milestone.

First 100 Words: A Book That Helps Them Learn Their First Words

First 100 words.

In this book, babies will see 100 real pictures over solid backgrounds. The pictures are of everyday items. Reading this book will help develop vocabulary and reinforce words they’re already learning around the house.

My First Signs: American Sign Language: A Book That Helps Babies Communicate

My first signs: american sign language.

If you’re one of the many parents who choose to teach their baby sign language to help them communicate, this book will come in handy. It includes pictures of babies doing many common signs like “eat,” “milk” and more. It also includes instructions for parents so you can model the signs correctly.

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The best sleep sacks to help your baby stay safe and snug at night, how we chose the best baby books.

To compile a list of the best baby books, I turned to two literature experts—a pair of children’s librarians—to solicit their recommendations. I’m also a mother to three, including twin babies, and I have a master’s degree in education and taught high school English for several years. I bolstered my research by analyzing baby book bestsellers for the top attributes suggested by the librarians, parents and other experts. Many of the books on this list either have a home on my bookshelf or have been frequent visitors to my home via the local library.

This article is updated regularly to ensure accuracy and to add more favorites to the list. It was most recently updated in February 2023.

What’s The Best Baby Book To Buy?

The best book to buy your baby is the one that you’re the most likely to pick up and read to them. Beyond that, look for books that are short, simple and have engaging illustrations.

White suggests six major categories to help parents and caregivers choose the best books for their babies: songs and rhymes, photograph illustrations, concepts (such as ABCs or shapes), flaps and moveable parts, simple stories and word recognition books. Shopping for books with these categories in mind will help you find some of the best baby books.

When Should I Introduce Books To My Baby?

According to White and McCuan, it’s never too early to start reading to your baby. White even recommends reading to babies when they are still in utero. “While the baby is in utero they can hear the rhythm and the melody of your voice reading to them. The soothing tone of a parent's voice can actually lower a baby's heart rate, and establish auditory bonds,” she says.

No matter how old your baby is, if you haven’t yet begun a regular reading routine with them, the best time to start is now.

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Best Activity Books for Babies and Toddlers

Play, dance, discover and learn with these delightful interactive books., by babylist staff.

Reading to babies and toddlers is engaging, bonding, and has educational benefits, even when they’re that young. It’s a great idea to grab some classic books for your baby’s library to start young, but educational books, like those that teach the ABCs are also great. Interactive books also bring a lot to the table.

Part book, part toy, these delightful interactive books engage the senses and introduce kids to new sights, sounds and textures—and they’re a whole lot of fun too! If you’re trying to get bay engaged in multiple ways, you can also check out our best activity centers and play gyms .

Tactile Learning

From the sticky suction cups that line octopus tentacles to the sandpaper skin of the gray shark, this book invites readers and pre-readers to reach out and feel an underwater world of wonder.

Chronicle Books Touch and Explore the Ocean

Press, shake, tilt, turn! This book leads readers on an adventure, prompting young minds to engage in page-turning play. With a bright rainbow color palette that seems to leap off the page, the simplicity of this book design has a way of activating the mind and encouraging creativity.

“Busy books” are super popular boredom defeaters for school-aged kiddos, usually filled with tactile activities and puzzles to keep their minds (and hands) occupied. This soft-sided book offers the same interactive experience for older babies and toddlers with activities like buckling Velcro shoes, count the caterpillar’s feet and match the shapes. Keep in mind: This activity book comes with a few small-ish pieces that detatch, so little ones should be watched carefully as they play with this book.

Melissa & Doug's My First Activity Book

This book is like bubble wrap that never ends! The tiny buttons make the same “pop” and “click” you get from poking bubble wrap, but they never deflate. It’s great for building fine motor skills, not to mention it’s super satisfying.

Melissa & Doug Poke-A-Dot: Old McDonald's Farm

Hide & seek, lift & look.

Where are all the forest animals hiding? Behind the tree! Under the leaf! Beneath the Log! This game of hide-and-seek will keep baby entertained for longer than your usual game of peek-a-boo, and eventually your little one might get good enough to start hiding the ball on their own.

Lamaze Peek-a-Boo Forest Cloth Book

This is the first of the popular Spot books in a toddler-proof board book edition. Written for the author’s two-year-old son, the book first came out in 1980 and has won over generations of readers. The story is simple—it’s a cute puppy on a hunt—and the clear language is accessible for those who are just learning to use their words.

Where's Spot?

This book is hiding something…something fun! Watch fish, ducks and frogs leap from their hiding places as your little one pushes the sliders up, down, in and out. The sliders are just the right size for tiny fingers to practice dexterity.

Hoppity Frog: A Slide-and-Seek Book

Llama Llama can’t find his fuzzy llama! Where could it be? Behind the door? Under the bed? Kids love lifting the flaps to find Llama’s snuggly mini.

Llama Llama Hide & Seek: A Lift-the-Flap Book

Moo! Oink! Gobble gobble! Polish up your farm noises with these 30 unique sound buttons (including turtle, butterfly and dragonfly instrumentation). And along with all the fun, silly noise-making, your little one will love learning to match the images in the book and on the sound pad.

Around the Farm 30-Button Sound Book (World of Eric Carle)

Part book, part toy, all noisy fun. This hybrid activity table opens like a book and can either lay flat on the floor or stand up on its legs. It comes with three modes (reading skills, math & numbers and music) and offers 120+ sounds, phrases and activities for busy little hands.

Fisher-Price Sit-to-Stand Giant Activity Book

What sound does a train make? What about a firetruck? Vehicle-loving little ones will love learn all about the sounds these things that go make and they’ll get to practice some fine motor skills while turning the interactive gears.

Turn, Crank, Zoom! A STEM Gear Sound Book

This press-and-listen book plays short clips of calming lullabies that go along with different yoga poses, from Cat-Cow to Shavasana. There are even directions for how to introduce and perform the poses with your little one making this a great interactive book to read with your baby or toddler.

Yoga with Friends: Press and Listen!

Chronicle Books’ bestselling finger puppet books are always a hit with little ones. From newborn up through preschool, your kiddo is bound to squeal with delight as you move the finger puppet around—just be sure to add some neighing in there too.

Little Horse: A Finger Puppet Book

All about bodies.

This lift-the-flap book is a fun and intuitive anatomical primer for little ones. Readers lift flaps to locate the baby character’s belly button, feet, hands and more. Read it with your child and have them point out their own body parts as they learn. And you can continue the lesson with the follow-up book, Toes, Ears, & Nose .

Ingram Where Is Baby's Belly Button? Board Book

These animals can all move in particular ways; can you? With simple, straightforward directions, the book instructs little ones to get moving and discover what their bodies can do, just like gorillas, giraffes, donkeys and more.

From Head to Toe

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The 15 Best Board Books for Babies and Toddlers

By now, you probably know to start reading to your baby as soon as they are born. But what to read and when might be confusing, so we’ve rounded up the best board books for babies and toddlers below.

The board books we suggest in this article are the ones beloved by the combined 5 children we’ve raised in the last 16 years. Some of these are well-loved classics you’ve probably heard of and other baby board books will have never been on your radar.

We hope you find new treasures to add to your home library!

*best board books Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.

Article Contents

Black and White Baby Board Books

Babies can’t see color for the first few months of their life. Instead, opt for high-contrast pictures in any board books you buy.

I Kissed the Baby by Mary Murphy

This black-and-white board book is perfect for newborns since they can only see black and white initially. It’s all about a new baby duckling and animals talking about their interactions with it. Make it interactive by following the tasks talked about in the book – tickling, hugging, and kissing!

Why We Love This Book: It has repetition and rhyme, black and white illustrations for newborns, interactive. Appropriate for ages  0-1 Find this book in Newborn Books / Best Board Books / 1-year-old Books / 2-year-old Books

LOOK LOOK! by Peter Linenthal

The simple text mixed with Black and White high contrast photos makes this a great book to read off the bat. My boys used to point and stare at each image as I repeated over and over again what they were seeing.

Why We Love This Book: Black and white illustrations for newborns, high contrast images Appropriate for ages  0-1 Find this book in Newborn Books / Best Board Books / 1-year-old Books

Board Books with Faces

Did you know children learn emotions from watching other children’s facial expressions? Think of these board books as the first step in their social-emotional development.

Baby, Boo! by Beth Hardwood

My husband loved to read this to our little one repeatedly. It’s peekaboo in a board book. There are black and white photos of other babies, then the baby goes missing and a mirror appears for your child to find themselves. The giggles this book produced from kids were the best!

