Are you looking for the best baby books? Well, you’ve come to the right place. A book is a wonderful gift for a baby. Australian author Mem Fox recommends reading to your child from birth. Her book, ‘Reading Magic,’ explores how reading aloud to children increases their emotional understanding and intellect. In addition, reading to a child demonstrates that reading is enjoyable. Sharing stories together is also an opportunity to show them they are nurtured and loved. You can even start reading to your child before they are born, so add a book to your baby shower shopping list as well.

Here’s my list of the best baby books, which have been tried and tested on my own kids, as well as the many I have read in a childcare education setting. The best books for babies are board books. Though a newborn has little contact with a book other than looking at it, in just six months they are sure to be holding, chewing and drooling all over it, so it’s good to invest in something that is designed for this stage of life. Also, I recommend having a selection of picture books that can be kept away from teething gums but shared together as part of bedtime reading.

For this age group, look for books with repetition and rhyme, bright illustrations with high contrast and simple but lyrical language. Books with different textures are also highly appealing to this age group, so keep an eye out for felt and fabric books for that added sensory engagement. Especially consider board books, nursery rhyme collections and picture books.

Best Baby Books – Board Books

This is Me by Sally Morgan

Welcome Child by Sally Morgan

My First Australian Books series by Bronwyn Bancroft

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox

Kissed by the Moon by Alison Lester

My First Colours by DK Books

Alphaprint series

My First Library by Wonderhouse

Our Birds by Brownyn Bancroft

Touch and Feel series by Little Hippo Books

Peekaboo Baby by Ingela P Arrhenius

Trucks and Things that Go by Priddy Books

Rescue Vehicles by BabyTouch

Cloth books by Lamaze

Best Baby Books – Nursery Rhyme Collections

The Big Book of Australian Nursery Rhymes by Frane Lessac

Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhymes Illustrated by Axel Scheffler

Mother Goose Treasury by Parragon Books

100 Favourite Nursery Rhymes by Usborne Books

A Boat of Stars: New Poems to Inspire and Enchant by HarperCollins

Best Baby Books – Picture Books

My Sunbeam Baby by Emma Quay

I Just Couldn’t Wait to Meet You by Kate Ritchie

Welcome Baby to this World by Jess Rackyleft

Up and Down on a Rainy Day by Kat Apel

Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Toddle Woddle by Julia Donaldson

Brown Bear Brown Bear What do You See by Bill Martin Jnr and Eric Carle

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

I hope you enjoy finding these literary treasures to share with someone you love. Perhaps some will become treasured keepsakes that will be passed on to the next generation. Don’t forget to check out my other book lists, so you can continue to find books that appeal to the children in your life as they keep growing.

And don’t forget to check out my list of publications here.

If you have a favourite baby book that you’d like to recommend, click here to access my contact page. I’d love to hear from you.

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