Finding the perfect board book for your baby can be a challenging task, but it is definitely worth the effort. Board books are a wonderful way to introduce your child to the world of reading and language development from an early age. High-quality board books not only engage babies and toddlers but also help them to develop literacy and language skills that will benefit them for life (1).
They typically feature high-contrast colors and bold, simple illustrations that catch their attention. As they get older, board books become more colorful and complex, introducing them to new concepts and ideas in a way that is easy for them to understand.
We have carefully curated a selection of the best board books that are designed to not only entertain but also educate babies while encouraging their curiosity and love for reading.
In This Article
HappyBabyHub’s Best Baby Board Books Picks
1. Welcome to the Party Board Book
Gabrielle Union, the bestselling author, and award-winning actress have written a heartwarming and inclusive love letter from parents to their children. This book is perfect for welcoming a newborn baby into the world or celebrating any momentous occasion in life.
Inspired by the arrival of her daughter, Kaavia James Union Wade, the book is a joyful tribute to the miracle of new life and the love that parents have for their children.
2. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Eric Carle’s beautiful illustrations bring to life the delightful characters of a joyful frog, a plump purple cat, a lovely blue horse, and a fluffy yellow duck in this captivating book. The simple and rhythmic text, along with the vividly colored collages, will undoubtedly captivate young readers. This timeless classic is sure to delight and engage children, making it a beloved addition to any family’s book collection.
3. Mirror & Me Feelings
The little one staring back in the mirror, who could it be? Why it’s none other than me! Delightful animal friends accompany infants and young children on an interactive journey of self-discovery through the use of mirrored pages displaying a range of emotions.
From the silly grin of a giraffe to the wide-eyed surprise of a monkey and the peaceful slumber of a koala, every emotion is explored in this engaging and imaginative story. With playful artwork and the added dimension of a mirror, babies are encouraged to recognize and better understand their emotions.
4. Goodnight Moon
In a peaceful green bedroom, a little bunny is tucked into bed, but wait! There’s a surprise hidden within the pages of this beloved classic. As the story unfolds, the bunny bids goodnight to everything in the room, from the moon outside to the three bears sitting on a chair, the clocks, his socks, mittens, and even the playful kittens.
Goodnight Moon is a timeless treasure that has captured the hearts of generations, and it’s easy to see why. The simple, soothing words and gentle rhymes make it the perfect bedtime story.
5. Look, Look!
This delightful board book is filled with scenes of children playing, fish swimming, and stars shining. Even the smallest newborns will be captivated by the high-contrast black-and-white cut-paper illustrations that adorn each page.
A few simple lines of text in wavy red font accompany each image, describing what’s happening in the picture – from cars racing to cats stretching to flowers blooming.
6. I Am a Baby
This book is designed to captivate the attention of newborns, who are known to enjoy gazing at other babies. Realistic images and simple language, which young children hear frequently, are sure to keep them engaged. As you flip through the pages, take the opportunity to discuss what the babies in the pictures are doing, fostering your little one’s curiosity and imagination.
7. Pajama Time!
If reading before bed turns out to be your child’s favorite reading time, then they’ll love this charming bedtime tale. The melodic story follows a group of animals as they start getting ready for bed once the sun sets, and of course, they have lots of fun along the way. This book will not only make your little one excited to put on their pajamas and go to bed each night, but it will also help establish a comforting bedtime routine.
8. I’m Still Up!
I’m Still Up! is a delightful story about the never-ending bedtime struggle and a reassuring reminder that when Mommy, Daddy, the cat, the dog, and even the sun are asleep, it might be time for the baby to sleep too. It’s perfect for newborns and their caregivers, as it introduces new words and routines through repetitive language and shapes. Reading this bedtime story can also help establish a calming routine for your little one.
9. I Thought I Saw a Bear!
Lydia Nichols’ beautiful illustrations make this novelty series a delightful read-and-play experience for the entire family. Your baby will love sliding the sliders to reveal the hidden animal in each scene. The book’s amusing yet stylish presentation is guaranteed to bring smiles to kids’ faces.