Why We Love This Book: Black and white illustrations for newborns, high contrast images, interactive, baby faces Appropriate for ages  0-18 months Find this book in Newborn Books / Best Board Books / 1-year-old Books

Baby Faces by Margaret Miller

We mentioned this book in our essential first-year books post because babies love to look at each other. As they get older, they can start to vocalize the faces that the babies are making.

They can also listen to you and make the faces the baby in the picture is making. You can use the book to prompt your baby. For example “That is yucky. Show me yucky.”

Why We Love This Book: Faces to mimic and teaches emotions. Appropriate for ages  0-1 Find this book in Newborn Books / Best Board Books / 1-year-old Books / Learning Books for 1-Year-Olds 

Bedtime Board Books

We will always advocate for a bedtime story! Reading together is a crucial part of the bedtime routine even for babies. The stories below are the absolute best board books for bedtime!

Time for Bed by Mem Fox

Rhyming, animals, and the sweet words in this book make it the perfect companion before bed. I loved setting up a routine that let my kids know bedtime was coming.

We would bathe, put on lotion, and snuggle up to read a story. I made sure that my voice was quiet and soothing. Even if you have a new baby, incorporating a book into your nightly routine is a wonderful way to end the day.

Why I Love This Book: Rhyming for language development and lovely illustrations of animals make this a perfect going-to-bed book to include in the first books for babies.

Appropriate for ages  0-3 Find this book in Bedtime Books / Classic Books for Kids / First Year Reading Tips / Newborn Books / Best Board Books / 1-year-old Books / Animal Books for Kids

 Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

This classic children’s literature is 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 is one of the most popular bedtime stories for babies ever written.

Why We Love This Book: Soothing, repetitive phrases guide children to sleep. Appropriate for ages  0-4 Find this book in Newborn Books / Best Board Books / 1-year-old Books / 2-year-old Books / Bedtime Books / Classic Kids Books / Bunny Books

The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton

We read this book until it fell apart (which for a board book is difficult to do).  The story makes no sense but that is part of the reason that we love it so much. If you are looking for hilarious bedtime stories for toddlers, Sandra Boyton has a few picks perfect for you, like Pajama Time .

Why We Love This Book: Boynton’s books are filled with humor, bright colorful pictures, and wonderful rhymes.  Appropriate for ages  0-4 Find this book in Newborn Books / Best Board Books / 1-year-old Books / 2-year-old Books / Bedtime Books / Classic Kids Books

Mama Mama by Jean Marzollo

A sweet rhyming book about a mother’s love (or father’s if you get that version too. ) Featuring mama and baby pairings from the animal kingdom this book allows you to point out new species to your little one.

Why We Love This Book: Rhyming words, introduction of animals. Appropriate for ages  0-4 Find this book in Newborn Books / Best Board Books / 1-year-old Books / 2-year-old Books / Bedtime Books / Classic Kids Books

Board Books for Learning

Start your child’s learning journey with stories that introduce concepts like colors, seasons, and food. They can look at gorgeous pictures of everyday objects and have you point them out!

Freight Train by Donald Crews

This is another classic book for kids that has both trains and colors. What could be better? The simplicity of this book adds to the fun. If you have a child who can only sit for a very limited time, this book is a perfect choice.

Why We Love This Book: High contrast images, introduction to colors, perfect for train-loving children. Appropriate for ages  0-3 Find this book in Color Books / Best Board Books / 1-year-old Books / Learning Books for 1-year-olds / 2-year-old Books / Classic Kids Books / 3-year-old Books

Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See by Bill Martin Jr.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear is a classic for a reason. It uses Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle’s signature style to teach about colors and animals.  The repetitive pattern is addictive.  There are so many activities that can be done with this great book for toddlers. But the colors and pictures are perfect for even the littlest reader.

Why We Love This Book: It’s a great introduction to colors and animals. Appropriate for ages  0-4 Find this book in Color Books / Newborn Books / Best Board Books / 1-year-old Books / Learning Books for 1-year-olds / 2-year-old Books / Classic Kids Books

I Like Fruit  and  I Like Vegetables  by Lorena Siminovich

Any book that introduces children to healthy foods from an early age is OK in my book. Add in the lessons about colors in I Like Fruit and also the lesson of opposites in I Like Vegetables and you have two winners. Oh! And did I mention these are textured and perfect for babies to explore with their fingers too?

Why We Love This Book: Textured pages are perfect for tactile learning about colors and opposites. Appropriate for ages  0-2 Find this book in Color Books / Best Board Books / 1-year-old Books / 2-year-old Books / Food Books for Children

Spring is Here by Taro Gomi

A wonderful tale that introduces the concept of seasons. Watch as the field changes through the year and the cow grows too! Beautiful illustrations make this a mommy favorite too. It’s a must-have nature book for a 2-year-old.

Why We Love This Book: Introduces nature and seasons to babies with high-contrast images. Appropriate for ages  0-3 Find this book in 2-year-old Books / Best Board Books

Best Board Books for Toddlers

Soon your child will want to “read” along with you or by themselves. Board books are perfect for their little hands to get used to turning pages. These storybook board books are some of our favorites for kids who can sit a little longer.

Each Peach, Pear, Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg

This adorable eye spy book has wonderful pictures, featuring nursery rhymes and fairy tale characters. It’s a perfect classic children’s book for a 2-year-old.

Why We Love This Book: The rhyming makes it memorable and easy to recite. Appropriate for ages  0-3 Find this book in Classic Kids Books / Best Board Books / Books for 2-year-olds / Food Books for Children

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

There are so many things about this classic book for kids that I love. Not only can you talk about days of the week, food, and counting, but you can follow the caterpillar on his journey to becoming a butterfly. When it comes to books for 3-year-olds, this one is tops.

Why We Love This Book: A gorgeous introduction to nature, food, counting, and days of the week. Appropriate for ages  0-5 Find this book in 2-year-old Books / Classic Kids Books / Preschool Books About Food / Best Board Books / Educational Books for 3-year-olds

Jamberry by Bruce Degen

This was Kirsten’s favorite book to read to her kids and as soon as you look at the pictures and start reading it, you will understand why. The rhythm of the story and the non-sensical rhymes make the book completely captivating. 

A boy and a bear head out on an adventure to pick berries in this delightful classic kids book. Marshmallow Cattails? Waffle and butter lily pads? Yes, please!

As a bonus, there is counting in this alliteration picture book as well. No list of first books for baby would be complete without this adorable read.

Why We Love This Book: It has rhythm and rhyme, counting, and alliteration, and it is adorable. Appropriate for ages  0-5 Find this book in Alliteration Books / Counting Books / Rhyming Books / Best Board Books / Kids Food Books

That’s our list of the best board books! Did you find anything for the little one in your life?

Baby’s First Books: The 17 Best Books for Newborns and Infants

Find the perfect board books and baby books for baby’s first year.

Co-Founder and Creative Director

As a mother of two boys, Kirsten rediscovered her life-long love for reading while choosing appropriate books for her children. She started this website with Jackie to share their passion for literacy with other moms and kids. She uses her years of experience in marketing and public relations to create quarterly magazines, implement social media strategy, and ensure the website content is relevant and beautiful.

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Books with Baby

A blog about bedtime stories

12 of the best interactive books for babies and toddlers

From lift-the-flaps and pop-ups to textures and sounds, there is an endless choice of interactive books out there to engage inquisitive little readers.

These stories aren’t just fun novelties however. By encouraging your child to touch and explore the pages, you are boosting their independence, hand-eye coordination and understanding of cause and effect.

Not only are these books built for prodding and poking, they also lend themselves nicely to repeated reading (a penchant of any toddler) because your tot’s level of involvement grows over time.

Your heart will swell with pride seeing your little one finally lift a flap or press the button that you once had to activate yourself.

1. I Thought I Saw A Lion! by Lydia Nichols. £5.99 (board book), Templar

Every child loves a game of hide and seek – and in this stylish but silly book, they get to hunt a sneaky lion who is lurking around town.

Is it in the library? Perhaps it’s in the fancy dress shop? Or at the hairdresser? Simply push and pull the easy-to-operate sliders for comical reveals of the cheeky big cat hiding under the hairdryer or trying on a period costume.

The illustrations by Lydia Nichols, whose doodles regularly appear on Google, are an absolutely hoot, so much so that you’ll want to invest in the many other editions too. Buy from Amazon

2. Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill. £6.99 (board book), Puffin

The story that introduced generations of children to mischievous puppy Spot is such a classic that it’s often forgotten how groundbreaking it was back in 1980 . Creator Eric Hill struggled to get this very first lift-the-flap book published but once he did, it was an instant bestseller.

