10 Books to Read with Your Baby

I started reading to Honeybun when she was in my belly.  I would read the books I bought for her as I found them and sing her songs.  When she was born she became infatuated with books at a very early age and while we read frequently throughout the day, we also began incorporating books into her bedtime routine when she was about 8 months old.  As a toddler she was very into books and we spent the majority of our days snuggled on the couch reading her stacks and stacks of favorite books.

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And while I didn’t read nearly as much with Sugarplum when she was a baby (unless she was in on my reading with Sugarplum) and I read even less with Doodle because Honeybun was at school and Sugarplum wasn’t a reader, I still value the importance of reading with children from the start.  I know how important it is to make the time and hopefully fourth time will be a charm and I can succeed with this new baby like I did with Honeybun.

Sometimes, though, the hardest part of reading with young children can be finding materials that they like and we as parents like.  Young babies are not very discerning, they’ll listen to anything, but as they get older they start developing preferences for what they want to hear.

So here is my list of top 10 favorite books to read with your baby:

1.  Mama Loves You

I found this book when I was still teaching preschool while (before?) I was pregnant with Honeybun and I fell in love instantly.  The simple, rhyming story which introduces animals and shares a message of motherly love is still one of my favorites (and always my pick) for bedtime reading.

2. Are You My Mother?

This is a classic I grew up with and remember fondly.  And while I had the full version chornicalling a baby bird’s journey out of the nest to find his mother, my kids have enjoyed the abridged board book version just as much!

3. The Runaway Bunny

I know that Goodnight Moon has a bit of a cult following but it was never my most favorite.  The Runaway Bunny definitely steals my heart as the best Margaret Wise Brown book for little ones.  I love the simple text, alternating black and white pictures and to message that mommy will always be there.

4. Five Little Ducklings

Five Little Ducks is one of the songs I used to sing to Honeybun a lot when she was in my belly and when she was born, I could sing her the song and it would calm her down, it was like magic (seriously, try this trick!)  I was delighted when I found this book near the end of my pregnancy because the plush ducks are just too cute and because the story is adapted, you can read it as is or sing the song while flipping the pages instead.  All of my kids have always loved when I get to “sad mama duck went out one day…” and pretend to cry, it’s a classic book and song for little ones!

5. Daddy Hug

I’m sure you were sensing a theme here and might have been getting concerned, but don’t worry, I’ve got something for everybody!  This little gem is one we came across in a discount book store one day while out wandering around Dublin City Centre and Honeybun fell in love immediately.  The awesome pictures, flowing text and message of fatherly love can’t be beat!

6. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

This classic is a must-have for any children’s library.  The rhyming text and introduction of primary colors sucks little ones in and was a favorite of Honeybun’s before she was even coordinated enough to pick up the large picture book!

7. The Very Busy Spider

Perhaps not Eric Carle’s most popular or well known book, The Very Busy Spider is deifnitely my favorite for babies.  The story which features farm animals is a great introduction to these animals and the sounds they make.

8. Mr. Brown Can Moo!  Can You?

Again, not Dr. Seuss’s most beloved book, this is my favorite for babies because it reads quickly, keeping their attention and introduces lots of different sounds from our environment.  It’s great for older babies who are beginning to babble, imitate sounds and make their first words as you can encourage them to make all the sounds in the book with you.

9. Hugs and Kisses

This short and sweet book features touchable, textured pictures and curious puppy who seeks the best kiss of all with a super sweet ending of “the best kiss of all.”

10. Home For a Bunny

This gem, perhaps even less known that The Runaway Bunny, was a childhood favorite of my sister’s.  The is the tale of a cute little bunny seeking a forest home and all the animals he meets along the way.

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