10. Peekaboo: House
With captivating and familiar illustrations by Ingela P. Arrhenius and an interactive sliding mechanism on each page, this board book is a delightful read for babies. The peekaboo concept, accompanied by objects to push, pull, or spin on every spread, will keep young toddlers engaged.
11. On the Night You Were Born
The night of your birth was filled with wonder and joy. The heavens resounded with trumpets and horns, and thanksgiving spread across the entire globe. And the moon stayed up all night to celebrate, while geese flew home and Arctic bears danced with glee.
This book is a tribute to you and the magic you bring to the world. It’s a celebration of your unique and special self, meant to accompany you throughout your life’s journey, no matter where it takes you. Because you are the only you, and you are extraordinary.
12. Baby Touch and Feel: Animals
This board book is a fantastic and interactive way to introduce your baby to shapes, textures, and vocabulary. The colorful and captivating animal-themed illustrations are sure to capture your baby’s attention. This delightful picture book makes a perfect gift for babies and is an excellent first book for toddlers.
Discover fascinating facts about a wide range of animals, from adorable puppies to majestic elephants! The padded sensory book is both sturdy and soft, making it easy for little hands to hold. Plus, the pages can be turned by babies and toddlers themselves.
13. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Big Board Booke
As you read this lively children’s book, the caterpillar grows bigger and bigger with each healthy meal. You can share this board book with newborns, or you can ask older toddlers to help you count and name everything the ravenous bug eats.
14. Love You Head to Toe
Love You Head to Toe is a heartwarming book that compares newborns to young animals using imaginative rhyming similes and beautiful cut-paper collage imagery. Each page features a variety of children and animals from different species engaging in similar activities, such as extending their arms like sea stars or splashing in the water like ducklings.
The book also includes key routines like mealtime, bath time, and bedtime in chronological sequence, and action verbs on each page give the book a lively and dynamic feel.
15. The Berenstain Bears’ Numbers Book
This board book from the Berenstain Bears series is perfect for introducing counting concepts to babies. Join the Berenstain Bears as they count the things around them, such as five playful bunnies, four buzzing bees, and seven soaring eagles. The bright illustrations and simple text make it an engaging read for little ones.
16. Little Fish and Friends: A Touch-and-Feel Book
The sensory experience of Tiny Fish’s world is both visually stunning and touch-pleasing. From the ribbed texture of the Stripey Fish visible through the die-cut cover to the soft and fluffy Bumble Fish on the pages, young readers will love exploring the different textures of each fish.
Ele-fish with its sharp, jagged tusks adds an element of excitement, while the crinkly Leaf Fish and shiny Starfish add auditory and visual stimulation. And the sweetest surprise is the soft and cuddly Mommy Fish at the end, ready for kisses!
17. Dishwasher’s Big Job
The Big Jobs board book series offers an engaging way for your child to discover and learn about the world beyond their homes. With its vibrant illustrations and playful humor, the series celebrates the inquisitive nature of children and explores the most intriguing subject of all: household appliances.
Join Dishwasher on its Big Job and discover how it tackles the daunting task of cleaning dirty dishes. From grime-covered spoons to stained cups, and spilled sippy cups, this delightful read-aloud will have parents and kids giggling as they learn how to get things sparkling clean.
18. Global Babies
This picture book showcases the diversity of cultures around the world with 17 brightly colored images of babies from different countries, including Bhutan and Guatemala. Each page provides insight into the customs, clothing, and daily routines of these infants, highlighting the universal love and importance of babies in every culture.
It is written in simple Spanish and English. Not only does it offer a delightful visual tour of the world, but a portion of the sales proceeds go to supporting community-based organizations through the Global Fund for Children, which assists vulnerable children and youth worldwide.