Your child will be desperate to help Spot’s mum Sally hunt for him at teatime, looking under rugs, inside grandfather clocks and behind doors, to be confronted by an array of animals normally seen at the zoo. It’s a great way to introduce the concept of locations and positions too, not to mention lots of fun. Buy from Amazon

The best children’s books about dogs

3. Are You There Little Tiger? by Sam Taplin, illustrated by Essi Kimpimaki. £5.99 (board book), Usborne

Search and explore the jungle as your hunt for the tiger cub, who is hidden within this book from the Usborne Little-Peep Through series.

The sturdy pages contain clever cut-outs which trick young readers into think the elusive animal is just a turn away – but each time it is another cute creature, like a monkey, bear or chameleon.

There are textured surfaces to engage curious fingers and the holes are perfect for peeping through. Also look out for the elephant, unicorn and rabbit versions, plus reindeer one for Christmas. Buy from Amazon

4. Listen To The Farm by Marion Billet. £6.99 (board book), Nosy Crow

What this colourful book lacks in plot, it makes up for with volume. But while most toys and books with noise are highly irritating to say the least, this one avoids annoyance by using real-life sounds.

All six of Marion Billet’s charming illustrations of different farm animals are accompanied by a simple line of text, inviting the reader to press a sound sensor and hear the horse neighing or pigs playing in the mud.

It’s easy to operate, meaning your baby will soon learn how to activate the noises on their own, and can be switched off if needed. There are lots of other themes in the range too, including jungle, Christmas songs and birds. Buy from Amazon

Our 10 best books of baby’s first year

5. That’s Not My Puppy by Fiona Watt, illustrated by Rachel Wells. £6.99 (board book), Usborne

It’s more than 20 years since this first edition of this touchy-feely book series was published and now there are more than 55 titles to choose from.

The simple sensory reads with their repetitive language, bold illustrations and chunky pages are perfect first books for babies and equally enjoyable for curious toddlers.

Make sure you look out for the little white mouse who narrates – the only character to appear in every single edition (and on every page!). Buy from Amazon

20 years of the That’s Not My… books

6. Where’s Baby Chick? by Ingela P. Arrhenius. £6.99 (board book), Nosy Crow

Ingela P. Arrhenius’s range of hide-and-seek Where? books are a stroke of genius: artwork as brightly coloured as a pack of Mini Eggs paired with a cast of cute characters, all hidden behind tactile (and virtually indestructible) felt flaps.

And after finding chicks, bunnies, lambs and kittens in this Spring-themed version, there is a sweet surprise at the end. No, it’s not a chocolate egg – it’s a mirror so your child can play a game of peekaboo with themselves. Buy from Amazon

10 books to give for Easter instead of eggs

7. Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell. £6.99 (board books), Macmillan

There’s lots of laughs and surprise to be had with this Eighties-tastic lift-the-flap book, one of the originals of the genre.

Rod Campbell cleverly uses the flaps as crates and boxes, revealing a series of weird and wonderful animals from the zoo in an attempt to find the perfect pet.

Both boys have lit up reading this as babies, becoming enthusiastic crate openers as their motor skills have developed. A classic that every bookshelf needs. Buy from Amazon

What we’re reading: Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell

8. Don’t Tickle The Hippo. £12.99 (board books), Usborne

This tactile sound book combines the joys of Usborne’s That’s Not My series with lots of amusing animal noises, as your child makes parrots squawk and bears growl by touching their fur and feathers.

Its been a huge hit with both Baby Bookworm and his little brother, and a real joy to see them enjoying the story together at bedtime. A perfect gift for babies through to preschoolers and the range has already got a couple more titles to choose from. Buy from Amazon

Why we love… Don’t Tickle The Hippo

9. Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat, What Can You See? by Jo Lodge. £6.99 (board book), Campbell

This witty slider book sees a little fly journey through the pages, buzzing past different animals until he reaches a sticky end.

The text is a gentle rhyme that is slyly educational, referencing the different senses which are matched with an equivalent slider action.

Your child will have great fun moving the cat’s eyes and waggling the donkey’s ears (especially as the slider holes are nice and chunky) – and let out a wicked laugh when the fox’s mouth goes chomp! Buy from Amazon

10. Let’s Eat by Jane Foster. £9.99 (board book), Templar

This interactive version of the textile designer Jane Foster’s cool first concepts books is a delicious treat. Let’s Eat combines her bold Scandi and Sixties-influenced illustrations with very clever interactive elements.

There are flaps to lift, wheels to spin and sliders to push, as the book takes your child through the different meals of the day.

Our copy is devoured with relish by Baby Bookworm, who loves buttering the toast, peeling the banana and pouring the milk. Bonus points for the healthy food choices too! Buy from Amazon

Our full review of Jane Foster’s Let’s Eat!

11. Poppy and Sam and the Bunny by Sam Taplin. £7.99 (board book), Usborne

Apple Tree Farm residents Poppy and Sam go all Alice in Wonderland in this adventure, following the trail of a mysterious little rabbit who hops across the sheep field one morning.

Babies will adore this interactive board book, with a pop-through bunny finger puppet who you can manipulate to eat the carrots, sneeze at the flowers and snuggle her family at the end.

There are plenty of educational elements too, such as a yellow duck to spot on each page and animal noises to mimic. Buy from Amazon

12 of the best books about bunnies

12. Bizzy Bear: Deepsea Diver by Benji Davies. £5.99 (board book), Nosy Crow

Grab your wetsuit and jump aboard the submarine with Bizzy Bear for an underwater adventure. This simple story by bestselling author Benji Davies sees our captain and his animal crew sail through shoals of fish, past spooky shipwrecks and encounter a giant clam filled with treasure.

It’s all brought to life with sliders to push and pull, making your child part of events and rewarding them with some exciting surprises. They’ll love joining in with the catchy repetitive text, too. Buy from Amazon

More perfect reads for babies and toddlers…

Teach your child about the works around them with the Baby 101 series

16 of the best first Christmas board books

Learn colours and numbers with Nosy Crow’s Early Learning at the Museum books

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Best children’s books for your baby or toddler.

When you're a new parent, reading books to your baby might be one of the best ways to bond with your little one. And the benefits keep multiplying as your baby grows into a toddler and beyond: Reading to and with your little one helps foster her development in many ways, including teaching language skills, forming word associations, and encouraging interaction.

Based on a survey of thousands of Pampers Parents, we’ve put together a list of some of the best baby books in four categories: classic books, bedtime books, development books, and interactive books. Some of the books that made the list are ideal for toddlers and preschoolers, too. We also explain how to choose the right type of book for your little one. Happy reading!

Choosing the Right Type of Book for Your Little One

Which type of book is best sometimes depends on how old your little one is. Many of the best books for babies offer simple stories with repetitive text and bright colors. As your baby passes through the newborn stage and gets closer to turning 1, stories that help reinforce daily routines, like a bedtime routine , can be a good choice.

Keep in mind, a book that’s great for older children can also work for your baby or toddler. She will love the sound of your voice as you act out certain characters, and you can highlight images by saying, “Look, there’s a big, green caterpillar.” One example is the Dr. Seuss book on our list. This story might grab the attention of a 5-year-old who is learning to read, while its illustrations might appeal to a much younger baby.

Once your little one is a toddler, you may want to choose books that help build her vocabulary and engage her imagination with enchanting tales and interesting characters.

As you’ll see, many of the books on our list can do double or even triple duty and work well for babies, toddlers, and even older children.

Deciding on the Best Book Format

When purchasing books, it’s worth considering the format, too. Board books might be the best for babies and toddlers because they can stand up to even the most precocious fingers, and the pages are easier to turn for toddlers. You might want to wait with hardcovers with paper pages, as your baby may be more inclined to rip the pages and put the corners in his mouth. Some board books come with soft covers, which are great—your baby will love the touch and feel of them!

E-books, which you can download to an e-book reader or a tablet, might be a good option if you’re riding in the car or traveling with your little one and don’t want to bring several books with you. Audio CDs and audiobooks are also available if you want to have your baby listen from a CD player, a smartphone, or an MP3 player. Keep in mind that nothing is better than reading to your baby directly. Your voice is his favorite sound!

How to Read to Your Baby or Toddler

It’s never too early to start reading to your baby; in fact, in fact, many parents-to-be enjoy reading to their baby bump! Whether you take on an entire book or just a few pages, the act of reading aloud can make all the difference in your child's development. Your newborn won’t be able to understand the story just yet, but he will enjoy listening to your voice. At the 4- to 6-month stage, your baby will start to show more interest in books. Then, between 6 and 12 months , he’ll begin to understand the pictures, and he may even babble along with you.

