Whether you are searching for the perfect book for your baby's first year, or you've decided that a book would make an ideal baby shower gift, you've come to the right place.
Below, you will find a carefully curated list of outstanding titles for the youngest of "readers".
Criteria for selecting:
- Excellent for family reading, and for a child to explore independently
- Board books only: easy for small fingers to flip and tough to tear apart
- Aligned with Montessori principles
- Easily accessible online or in local stores
I’m a fan of buying used books. It’s possible to get an entire box of them for the price of one hardcover, and most of the time they are in great condition. Besides the obvious benefit of saving money, opting for used books also reduces our waste and carbon footprint.
There are occasions, however, when you might prefer a brand new edition. Perhaps you're selecting a gift, or you simply enjoy the scent of freshly printed pages. For the titles listed below, you'll find links to marketplaces for both used and new books alike.
First 100 Words
by Roger Priddy
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"First 100 Words" is a part of the series of books perfectly tailored for a young child's learning cravings. Finding out the names of objects from everyday life is a natural interest, and the clear photographs in this book will make young learners come back to it time and again. It's hard to go wrong with virtually any book by Roger Priddy. |
Baby Animals Black and White
by Phyllis Limbacher Tildes
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This book is excellent from the first months of a newborn's life. The high-contrast, realistic illustrations are as appealing at 2 months as they are at 2 years of age. |
Global Babies
by The Global Fund for Children
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Do you know what babies find fascinating? Other babies! "Global Babies" features beautiful photos of little humans from various cultures around the globe. If your newborn enjoys this title, consider exploring more baby books from this series by The Global Fund for Children. |
Touch & Feel Baby Animals
by Roger Priddy
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Am I biased in favor of Priddy books? Possibly. But here is another gem for the youngest readers: "Touch & Feel Baby Animals." Physical touch is a crucial learning tool during a child's early years. Different tactile experiences captivate infants and toddlers much more than they do older children.. You can find many board books with different surfaces for tactile exploration. This particular title stands out as the best touch-and-feel book I've encountered. The textures are of high quality and are intuitively integrated with the book's content. Additionally, the pictures are clear and free from unnecessary "noise," a surprisingly rare quality in this genre. |
Ten Nine Eight
by Molly Bang
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"Ten, Nine, Eight" is a very thoughtfully crafted book. It ties the introduction to counting with the familiar bedtime routine, and the beautiful illustrations make the story flow seamlessly. As with other books for infants and toddlers, consider a board book rather than a paperback. |
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
by Eric Carle
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When I learned that 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' has remained an all-time classic for over 50 years, I wasn't particularly surprised. With its unique design, attractive art, and engaging story, this book will continue to captivate future generations of young readers. |
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
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One of the best books for babies between 3 and 12 months to explore. Creative yet realistic art, combined with bright colors with strong contrast against the white pages of this book has appealed to small children for generations. |
There are many, many more wonderful titles for this age. Hopefully this list will be a good starting point for your child's literary adventures.
If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to comment below!
Also, check out our other articles from this series:
