The 25 Best Board Books Ever
July 7, 2009That’s quite a claim isn’t it? I’m up for the challenge. Let me know if you have others – this is an evolving list! I’m looking for input. Here we go…
1
Dear Zoo
You absolutely need this book.
2
Pat the Bunny
This book is older than all of us combined. I once witnessed 2 35-year-old men having a full discussion about the book.
3
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
If your adorables don’t put their fingers through the holes, you can forget about Harvard.
4
Goodnight Moon
A rythmic lilt to soothe babes to sleep.
5
Dr. Seuss ABC
A great way to introduce the alphabet – it’s fun too.
6
Peekaboo kisses
What baby doesn’t love Peekaboo? It’s a winner.
7
Bright Baby First Words
When your adorables start to say these words, I don’t care who you are, you melt.
8
Touch and Feel…
Any of this series. Interactive keeps them interested. Just try to limit yourself to 2 or 3.
9
Hop on Pop
Dr. Seuss knew what he was doing. My adorables just love this.
10
That’s Not My…
Any of this series. Have them find the mouse too. Again, limit yourself to 2 or 3.
11
Ten Little Rubber Ducks
The squeaky duck at the end of the book is worth the price of admission.
12
DK My First Animal Board Book
Like 5 books in one, this is an excellent travel book as there is a lot to look at.
13
Hippos Go Beserk
A clever way to introduce counting.
14
Tumble Bumble
The rhythmic lilt of the prose is really something.
15
A You’re Adorable
A great way to introduce the alphabet. Easy to memorize.
16
Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear?
A fun rhythym and great for bedtime.
17
The Big Hungry Bear
Clever and fun.
18
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Great combination to teach colors and animal names.
19
Good Night, Gorilla
Consistently, my kids favorite book. The black page with the eyes has my adorables rolling. Really whoop it up for them.
20
Little Bee (or Little Duck, etc) Finger Puppet Book
The puppet was mind-boggling for my adorables.
21
Put Me in the Zoo
Colors, descriptive words and a fun story.
22
Barnyard Dance
This dance is a fun part of bedtime when this book comes out. Get up and get down.
23
Five (or Ten) Little Ladybugs
Great for counting. Have your adorables hold your finger and point as you count.
25
Snoozers
The book title says it better than I could: “Seven short short bedtime stories for lively little kids”.
If you can find it on the used market (I think it just was too expensive to produce, but it is AWESOME):
Up Goes the Bunny
The adorables were strong enough to push the button at one year and then they didn’t stop.
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Tags: 25 best board books, Board Books, books for kids |
WT
on July 7, 2009 9:02 amEvery one of these books is wonderful! Thanks for putting this list together!
Christine
on September 29, 2009 11:22 pmTerrific list! Definitely need to add Where’s Spot? and Moo Baa Lalala.
Will Hull - HullabalooStories.com
on September 30, 2009 9:04 amWe have Goodnight Moon, The very hungry catepillar, put me in the zoo and brown bear, brown bear what do you see and we custom made some of our own for our daughter of 15 months. We even have a little hobby going:
http://www.hullabaloostories.com
or
http://www.facebook.com/HullabalooStories
Great list. I am going to try to pick up some of the others.
Heidi Farmer
on September 30, 2009 8:25 pmOh man! Forgot about Where’s Spot?!! I could have added 15 Sandra Boynton books (Moo Baa Lalala), so consider this the disclaimer that you should have 5 or 6 Sandra Boynton board books in your library. They are amazing and winners every time!
Katie
on December 29, 2009 10:26 amFantastic list – thanks! My only suggested addition would be Bear Snores On.
Nic
on January 28, 2010 5:31 pm“Good Night Gorilla” and “Jamberry” are perennial favorites for my kids. I have both of them near to hand, and read them to younger neighbor kids when they come by and need to be contained for a bit.
There’s actually a lot going on in “Good Night, Gorilla”; if you keep it in circulation as they get older, they will notice more and more of the subtlety. Fun!
Joy G
on May 28, 2010 6:07 pmOh my mom used to read Barnyard Dance to my kids…What wonderful memories a good group of books can bring!
Heather
on August 14, 2010 3:41 amMy 2 yr old loves The Giant Jam Sandwich and Chicka Chicka ABC.
john
on November 13, 2011 11:04 amJamberry & Goodnight Moon are two of the book I least like reading to my kids. Just saying. Good Night, Gorilla is probably my fave on this list.
MomE
on April 20, 2013 1:37 amGreat list – but I do have some more that are equally as wonderful.
I just created a list to share on Amazon. You’re free to check it out and add to your list as you see fit.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/R1BRCDA6L6O/
Abigail
on November 5, 2013 12:25 pmmy 15 month old loves Hooray for Fish by Lucy Cousins we got it for him when he was 9 months old at an aquarium and he still loves me to read it to him daily
KK
on October 4, 2014 10:28 pmYou should add Nap-a-Roo Board Book- Its SO cute, which great pictures, and about naps… Which is rare, most baby books are about night time.
http://www.amazon.com/Nap-Roo-Kristy-Kurjan/dp/0986075000
Johnny Ray Moore
on October 19, 2019 5:06 pmThanks for the interesting and insightful list! And, because your list is always evolving, please add THE STORY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., a 200-word, board book classic, roughly 200 words, written by Johnny Ray Moore and illustrated by Amy Wummer. Cheers…
P.s. I am Johnny Ray Moore, poet & children’s author. My 8th children’s book, SO MANY QUESTIONS, a rhyming picture book, highlighting people of color, will be released in a few more weeks. I will send you a sample of that book, per your request. Of course, my specialty is writing for very young children…