Are you wondering what you should read to your baby in their first year? This guide has all the best books for babies that will help them thrive in their first year.
Reading to your little one has many wonderful benefits, starting at an early age. Although they won’t understand what you are reading at the beginning, it is still a great way to get into the habit of reading with them. It is also a fantastic way for you to bond.
Storytime is known to help with cognitive thinking skills and language development. It will enhance memory and will help them build a vocabulary. By the time your baby has their first birthday, they will learn all the sounds needed to start forming words in their native language.
There is no minimum age requirement to start reading with your young baby. You can even begin to read with them as a newborn.
I loved reading to my daughter as a newborn and throughout her baby years. We make it part of her bedtime routine. Now that she is a toddler, she absolutely LOVES books. Seriously, she often hands me a book to read to her instead of playing with toys. To me, this is a mom-win!
Here you will find lists of age-appropriate books, how to read to your baby, and the different types of books. A handful of the books you will see here are classics. Because, of course, we have to have some classics in the library.
One of my favorite things about reading a classic book to my daughter is the beautiful memories it brings back to when I was a little girl. Now I get to help create those memories for her.
This post is all about the best books for babies in their first year.
The Best Books For Babies
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What Books Should I Read To My Newborn?
During the newborn stage of 0-3 months, your baby will be developing their sight. During this time, the books they will enjoy the most are simple words with bold illustrations or books with black and white patterns.
You can also introduce other long story books you enjoyed reading as a child. When they are still this young, funny enough, it will be the easiest time to read them those stories. As they get older, they really enjoy flipping through books quickly. It does get harder to get through each page, but this is part of the fun!
At this age, since they will be doing plenty of tummy time, you can place the books in front of them to give them motivation. It’s also enjoyable for the two of you to read in the rocking chair, bean bag, or designated reading spot for some sweet bonding time.
When reading to your newborn or young babies, read slowly, point out things on the pages and say what they are, use fun voices, and turn the pages for them so they learn the actions. Turning pages becomes so fun for them as they get older. So much so that they will be flipping pages before you finish reading a complete sentence.
A List Of The Best Books for Newborns:
- Look Look By Peter Linenthal
- Goodnight Moon By Margaret Wise Brown & Buffy Allen
- I Kissed The Baby By Mary Murphy
- Hello, Baby Animals By Duopress Labs
- Hello, My World By Duopress Labs
- Hello, Ocean Friends By Duopress Labs
- I Love You To The Moon And Back By Amelia Hepworth & Eileen Stevens
- The Rainbow Fish By Marcus Pfister
- Moo, Baa, LaLaLa By Sandra Boynton
What Types Of Books Are Best For Babies?
As your little one is growing and becoming better with hand mobility, it is recommended to start introducing interactive board books to the baby’s library. Books with different textures, lift the flap, finger puppets, and mirrors are fun for them and help them become more interested while learning.
At first, you will, of course, need to show them how to touch the textures or lift the flaps. Simply put their little hands over the texture surfaces for them to feel. Over time they will get it and start doing it themselves.
My daughter is a toddler now, and some of her favorite things to read are still interactive books. She even enjoys touching them with her feet. (it’s hilariously cute.)
Interactive books make reading more fun for your little one and help create a love of books.
Don’t be surprised If your baby wants you to read the same book repeatedly. It can feel repetitive for you, but it is an excellent way for them to learn. It’s also interesting to see which books they favor over others.
Books with pictures of real people (specifically pictures of real babies) and animals also become very interesting to babies around 9 months.
A study by The University of London says babies love books with photos of humans, animals, cars, etc. because it helps them associate what they see in books with what they experience in everyday life. Books with real images have also been shown to increase vocabulary and letter recognition more than books with colorful illustrations.
Having a library with different types of books is ideal for young readers. This way, they will have a variety of books to learn from and opinions on which ones they prefer.
This is a list of fantastic books my daughter really loves; most are very popular among babies. These books also make the perfect baby shower gifts.
I recommend purchasing these in sturdy board book form. Babies can easily tear, crinkle, and even chew on books, so board books are the way to go. It is also easier for them to learn to turn the pages on their own.
The Best Baby Books:
- Where Is Spot By Eric Hill
- Where Is Baby’s Belly Button By Karen Katz
- Kisses, Kisses Head To Toe By Karen Katz
- Touch And Feel, Ella’s Bath Time By Little Hippo Books and Xenia Pavlova
- Touch And Feel, Ocean Friends By Little Hippo Books
- Baby Animals By Roger Priddy
- Itsy-Bitsy Spider By Cottage Door Press
- Five Little Monkeys By Cottage Door Press
- Opposites By Sandra Boynton
- Let’s Count By Union Square Kids
- The Babies And Doggies Book By John Schindel and Molly Woodward (this was my daughter’s first favorite book)
- Baby’s Feelings By Little Hippo Books
- First 100 Words By Roger Priddy
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar By Eric Carle
- Where’s The Dog? By Ingela P Arrhenius
- Baby Touch And Feel, Trucks By Little Hippo Books
What To Read To A Newly 1 Year Old
When your baby becomes a pre-toddler, they start to understand and grasp more of what they see and hear you read.
At this age, it is a good time to Introduce nursery rhymes, books with rhyme and rhythm, and simple stories. They will also have formed an opinion of which types of books they like best. It’s a good idea to purchase more of the kinds of books they prefer so you can keep them interested and eager to open a book.
If you haven’t already, now is the best time to create a habit of reading to your little one at the end of the day. As It is the perfect way to wind down before bedtime and also get in some relaxing bonding time.
They will associate books with comfort and joy by reading to them often in their first year. This is the best way to set them up for success with reading as they get older.
A List Of Great Books For 1 Year Old
- Jamberry By Bruce Degan
- Brown Bear By Bill Martin Jr & Eric Carle
- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom By Bill Martin Jr
- Llama Llama Red Pajama By Anna Dewdney
- The Pout-Pout Fish By Deborah Diesen
- Ricky, The Rock That Couldn’t Roll By Mr. Jay and Erin Wozniak
- Around The Farm By Eric Carle
- Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? By Bill Martin Jr & Eric Carle
- If Animals Kissed Goodnight By Ann Whitford Paul, Bradley Whitford
- One Fish, Two Fish By Dr. Seuss
- Green Eggs And Ham By Dr. Seuss
- Little Blue Truck By Alice Shertle
- Where The Wild Things Are By Maurice Sendak
- Love You Forever By Robert Munsch
Final Thoughts
With these lists of the best books for babies, you will have created the ultimate starter library for your little one’s first year. Your baby will learn everything from colors, numbers, words, feelings, animals, words and everything in between. By making reading part of their everyday activities, they will grow a love for books and reading. Not to mention, the bonding time while reading with your baby are memories you will both cherish for a lifetime.
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