As your baby grows, try to set aside some time each day for reading. You might like to establish a special time for it, such as by making it part of your baby’s bedtime routine . Books can also come in handy as a way to pass the time when you’re stuck at the doctor’s office. As your baby grows into a toddler, encourage him to hold the book and turn the pages. Read when your toddler is in the mood, and let him choose which book he wants to hear. Encourage him to name certain objects or characters in the illustrations, repeat phrases or rhymes from the book, or help finish sentences. Ask him questions about the story. Reading to your baby or toddler sets the stage for literacy, of course, but it also fosters his social and emotional development.

Classic Books for Your Baby or Toddler

These best-selling baby books have been around for more than 50 years. They’ve remained popular for generations, and their themes and illustrations are beloved. Pampers Parents chose the following as their favorite books for babies, toddlers, and older children, too.

1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Why pick this one?  Bold and colorful collage-like illustrations help tell the story of a caterpillar’s birth on a Sunday and his successive day-to-day adventures, mostly focused on eating. Nearing the end of the story, he makes himself a cocoon, goes to sleep, and wakes up transformed into a butterfly.

Highlights:  Available in hardcover, paperback, board book, audio CD, Kindle, and audiobook formats (free with your Audible trial). There’s also a loose-leaf version of the story with postcards that can be colored in.

Price*:  about $5.76 on  Amazon.com

Pampers Parents tip:   You’ll appreciate the story of the caterpillar’s development in this book as it symbolizes the growth of your baby.

2. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Why pick this one?   Goodnight Moon ’s lulling poetry and whimsical illustrations have struck a chord with many generations since the book was released in 1947. The classic bedtime story by prolific children’s book author Margaret Wise Brown is about a little bunny trying to go to sleep, or trying to delay going to sleep, by saying goodnight to everything in his bedroom, including the pictures hung on the walls.

Highlights:  Available in hardcover, paperback, board book, audio CD, and Kindle formats.

Price*:  about $7.69 on  Amazon.com

Pampers Parents review:  This book is great for little ones of different ages, from newborn to even a 6-year-old.

3. Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book by Dr. Seuss

Why pick this one? You can’t go wrong with a popular baby book by Dr. Seuss. This charming tale is about a sleepy bug who gives off a yawn that’s so contagious that it sets off a chain reaction, making everyone sleepy. We’re sure that after reading this book to your little one, he’ll nod right off, too! Highlights: Available in hardcover, paperback, board book, and Kindle formats. Price*: about $10.39 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents tip: You’ll love Dr. Seuss’s riddles, colorful graphics, and inspirational lessons.

4. Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman

Why pick this one?  Written by P.D. Eastman and edited by Dr. Seuss, Go, Dog. Go! offers a tale that illustrates the variety and diversity in life. There are dogs of all sizes and colors, doing all kinds of unusual activities, like skiing. Two dogs even strike up a romance! This book is fun to read and fun to look at, and you and your child are sure to be entertained.

Highlights:  Available in hardcover, paperback, board book, and Kindle formats.

Price*:  about $6.99 on  Amazon.com

Pampers Parents tip: This book will not only be fun for your child, it will also boost her development as she starts to identify the pictures, and correlate them to words.

5. The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown

Why pick this one?   The Runaway Bunny recounts the tale of a little bunny who tries to run away from his mother. No matter where the little bunny tries to go, his mother promises to find him. It’s a comforting story and a touching way for your baby to learn that she can always count on her mom and dad’s protection.

Highlights:  Available in hardcover, paperback, board book, audio CD, and audiobook formats.

Price*:  about $5.69 on  Amazon.com

Pampers Parents review:  The timeless value of this book will be appreciated for many generations to come.

Bedtime Books for Your Baby or Toddler

A bedtime story is a terrific way to signal that it's time to settle down and go to sleep. These books offer some of the best bedtime stories around, and with any luck they'll help your baby nod off without a fuss. According to Pampers Parents, the aforementioned Goodnight Moon and Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book would also be on this list.

1. The Going-To-Bed Book by Sandra Boynton

Why pick this one?  This book, with its cute rhymes and silly animals, might just be the one that becomes a cherished part of your child's nightly routine. The story centers on an ark full of animals, who, before going to bed, watch the sunset, take a bath, put on pajamas, and even do some exercise.

Highlights:  Available in hardcover, board book, and Kindle formats.

Price*:  about $5.90 on  Amazon.com

Pampers Parents review: This book is great for babies, toddlers, and even older children because it reinforces a bedtime routine.

2. Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey

Why pick this one? It’s the end of the day at a construction site and, as the sun begins to set, all the equipment, from the cement mixer to the bulldozer, get ready to rest ahead of another busy day tomorrow. The book features soothing rhymes and adorable illustrations.

Highlights: Available in hardcover, paperback, board book, and Kindle formats.

Price*:  about $7.99 on  Amazon.com

Pampers Parents review:  This book has great rhyming, and your child will have fun recognizing the construction equipment when he’s out in the real world.

3. Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann

Why pick this one? As a zookeeper tucks in all the animals for the night, a mischievous gorilla steals his keys, and goes about freeing all the other animals from their cages. This story follows that wily gorilla as he sneaks around behind the zookeeper’s back. It’s a funny baby book that is sure to entertain your little one at bedtime. Highlights: Available in hardcover, paperback, board book, Kindle, and audiobook formats. Price*: about $6.79 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents review: The book is simple to read, and perfect for preparing your little one for bedtime.

Development Books for Your Baby or Toddler

Reading to your little one is always about more than just entertaining or soothing your baby. It also helps introduce your child to the alphabet, new words, sounds, and more. These books have a strong focus on helping to develop your little one’s literacy skills.

1. First 100 Words by Roger Priddy

Why pick this one? This book features 100 simple words, such as "boat," "duck," and "towel." The words are split into categories to help your baby learn. Each word is paired with a memorable image. With this book, your little one will have lots of fun while developing his vocabulary. Highlights: Available in hardcover, Kindle, and board book format. The board book comes with a padded cover that offers the best soft touch and feel for your baby.

Price*: about $5.99 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents review: It’s handy that every word has a corresponding picture, and that the book is divided into categories.

2. Numbers Colors Shapes (First 100) by Roger Priddy

Why pick this one? Another book by author Roger Priddy in the First 100 series, this one focuses on—you guessed it—numbers, colors, and shapes. It offers a really fun way for your child to learn how to count beyond the 10 fingers and toes. Highlights: Available in hardcover, Kindle, and board book formats. Price*: about $5.79 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents review: Bright colors and shapes serve as visual stimulation for your little one.

3. Eyes, Nose, Fingers, and Toes: A First Book All About You by Judy Hindley

Why pick this one? Who knew that learning could be this much fun? This book turns learning the names of parts of the body into a playful game of discovery for your little one. For example, arms can go up, they can hug, they can hold, and more. The illustrations present toddlers of different cultural backgrounds doing all kinds of activities, showing in an inclusive way what our physical selves can do. Highlights: Available in library binding, paperback, and board book formats. Price*: about $6.99 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents review: This book offers a way for your little one to learn how her body works.

4. Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert

Why pick this one? Beautiful watercolor collages that jump off the page will help your child learn the alphabet while encouraging an interest in fruits and veggies. The design also features bold capital and lowercase letters for easy reading. The book’s glossary has a pronunciation guide, botanical and historical information on each item, and illustrations of the plants, all of which might become even more interesting for your little one as he gets older. Highlights: Available in hardcover, paperback, board book, and Kindle formats. Price*: about $7.99 on Amazon.com Pampers Parents review: It’s a fun way to teach your baby the alphabet and about healthy eating.

Interactive Books for Your Baby or Toddler

These books invite your little one to be an active participant in story time, whether it’s by pointing out objects, pressing a button, or shaking the book.

1. Where Is Baby’s Belly Button? A Lift-the-Flap Book by Karen Katz

Why pick this one? This is a great book for teaching your baby about her body, because there is an extra interactive component. There are flaps that you or your baby can lift to reveal the answers to questions like "Where are baby’s eyes?" Your baby will surely be entertained by this funny book and love that she can get involved in finding the answers. Highlights: Available in hardcover and board book formats. Price*: about $4.24 on Amazon.com Pampers Parents review: This book offers an exciting and interactive way to get your baby to learn about her body.