19. Where’s Ellie?: A Hide-and-Seek Book
Where’s Ellie is an interactive and engaging board book that little ones will adore. With vibrant illustrations, toddlers can search for Ellie the elephant among the bright and familiar objects on every page.
Ellie is cleverly hinted at throughout the book, but it isn’t until the final page that she’s discovered. The guessing game is sure to captivate young readers, prompting them to restart and play again!
20. Alphaprints: Colors
Your baby will love discovering a variety of colorful creatures, such as a blue whale swimming in the ocean or a yellow snake slithering through the desert.
Each animal is brought to life through large, bold fingerprints and raised embossing. With amusing images of everyday objects for babies to spot, this book is both educational and entertaining.
The graded pages are easy to flip and feature vibrant, multicolored foil edges, adding to the visual appeal.
21. Bye Bye, Binary
This humorous board book is the perfect baby shower gift for all parents-to-be who want to encourage their child to embrace their unique interests, regardless of traditional gender norms. With colorful illustrations and playful rhymes, it celebrates the joy of a happy infant who chooses toys, colors, and clothes based on what makes them smile.
22. Mail Duck
Mail Duck is on a delivery mission to his friends and has a special gift for each one of them. But what gift did each of them receive? Was it a heart-shaped gift for Harry or a triangle-shaped one for Trudy? To find out, young readers can lift the flaps and peek inside the packages.
After delivering all the gifts, Mail Duck is in for a surprise as his friends have planned a thank-you party for him, using the gifts he delivered. With sixteen flaps to lift and a double-gatefold ending, this heartwarming board book is full of surprises, laughter, and joy.
23. Little Blue Truck board book
Meet Blue, the little blue pickup truck that loves to go beep, beep, and beep! He’s always up for an adventure, especially on muddy country roads. But one day, he gets stuck while trying to pull a dump truck out of the muck. Luckily, Blue has made friends with some helpful animals along the way who are more than willing to lend a hand.
This heartwarming story celebrates the power of friendship and the importance of helping others. Plus, there’s even a downloadable party package included for more exciting adventures!
24. Tummy Time Friends
Tummy Time Buddies has been selected by Raising Readers to be given to every newborn in Maine during their four-month health check.
The adorable pictures of different babies will captivate toddlers long after they have surpassed the tummy time stage, while infants will lift their heads to gaze at the beautiful faces around them. The short and sweet sentences are perfect for holding the attention of babies and promoting their language development.
25. First 101 Words
With 101 different phrases and illustrations of animals, food, and more, this board book is a treasure trove for young learners. Your baby can explore shapes, sounds, colors, and numbers by lifting the large flaps. Plus, the wipe-off surface is perfect for interactive play, and the rounded edges ensure safety for young readers.
Why Are Board Books Good For Babies?
Board books are excellent for babies for several reasons. First and foremost, their durable construction makes them sturdy enough to withstand the rough handling and chewing that babies often subject their toys to.
They also have thick pages that are easy for tiny hands to turn, allowing even the youngest readers to interact with the book. Board books are often designed with bright, bold colors and simple illustrations, making them visually appealing to babies and helping to develop their visual and cognitive abilities (2).
Why Are Black And White Books Good For Babies?
Black and white books are good for babies because they provide high-contrast images that are easier for a baby’s developing visual system to detect and process (3). In the first few months of life, babies can only see high-contrast colors such as black, white, and red. As they continue to develop, they become better at distinguishing between different colors and shades.
High-contrast books can help stimulate a baby’s visual development, as well as promote visual tracking and attention. They can also aid in building visual memory and help babies learn to focus and concentrate.
What Is The Difference Between A Board Book And A Regular Page Book?
The main difference between a board book and a regular page book is the material used for their pages. Board books are typically made with thick cardboard or paperboard, which makes them more durable and able to withstand the rough handling and chewing of young children.
The pages of board books are also usually coated or laminated to resist spills, stains, and tearing. In contrast, regular page books are made with thinner paper and are often bound together using glue or stitching. They are generally more suitable for older children and adults who can handle them with care.
