Favorite Board Books for Babies

Jennie Utsinger said:  Carry Me by Rena Grossman has been a favorite for all three of my children. Babies love looking at photographs of other babies, and each page includes a picture of a loved one carrying a baby, on fronts, backs, and sides, using arms, a sling, a basket, or a structured carrier. The book highlights a wonderful range of countries and cultures throughout the world, so is a great way to add diversity to your library.

Hannah Scott said:  When I first read the description of this Usborne book for babies, it didn't sound all that exciting. When I actually opened it to read with my kids for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised by how charming it is! Throughout the story, the reader is looking for little fox through the cutouts on each page. Each page has indented areas (some with texture, some without) for babies to touch, and the illustrations are bright and full of little animals in nature scenes. Such a cute find!

Hannah Scott said:  This book by Laura Krauss Melmed is everything you could ever want in a children's story: gorgeous painted illustrations (by Henri Sorensen), beautifully crafted poetry, and an overarching theme of unconditional love from mother to baby. I've read this one over and over, and I never get tired of it!

Hannah Scott said:  This wordless story by Peggy Rathmann tells the tale through delightful illustrations of a gorilla who follows the zookeeper home -- and takes the whole zoo with him! You can "read" this with your babies for the pictures at first, but it turns into a great chance for an older child to explain what's going on without the use of text.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  My kids loved this book when they were little! Written by Don and Audrey Wood, The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear is cute and funny for young children as a little mouse wants a big, ripe strawberry all to himself. As the narrator convinces him, a hungry bear will get it, the mouse tries to hide and disguise the strawberry until a much better solution is created that demonstrates the theme of sharing. My kids would ask to read it over and over and I'm sure other kids will enjoy it just as much!

Hannah Scott said:  This classic by Margaret Wise Brown is the perfect bedtime story as all of the farm animals wind down at the end of the day. I love watching the color of the illustrations darken as the day goes on! This story is responsible for my child's love of all things farm, and helped him with his speech delay as he began to point to the animals and make the sounds!