2. Press Here by Herve Tullet

Why pick this one? This book takes your baby on an adventure with instructions that begin with pressing a yellow dot. A number of hilarious commands follow, such as to tilt or shake the book. You'll enjoy watching your baby react to what’s occurring on the page. Highlights: Available in hardcover and board book formats. Price*: about $7.64 on Amazon.com Pampers Parents review: Your baby and toddler will love how interactive this book is.

We hope you’ve found the perfect book to add to your little one’s library, or to offer as a baby shower or birthday gift for another lucky child. Any one of these books would do wonders for your baby’s development and imagination, and will help ensure your baby grows to love reading .

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The 25 Best Toys for 6-Month-Old’s Development and Play

Parents and experts recommend these toys for babies at this delightful stage of play.

In This Article

• Our Top Picks

Our Review Process

Our experts.

• How Toys Can Help With Developmental Milestones

Parents / Marcus Millan

In addition to getting cuter by the second, 6-month-old babies are reaching a time of huge growth and development: some will begin babbling, sitting up on their own, and eating solid food . What better time to celebrate these major accomplishments and add a developmental toy to your child's collection? These educational toys also make a great half-birthday or holiday gift for any little one in your life. 

To find the best toys for 6-month-olds , we studied the features of dozens of options, evaluating them based on value, toy safety, and how they can help your 6-month old hit developmental milestones. To ensure our picks are safe and developmentally appropriate , we reviewed guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and spoke with a pediatrician, a toy expert, and a clinical psychologist. We also surveyed 875 parents and caregivers to determine which toys kids this age actually seek out and enjoy playing with. Finally, we tested several toys at home with our own kids.

Matchstick Monkey Animal Teether Gift Set

If your 6-month-old’s teeth are starting to emerge , consider the Matchstick Monkey teether set. These monkey, lion, and giraffe-shaped teethers contain textured bumps to massage sore gums. They have a double handle, making it easy for little hands to grasp. These teethers are made from food-grade silicone and are BPA free, so they are also safe and easy to clean .

Hape My First Wooden Blocks Stacking Toy

Your baby will love stacking, building, and exploring with these wooden blocks as they work on their hand-eye coordination and grasping. A set comes with 10 brightly colored blocks that have a mix of numbers, letters, and patterns. We like that the blocks have silicone edges to prevent your baby from hurting themselves on sharp parts. Plus, you can remove and wash the silicone.

Melissa & Doug Flip Fish Soft Baby Toy

This brightly colored fish is a sensory delight for your baby that will keep them occupied during tummy time or practicing sitting. The scales are made from different textures, including fabrics such as terry cloth and corduroy. Your baby will love running their hands over the scales, which crinkle when touched. One scale even has a mirror so your baby can enjoy making faces all day.

Lamaze Freddie The Firefly

Freddie the Firefly is a clip-on travel toy that your baby can play with wherever you are. Clip the firefly onto your stroller, car seat, or play gym at home for your baby to explore. Freddie has it all, including high-contrast colors, crinkly wings, peek-a-boo mirrors, and teething rings. Your baby can work on their tactile development or soothe sore gums while on the go.

Gund Baby My Little Artist

Six-month-olds are beginning to explore the world with all of their senses. Your baby will love playing with the corduroy crinkly paintbrush, squeaker paint tube, giggling crayon, and plush bear in this adorable set. You can easily store the toys in the palette carrying case and take them on the go. We also love that you can pop this toy in the washing machine when needed.

Lovevery The Senser Play Kit

Lovevery’s genius kits are all filled with developmentally appropriate toys and activities for every age and stage. Tailored to babies 5–6 months, The Senser kit helps little ones explore their senses and build their skills, from touch to body control to object permanence. The kit includes a spinning rainbow toy, a magic tissue box, a grippable rainbow ball, “Parts of Me” book, a tummy time wobbler, and more. Also included is a play guide for parents with expert tips on this developmental stage, at-home activity ideas, and more ways to play.

Caregivers will appreciate that each toy has a developmental purpose . We were particularly impressed by how much stronger our baby's hands and pincher skills were after playing with the magic tissue box for a few weeks. The kit is pricier than other options, but the toys are thoughtfully selected and long-lasting. Lovevery kits are only available via subscription, but you can always cancel after you've received your box.

Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Toy

Perfectly sized for life on the go, this take-along toy plays 10 classical melodies and lights up with just the press of a button. The tunes are pleasing to the ears of parents and babies alike (but there is a volume control button, in case you were wondering). The music and lights are also a great motivator if you’ve got a reluctant crawler —simply put the toy slightly out of reach, and your baby will have some positive motivation to reach the toy.

The Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Toy proved a helpful distraction during diaper changes, according to our editors and survey respondents. The two required AA batteries are included. 

LeapFrog My Pal Scout Smarty Paws Puppy

Sing, play, and dance along with this cute puppy pal that will help your little one as they learn first words, feelings, numbers, and colors. We love the endless ways to play and learn with the LeapFrog My Pal Scout Smarty Paws. When kids grab onto Scout’s paws, the pup will react with music, games, and mindfulness exercises, which will stop when the baby lets go—this helps teach cause and effect. Parents can program the toy with a smartphone, tablet, or computer so the pup will know the kiddo’s name. 

When it’s time to transition to quiet time, a sensor in Scout’s right paw activates nighttime mode, which will play five, 10, or 15 minutes of bedtime music (with volume control) that’ll soothe and calm your little one. Plus, thanks to Scout's soft, plush fabric, kiddos will love snuggling up with their new friend. 

The First Years Stack Up Cup Toys

These eight brightly colored cups are fun for stacking and pouring and will even help teach some early number and color recognition . Each cup has different variations of holes in the bottom, so your kiddo will love filling them up with water or sand and then watching it trickle out of the bottom. These easy-to-clean stacking cups are versatile, budget-friendly toys.

We have personal experience with this pick and believe you can't do better for the price . The set keeps babies occupied, whether they're making noise with the cups, stacking them, or just throwing them on the floor. In fact, our baby loved these cups so much that we got a second set for her grandparents' house. This is also one of our favorite toys when traveling with a baby.

SmartNoggin NogginStik Light-Up Rattle

Increase cognitive development with this multi-purpose toy. Each Noggin Head has color-changing lights that are activated when batted by the baby's hand . The eyes on the face encourage visual tracking, the texture on the toy’s body provides tactile engagement, a built-in rattle increases audio engagement, and a mirror on the bottom helps babies see themselves. Included with the toy is a parent’s guide to monitoring milestones. 

Sassy Tummy Time Floor Mirror

Tummy time just got a lot more engaging (and cute!) with this floor mirror made just for babies. Easy to set up, the easel-shaped mirror stands on the floor and engages your little one's developing vision . Curious kids will love grabbing for the rotating, clicking, and crinkly bee and ladybug rattle that are both attached to the mirror. 

Edushape See-Me 4-Inch Sensory Balls

Engage baby’s senses and tactile development with this set of four sensory balls that are fun for rolling, gripping, tossing, and bouncing. The bright color design and nubby surface make these versatile toys for kids of all ages , so they’re perfect for young kids and their older siblings. Parents appreciate that they come perfectly inflated, so they’re easy for little hands to grab and grip. 

Fat Brain Toys InnyBin

Babies will love exploring the textures of the six chunky blocks that are sized just right for little hands. Children are challenged to push the different shapes through the elastic bands of the cube , encouraging fine motor skills , tactile exploration, and experimentation. A self-contained toy, kids can put other toys in the versatile bin for added storage and learning.

Alex Toys Discover My Busy Town Activity Cube

Babies can use their large muscles to improve gross motor skills by playing with this cube, sitting at it, pulling themselves up, and eventually standing at the sturdy wooden toy. The five sides of fun include curvy wire rides, peek-a-boo doors, spin-and-match animals, ABC tiles, and more. While it’s recommended for ages 12 months and up, most 6-month-old babies can begin playing with this toy and will age into it. 

Baby Einstein Sticky Spinner High Chair Activity Toy

This portable spinner toy suctions to tables, high chair trays, and more to keep baby entertained, whether it’s on a plane or during mealtime at home or at a restaurant. The colorful outer loops and the inner ball spin in opposite directions to capture the little one’s attention, and the toy is made of soft BPA-free plastic, so it’s safe for babies to play with. Kiddos can grasp and spin the loops, helping them practice hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.

Munchkin Float and Play Bubbles Bath Toy

Keep your little one entertained and engaged during baths with these Float and Play Bubbles balls. Each plastic ball has a rotating textured ring on the outside and a fun toy inside that rattles and spins . The spheres are the right size for little hands to grasp, and their tight seal prevents mold and mildew growth.

