Our Favorite Board Books for Babies and Toddlers

My little guy loves books. We read every day, and always before bed. He’s learning to turn the pages and will sit with his books by himself for a long while. They’re also great to take along in the car and to restaurants. Here are some of our favorite board books:

Joyce Wan Books

Beautiful, bright illustrations, sweet text. My son loves these. This is just a few of her books.

My Lucky Little Dragon by Joyce Wan

You Are My Cupcake by Joyce Wan
Hug You, Kiss You, Love You by Joyce Wan
We Belong Together by Joyce Wan
Are You My Mommy? by Joyce Wan

Heads, Tails and Noses by Kidbooks
Cute, colorful and easy to read, but what my son and I LOVE about these books is that they have felt pieces that stick out from each page making it easy for him to turn the pages.
Owl’s Forest Numbers
Jumbo’s Jungle Colors
Daisy’s Dinosaur Opposites
Pinky’s Farm: Moms and Babies

These books make learning to turn pages a snap.

Interactive Books

Books with actions you can do together or pages for the toddler to lift flaps, push buttons or pull tabs.

Tickle Time by Sandra Boynton

Clap Your Hands by Lorinda Bryan Cauley

The Wheels on the Bus by Jerry Smath

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Colors All Around by Disney Junior

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Toon Car Road Trip by Disney Junior
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Lights On, Lights Off! by Disney Junior

Elmo’s World First Flap Book Library Set by Sesame Street

Pop-up Peekaboo: Things that Go

Pop-up Peekaboo: Woof! Woof!

Pop-up Peekaboo: Farm

Pop-up Peekaboo: Colors

Bedtime Books

The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton

Pajama Time by Sandra Boynton

Bedtime pop-up peekaboo! by DK

Little Owl’s Night by Divya Srinivasam

Down in the Woods at Sleepytime by Carole Lexa Schaefer

Kiss Good Night by Amy Hest

Good Night America by Adam Gamble

It’s Time to Sleep My Love by Nancy Tillman

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Other Nursery Rhymes by Tiger Tales

Reading every day–even at this age is vital–but how many babies sit still for an entire board book? On those high energy days we choose books with the fewest words. They are still learning book skills, such as holding the book up-right, turning pages and word boundaries. These are bright, colorful books with illustrations little ones love.

Books with one word per page: quick to read and
great for asking questions and pointing to things.

BabyLit Books

Love, love, love these. What a great way to introduce your little ones to your favorite classics. Each book teaches an age-appropriate skill such as colors and numbers.

Huckleberry Finn A Camping Primer by Jennifer Adams

Pride and Prejudice A Counting Primer by Jennifer Adams

Frankenstein An Anatomy Primer by Jennifer Adams

Wonderful Wizard of Oz A Colors Primer by Jennifer Adams

Moby Dick An Ocean Primer by Jennifer Adams

Jungle Book An Animals Primer by Jennifer Adams

Alice in Wonderland A Colors Primer by Jennifer Adams

Jane Eyre A Counting Primer by Jennifer Adams
Romeo and Juliet A Counting Primer by Jennifer Adams
Anna Karenina A Fashion Primer by Jennifer Adams
Dracula A Counting Primer by Jennifer Adams
Wuthering Heights A Weather Primer by Jennifer Adams
Sense and Sensibility An Opposites Primer by Jennifer Adams
Jabberwocky A Nonsense Primer by Jennifer Adams

Sherlock Holmes in the Hound of the Baskervilles A Sounds Primer by Jennifer Adams
A Christmas Carol A Colors Primer by Jennifer Adams

Cozy Classics

My son loves the photos in these books. The doll characters are charming.

Tom Sawyer by Jack Wang

Huckleberry Finn by Jack Wang

Pride and Prejudice by Jack Wang
Moby Dick by Holman Wang
Les Miserables by Jack Wang
Emma by Jack Wang
War and Peace by Jack Wang
Jane Eyre by Jack Wang
Oliver Twist by Jack Wang
Great Expectations by Holman Wang (coming out May 2015)

Les Petits Fairytales
One to two words per page, but you can easily expand them by retelling the stories in your own words and discussing the illustrations.

Beauty and the Beast by Trixie Belle
The Little Mermaid by Trixie Belle