Fat Brain Toys Sensory Rollers

These sensory rollers are great for babies to explore their senses of sight, taste, touch, and more . Each ball has two unique patterns for little ones to investigate, as well as a chime inside, which rings when the ball is shaken or rolled. Plus, the rollers are dishwasher-safe and made from BPA-free food-grade silicone, so they’re easy to clean and safe for teething babies. 

VTech Busy Learners Activity Cube

With five sides of play to explore, babies can press, slide, and twirl this toy’s many buttons and knobs . The cube has a motion sensor, which plays fun sounds when the toy is moved to keep the baby engaged. The four light-up buttons on the top teach your little one about animal names and noises, while other features highlight numbers and letters; together, these features make this an educational toy in addition to a fun one. The volume can be adjusted and will automatically shut off, though two new AAA batteries will need to be inserted for the sound and lights to work, as the included batteries are just for demo purposes. 

Bright Starts 4-in-1 Groovin’ Kicks Piano Gym

We love that this play gym grows with your baby, so it will last for years beyond this stage . Before the baby starts sitting, they’ll love laying on the mat and looking up at the toy bar—featuring a plush bird rattle, sun mirror, ring rattle, textured leaf toy, and animal flashcards—and kicking at the piano and drum pad, which lights up and makes several different noises.

Once they can sit up, the toy bar can be removed to give them more space, and the piano can be flipped into a seated position. When your kid gets older still, the instrument converts into a fun portable piano and drum toy. Plus, the five toys on the toy bar can be unclipped and taken with you to keep your little one entertained in their stroller or at a restaurant. 

Adena Montessori Object Permanence Box

To use this toy, your baby simply needs to drop a ball into the hole on the top of the wooden box and then watch it reappear as it rolls out into the tray. Watching the balls disappear and reappear will help them work on concentration and object permanence . The three balls are made from different materials—plastic, wood, and fabric—for little ones to explore various textures. Depending on the material, the balls might make a loud noise when dropped into the wooden box, so caregivers could add a piece of felt to the bottom of the box if they want it to be a little quieter. 

Sassy Stacks of Circles Stacking Ring

From working on hand-eye coordination to encountering new textures, these stacking rings are an engaging way for little ones to explore lots of new sensory skills. Featuring eight different-sized rings to help develop fine motor skills , kiddos can stack the rings onto the straight pole in any order. The rings’ various textures are also great for teething babies, while the clear ring with visible, colorful beads helps them connect what they’re hearing to what they see.

Manhattan Toy Baby Whoozit Activity Toy

Doubling as a soft stuffed friend, Baby Whoozit is a multisensory toy that your little one can play with on the go . With eye-catching patterns like stripes, stars, and checks, and stimulating sounds like crinkles, rattles, and squeaks, this brightly colored toy is sure to engage little ones. Kids can grasp Baby Whoozit’s pink mouth loop or red nose, which flips up to reveal a mirror. Attached to the top of its head is a plastic clip, which can attach Baby Whoozit to cribs, strollers, and car seats for portable entertainment. 

Manhattan Toy Skwish Classic Rattle and Teether

This rattle is another toy that you can keep in your toy chest for a while before your little one has outgrown it. A combined rattle and teether, it helps your baby learn about sound, touch, and taste , while the textured wooden beads and elastic strings are great for tactile exploration. Baby can grasp and shake this toy and watch the colorful beads move back and forth—then, when they’re older, they can use it to learn their colors. The wooden toy is coated in non-toxic paint, so it’s safe when they inevitably put it in their mouth.

Sassy Wonder Wheel Activity Center

If you’re starting solids with your 6-month-old, suction this colorful spinning wheel to the high chair tray to keep them occupied while you prepare their food. In addition to spinning, this wheel contains beads, textured grooves, and rings to encourage play and exploration while supporting hand-eye coordination. You can also suction it to the side of the bathtub and turn this into a bath toy.

Fisher-Price 2-Sided Steady Speed Panda Walker

Babies can explore sitting—and set the stage for standing and walking—with this interactive toy. With its three age-range settings , the walker’s songs and sounds can be adjusted as baby grows for age-appropriate learning. While most 6-month-olds aren’t quite ready to start crawling, they can entertain themselves with the many activities, such as a turnable steering wheel, light-up horn, block sorting, and buttons that help baby explore numbers and letters.

Once they’re ready to start moving around on their own, the Steady Speed wheels slow the toy’s pace for beginning walkers, ensuring your little one’s safety. As with any walker-type toy, be sure to supervise your kiddo at all times and use it only on level surfaces, away from stairs and slopes.

To make our recommendations for this age group, we looked at guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the AAP on toy safety and developmental milestones at 6 months of age. We also interviewed experts, including a pediatrician, a toy expert, and a clinical psychologist.

We conducted market research by analyzing trends, reaching out to manufacturers to inquire about their latest toys, and comparing dozens of baby toys on the market. We also surveyed 875 parents and caregivers to find out which toys their 6-month-olds like, how they engage with them, and what skills they've seen improvements in. We tested these toys at home with our own babies and kids. We prioritized age-appropriate toys that offer the best value, design, features, ease of cleaning, and quality construction.

• Daniel Marston , PhD, ABPP, a Pennsylvania-based clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience and author of Autism and Independence
• Neela Sethi , MD, a pediatrician and lactation expert at Valencia Pediatric Associates in California
• Laurie Leahey , senior editor at Toys, Tots, Pets & More, a site that provides expert reviews of family products

Factors to Consider

When shopping for toys for 6-month-olds, look for options that help your baby practice the following skills:

• Social-Emotional Development: At this age, babies begin recognizing their own faces and become interested in seeing themselves; toys with mirrors encourage this social development.
• Fine and Gross Motor Development: According to Dr. Sethi, 6-month-old babies usually start to sit up and can transfer objects between their hands. Toys that allow babies to explore cause and effect are especially helpful, but you should always look for toys that are safe for them to chew on.
• Stimulate Senses: Since babies this age love sounds, toys that play music when buttons are pushed are great options. Stacking blocks, toys that involve placing objects into a container, crinkly toys, and toys that move are also great picks. 
• Variety: According to Dr. Marston, toys that allow for various play types help the child develop curiosity and individuality. At 6 months old, toys should help babies start to distinguish between objects and interact with the world around them. 
• Safety Considerations: When you’re shopping for toys for a 6-month-old, think big—meaning you don’t want a toy that has pieces small enough to fit in a baby’s mouth. Avoid toys made with bean-like pellets, loose stuffing, and toxic materials. Pellets or loose stuffing can cause suffocation or choking, while toxic materials may be poisonous.

Tamar Kane , MS, RD, CDN, is a registered dietitian and mom of a 6-month-old. She loves introducing new toys to her son and watching him reach new milestones through play. While he is enjoying exploring many toys, he keeps coming back to the Melissa & Doug Flip Fish Soft Baby Toy.

Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She’s also the mom of a 10-year-old son, 7-year-old son, and 3-year old daughter. Her favorite toys for younger kids are simple toys that have longevity and might be enjoyed by older siblings, too, like stacking toys and book sets.

Phoebe Sklansky is Parents’ former Associate Commerce Editor. As a commerce writer and avid shopper herself, she enjoys helping readers find the best products for their unique needs. She's researched hundreds of baby products and has tested dozens in our lab, from strollers to baby swings to diaper bags. She is a big fan of sensory play and has fond memories of watching her younger brother play with the Whoozit as a child.

Additional reporting by Ashley Ziegler

How to Buy Safe Toys . American Academy of Pediatrics. 2021.

Important Milestones: Your Baby by Six Months . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  

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Heading Back to School? Welcome the New Year with These Kids Book Recommendations

Check out some of our favorite children's and middle grade books for first-day jitters, making new friends and more

Carly Tagen-Dye is the Books editorial assistant at PEOPLE, where she writes for both print and digital platforms.

Back to school season is finally here! While the end of summer may be sad for some, this period can also be an exciting time for the students in your lives, as they greet new teachers, friends and experiences. And though the first day of school may be cause to celebrate, it can also bring about anxiety and uncertainty. Whatever your student may be feeling, there’s a book out there to help them navigate new grades, teachers and social situations.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. From children’s books that deliver important lessons via approachable narratives to middle grade novels that will keep your middle schooler reading right up til bedtime, peruse our picks for the best books to welcome in the new school year.

‘Who’s in Charge’ by Stephanie Allain and Jenny Klion

Producer Stephanie Allain teamed up with friend and co-author Jenny Klion to write this age-appropriate book about consent and bodily autonomy. Threading the needle between playfulness and authority, this book about “who’s in charge” is a great book to share with a young reader heading into the school year.

‘Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally)’ by Lisa Yee

Scholastic Inc.

Bobby Ellis-Chan has always been best friends with Holly Harper, but when they start the fourth grade, he learns that she wants to become friends with Jillian instead. The school year brings lots of new adventures — including dual student council campaigns — and this middle grade novel is a great read about how to navigate change and friendship.

‘Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse’ by Kevin Henkes

Greenwillow Books

Readers may know Lilly from other classic Henkes books, but she’s the star of the show in this story. When Lilly gets distracted by her new plastic purse during school, her teacher, Mr. Slinger, takes it away. It’s only after Lilly draws a mean picture of Mr. Slinger that she realizes she may be the one who owes an apology instead. This book is a great story about the importance of forgiveness and classroom rules.

‘Merci Suárez Changes Gears’ by Meg Medina

Merci Suárez is already dreading the sixth grade. She’s scared that she and her brothers won’t fit in at their new, expensive private school, and that she’ll stick out, since she doesn’t have fancy things like her classmates. As her grandfather begins to lose his memory, Merci sees that her first year of middle school may be more challenging and eye-opening than she anticipated, in this Newbery Medal-winning middle grade novel.

‘Always Anthony’ by Terri Libenson

HarperCollins

The most recent book in the Emmie & Friends series follows two friends, Anthony and Leah, who must navigate a bullying incident that occurs at their middle school. This graphic novel is an important read about kindness and friendship.

If your young reader likes this one, there's seven more where that came from to keep them reading all year long.

‘Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten’ by Joseph Slate

Puffin Books

This classic rhyming children’s book follows Miss. Bindergarten as she sets up her classroom, and prepares to welcome her new students, for the first day of kindergarten. It’s a great way to teach little readers the alphabet too!

‘Shine’ by J.J. Grabenstein and Chris Grabenstein

When Piper’s dad gets a new job and she’s suddenly thrown into a new posh private school, she’s sure that she’s not going to fit in. All Piper really wants is to shine like her hero, astronaut Nellie Dumont Frisse, and she’s on a mission to see if she's destined to be a star. This STEM-focused middle grade novel is all about learning to find our true selves.

‘First Day Jitters’ by Julie Danneberg

Charlesbridge Publishing

This book, which follows young Sarah Jane, is a great read for those who may be nervous about their first day of school. Julie’s friendship with her new teacher, Mrs. Burton, just may help her to realize that it’s normal to be shy — and provides a great lesson to share with young readers who may have a few new school year jitters themselves.

‘The Kissing Hand’ by Audrey Penn

When Chester Raccoon reveals he’s nervous about starting school, his mother lets him in on a family secret called the Kissing Hand, which reminds him that her love is always with him, wherever he is. This book is a moving reminder for anyone who may need that extra push to make it through the school doors with confidence.

‘SkippyJon Jones, Class Action’ by Judy Schachner

In this picture book, beloved character SkippyJon Jones yearns for nothing more than to go to school, even though his mother it’s a place only dogs are allowed once they’re trained. Nonetheless, Skippy travels to a playground in his imagination, where he meets other animals, checks out books from the library and even stops a bully. A fun read about the surprises that the school year can bring.

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Books for Kids Starting Kindergarten

Anxiety, making new friends, learning to share: These nine titles will prepare young readers for whatever their first day of school may have in store.

By Travis Jonker

Travis Jonker is a children’s book author and illustrator, and the librarian at Dorr Elementary in Michigan. He has experienced nearly 40 first days of school.

The first day of school is a shared experience so potent, many grown-ups — including this one — still have weird dreams about it decades later (who says the monoculture is dead?). The joys and anxieties of this rite of passage are fertile ground for storytelling, which has led to a lot of excellent books on the topic. But while the first-day experience is about as ubiquitous as they come, how children navigate the milestone is as varied as the colors in that gigantic Crayola box that we all coveted in kindergarten. These are a few of my favorite back-to-school books for children as they start their K-12 journey.

Never, Not Ever!

Written and illustrated by beatrice alemagna.

While some kids are excited to enter the hallowed halls of kindergarten, do not underestimate the willpower of a child who absolutely does not want to go to school. Pascaline, a 5-year-old bat, is so determined to avoid the classroom that, by the sheer force of her defiance, she accidentally shrinks her mom and dad — and then realizes that her peanut-sized parents can provide some much-needed company as she heads off into the unknown. As Pascaline’s confidence is buoyed by her secret companions, her parents come to understand that a day at school isn’t quite as easy as they thought. Alemagna’s rich, playful art further highlights the wit of the text.

Shy Robin and the First Day of School

Written and illustrated by jaime kim.

Even the smallest gesture of kindness can transform an anxiety-filled first day into a hopeful new beginning. Robin the hippo is feeling some major first-day-of-school nerves, which she attempts to assuage with a security item: a purple headband with a bow. When her headband goes missing, things begin to go downhill, until her classmate Marco steps up and shares his own humble comfort talisman: a purple bracelet that plants the seed of a blossoming friendship.

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• December 4, 2023—KB5032288 (OS Builds 22621.2792 and 22631.2792) Preview
• November 14, 2023—KB5032190 (OS Builds 22621.2715 and 22631.2715)
• October 31, 2023—KB5031455 (OS Builds 22621.2506 and 22631.2506) Preview
• Windows 11, version 22H2
• October 10, 2023—KB5031354 (OS Build 22621.2428)
• September 26, 2023—KB5030310 (OS Build 22621.2361) Preview
• September 12, 2023—KB5030219 (OS Build 22621.2283)
• August 22, 2023—KB5029351 (OS Build 22621.2215) Preview
• August 8, 2023—KB5029263 (OS Build 22621.2134)
• July 26, 2023—KB5028254 (OS Build 22621.2070) Preview
• July 11, 2023—KB5028185 (OS Build 22621.1992)
• June 27, 2023—KB5027303 (OS Build 22621.1928) Preview
• June 13, 2023—KB5027231 (OS Build 22621.1848)
• May 24, 2023—KB5026446 (OS Build 22621.1778) Preview
• May 9, 2023—KB5026372 (OS Build 22621.1702)
• April 25, 2023—KB5025305 (OS Build 22621.1635) Preview
• April 11, 2023—KB5025239 (OS Build 22621.1555)
• March 28, 2023—KB5023778 (OS Build 22621.1485) Preview
• March 14, 2023—KB5023706 (OS Build 22621.1413)
• February 28, 2023—KB5022913 (OS Build 22621.1344) Preview
• February 14, 2023—KB5022845 (OS Build 22621.1265)
• January 26, 2023—KB5022360 (OS Build 22621.1194) Preview
• January 10, 2023—KB5022303 (OS Build 22621.1105)
• December 13, 2022—KB5021255 (OS Build 22621.963)
• November 29, 2022—KB5020044 (OS Build 22621.900) Preview
• November 8, 2022—KB5019980 (OS Build 22621.819)
• October 25, 2022—KB5018496 (OS Build 22621.755) Preview
• October 18, 2022—KB5019509 (OS Build 22621.675) Out-of-band
• October 11, 2022—KB5018427 (OS Build 22621.674)
• September 30, 2022—KB5017389 (OS Build 22621.608) Preview
• Windows 11, version 21H2
• August 13, 2024—KB5041592 (OS Build 22000.3147)
• July 9, 2024—KB5040431 (OS Build 22000.3079)
• June 11, 2024—KB5039213 (OS Build 22000.3019)
• May 14, 2024—KB5037770 (OS Build 22000.2960)
• April 9, 2024—KB5036894 (OS Build 22000.2899)
• March 12, 2024—KB5035854 (OS Build 22000.2836)
• February 13, 2024—KB5034766 (OS Build 22000.2777)
• January 9, 2024—KB5034121 (OS Build 22000.2713)
• December 12, 2023—KB5033369 (OS Build 22000.2652)
• November 14, 2023—KB5032192 (OS Build 22000.2600)
• October 10, 2023—KB5031358 (OS Build 22000.2538)
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• November 15, 2022—KB5019157 (OS Build 22000.1281) Preview
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• January 25, 2022—KB5008353 (OS Build 22000.469) Preview
• January 17, 2022—KB5010795 (OS Build 22000.438) Out-of-band
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• November 9, 2021—KB5007215 (OS Build 22000.318)
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• October 12, 2021—KB5006674 (OS Build 22000.258)

Release Date:

OS Builds 22621.4112 and 22631.4112

07/09/24--- END OF SERVICE NOTICE ---

IMPORTANT Home and Pro editions of Windows 11, version 22H2 will reach end of service on October 8, 2024. Until then, these editions will only receive security updates. They will not receive non-security, preview updates. To continue receiving security and non-security updates after October 8, 2024, we recommend that you update to the latest version of Windows.

Note We will continue to support Enterprise and Education editions after October 8, 2024.

For information about Windows update terminology, see the article about the  types of Windows updates  and the  monthly quality update types . For an overview of Windows 11, version 23H2, see its update history page .  

Note  Follow  @WindowsUpdate  to find out when new content is published to the Windows release health dashboard.      

Highlights 

Note:  Below is a summary of the key issues that this update addresses when you install this KB. If there are new features, it lists them as well. The bold text within the brackets indicates the item or area of the change we are documenting.

Gradual rollout

These might not be available to all users because they will roll out gradually.

[Windows Share] New! You can now share content to your Android device from the Windows Share window. To do this, you must pair your Android device to your Windows PC. Use the Link to Windows app on your Android device and Phone Link on your PC.

​​​​​​​ [Narrator] This update makes scan mode respond quicker. This is especially helpful when you use Microsoft Edge and read large documents. To use scan mode, you must turn on Narrator first (Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter). Then, turn on scan mode by pressing Caps lock + Spacebar during a Narrator session.

[Voice access] You can now dictate the characters that you spell at a faster speed. You also have more editing options for the commands that select, delete, and move within text.

[File Explorer] ​​​​​​​

When you press Windows logo key + E, a screen reader might say a pane has focus, or the focus might not be set at all.

When you press Ctrl + F, sometimes the search does not start.

Keyboard focus sometimes might get lost when you press Shift + Tab.

Screen readers do not announce when you open or browse items that are in a breadcrumb of the Open or Save dialog.

Screen readers do not announce when you open or browse items in the column header.

[Widgets Board] We are rolling out an update to the Widgets Board to improve security and the APIs for creating widgets and feeds for users in EEA regions. As part of this update, the Microsoft Start Experiences app will power the Microsoft Start widget and feed experiences. Also, as part of this update, some existing widgets will be removed and others will be modified, temporarily affecting their functionality. This update sets the foundation for new widgets and other features in development, set to roll out soon.

Improvements

Note:  To view the list of addressed issues, click or tap the OS name to expand the collapsible section.

Important:  Use EKB  KB5027397  to update to Windows 11, version 23H2.

This non-security update includes quality improvements. Key changes include:

This build includes all the improvements in Windows 11, version 22H2.

No additional issues are documented for this release.

Windows 11, version 22H2: Enterprise and Education editions

This non-security update includes quality improvements. Below is a summary of the key issues that this update addresses when you install this KB. If there are new features, it lists them as well. The bold text within the brackets indicates the item or area of the change we are documenting.

[Input Method Editor (IME)] When a combo box has input focus, a memory leak might occur when you close that window.

[Country and Operator Settings Asset] This update brings COSA profiles up to date for certain mobile operators.

[Bluetooth] External devices lose their connection when you deploy certain Bluetooth policies.

[Bind Filter Driver] Your system might stop responding when it accesses symbolic links.​​​

[Unified Write Filter (UWF) and Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM)] An SCCM task to re-enable UWF fails because of a deadlock in UWF. This stops the device from restarting when you expect it.

[Hibernate stop error] Your laptop stops responding after you resume it from hibernate. This occurs if you have closed and opened the lid many times.

[File Explorer] The navigation pane does not update when you browse folders that are in a shell namespace extension.

[Microsoft Entra single sign-on (SSO)] The SSO notice that the European Digital Markets Act (DMA) requires prompts too often. This occurs when you authenticate using a certificate. To learn more, see Upcoming changes to Windows single sign-on . ​​​​​​​

[Windows Hello for Business] PIN reset does not work when you select the “I forgot my PIN’ link on the credentials screen. 

[BitLocker] You might not be able to decrypt a BitLocker data drive. This occurs when you move that drive from a newer version of Windows to an older version.

Windows 11 servicing stack update (KB5041586) - 22621.4099 and 22631.4099

This update makes quality improvements to the servicing stack, which is the component that installs Windows updates. Servicing stack updates (SSU) ensure that you have a robust and reliable servicing stack so that your devices can receive and install Microsoft updates. 

Known issues in this update

How to get this update

Before you install this update

Microsoft combines the latest servicing stack update (SSU) for your operating system with the latest cumulative update (LCU). For general information about SSUs, see Servicing stack updates  and  Servicing Stack Updates (SSU): Frequently Asked Questions .

Install this update

To install this update, use one of the following Windows and Microsoft release channels.

If you want to remove the LCU

To remove the LCU after installing the combined SSU and LCU package, use the DISM/Remove-Package command line option with the LCU package name as the argument. You can find the package name by using this command: DISM /online /get-packages .

Running Windows Update Standalone Installer ( wusa.exe ) with the /uninstall switch on the combined package will not work because the combined package contains the SSU. You cannot remove the SSU from the system after installation.

File information

For a list of the files that are provided in this update, download the  file information for cumulative update 5041587 .   

For a list of the files that are provided in the servicing stack update, download the  file information for the SSU (KB5041586) - versions 22621.4099 and 22631.4099 . 

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Blog The Education Hub

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/08/20/gcse-results-day-2024-number-grading-system/

GCSE results day 2024: Everything you need to know including the number grading system

Thousands of students across the country will soon be finding out their GCSE results and thinking about the next steps in their education.   

Here we explain everything you need to know about the big day, from when results day is, to the current 9-1 grading scale, to what your options are if your results aren’t what you’re expecting.  

When is GCSE results day 2024?  

GCSE results day will be taking place on Thursday the 22 August.     

The results will be made available to schools on Wednesday and available to pick up from your school by 8am on Thursday morning.  

Schools will issue their own instructions on how and when to collect your results.   

When did we change to a number grading scale?  

The shift to the numerical grading system was introduced in England in 2017 firstly in English language, English literature, and maths.  

By 2020 all subjects were shifted to number grades. This means anyone with GCSE results from 2017-2020 will have a combination of both letters and numbers.  

The numerical grading system was to signal more challenging GCSEs and to better differentiate between students’ abilities - particularly at higher grades between the A *-C grades. There only used to be 4 grades between A* and C, now with the numerical grading scale there are 6.  

What do the number grades mean?  

The grades are ranked from 1, the lowest, to 9, the highest.  

The grades don’t exactly translate, but the two grading scales meet at three points as illustrated below.  

The bottom of grade 7 is aligned with the bottom of grade A, while the bottom of grade 4 is aligned to the bottom of grade C.    

Meanwhile, the bottom of grade 1 is aligned to the bottom of grade G.  

What to do if your results weren’t what you were expecting?  

If your results weren’t what you were expecting, firstly don’t panic. You have options.  

First things first, speak to your school or college – they could be flexible on entry requirements if you’ve just missed your grades.   

They’ll also be able to give you the best tailored advice on whether re-sitting while studying for your next qualifications is a possibility.   

If you’re really unhappy with your results you can enter to resit all GCSE subjects in summer 2025. You can also take autumn exams in GCSE English language and maths.  

Speak to your sixth form or college to decide when it’s the best time for you to resit a GCSE exam.  

Look for other courses with different grade requirements     

Entry requirements vary depending on the college and course. Ask your school for advice, and call your college or another one in your area to see if there’s a space on a course you’re interested in.    

Consider an apprenticeship    

Apprenticeships combine a practical training job with study too. They’re open to you if you’re 16 or over, living in England, and not in full time education.  

As an apprentice you’ll be a paid employee, have the opportunity to work alongside experienced staff, gain job-specific skills, and get time set aside for training and study related to your role.   

You can find out more about how to apply here .  

Talk to a National Careers Service (NCS) adviser    

The National Career Service is a free resource that can help you with your career planning. Give them a call to discuss potential routes into higher education, further education, or the workplace.   

Whatever your results, if you want to find out more about all your education and training options, as well as get practical advice about your exam results, visit the  National Careers Service page  and Skills for Careers to explore your study and work choices.   

You may also be interested in:

• Results day 2024: What's next after picking up your A level, T level and VTQ results?
• When is results day 2024? GCSEs, A levels, T Levels and VTQs

Tags: GCSE grade equivalent , gcse number grades , GCSE results , gcse results day 2024 , gsce grades old and new , new gcse grades

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