No nursery is complete without a library of classic baby books. Even the youngest baby will love hearing her voice as they snuggle together for story time.
Make reading a part of your routine from the start and you’ll find it becomes a cherished tradition that helps little ones drift into the world of dreams while teaching them languages and increasing their understanding of the world. where to start? that’s easy as abc. Here are 15 classic books that belong in every nursery (and make the perfect baby shower gift)!
You are reading: Classic books for babies
goodnight moon, by margaret wise brown, illustrated by clement hurd
This might be the most famous baby book of all time, and for good reason. Saying goodnight to every object in the room (“goodnight bears, goodnight chairs”) makes bedtime feel safe and cozy. the poetic rhythm can lull you to sleep it was good!
guess how much i love you?, by sam mcbratney, illustrated by anita jeram
A young rabbit tries to express his feelings in this heartwarming story about the mutual love of a father and son. Have you ever heard the expression “I love you to the moon and back”? It’s probably from this classic baby book.
grizzly, grizzly, what do you see?, by bill martin jr. & eric carle
Each animal in this colorful board book is asked the same question: “what do you see?” the answer appears on the next page where a new animal (such as a yellow duck or a blue horse) is revealed. The words to the song are fun to read and your baby will be coloring in no time.
the very hungry caterpillar, by eric carle
Our caterpillar starts eating “through” an apple on Monday (there’s a caterpillar-sized hole in the book to look through). still hungry, he tries new foods every day until he is big enough to become a butterfly. The simple story teaches numbers, foods, and the days of the week, and might get your baby excited about solid foods!
time to go to bed, by mem fox, illustrated by jane dyer
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animal moms snuggle up to their babies and remind them that it’s night-night in beautiful rhyming verses like “it’s bedtime, little lamb, little lamb/the whole world is going to sleep.” soothing and dreamy, this one works every time.
green eggs and ham, by dr. seuss
this dr. seuss classic is easy for young readers to understand and a lot of fun, as the overzealous sam-i-am tries to convince the narrator to try green eggs and ham served in all sorts of rhymes: in the rain, in a train, with a fox, in a box.
Goodnight Gorilla, by Peggy Rathman 
The magic of Good Night Gorilla is that it has very few words, allowing you to explain its funny story to your baby. In a nutshell, a mischievous gorilla steals the zookeeper’s keys and lets all the animals out of his cage. Mrs. the zookeeper finds them napping at his house and takes them back to where they belong.
go dog, go, p.s. this
Dogs of all varieties – big and small, black and white, fast and slow – come together for one big dog party, cleverly conveying the concept of opposites. add some silly hats and you’ll understand why this one never runs out.
corduroy, by don freeman
A teddy bear who lives in a department store dreams of a little girl buying him, but first he must replace his missing button, even if he has to search the entire store. the heartwarming story comes with a valuable lesson: we are loved for who we are, imperfections and all.
pajama time, by sandra boynton
Parents will debate their favorite sandra boynton books, and you really can’t go wrong, but we like any story that celebrates bedtime! the funny animals of pajama time dress up in their funny pajamas, sing and dance to sleep.
jamberry, by bruce degen
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A boy and his bear friend travel through berry wonderland. The musical pun, “berryband, merryband, jamming in berryland,” is incredibly fun to read aloud, and you’ll always find something new to point out in the gorgeous illustrations.
siesta house, by audrey wood, illustrated by don wood
begins, “there is a house, a house to nap, where everyone sleeps.” each page adds characters to the story, like a grandmother and a child, all sleeping peacefully…at least until the hilarious surprise ending.
madeline, by ludwig bemelmans
Do you remember the story of 12 little girls in two straight lines? It has certainly stood the test of time, with countless film and television adaptations. Although the brave heroine suffers from appendicitis, all ends well, and we admire how the little heroine at the center of this classic book handles adversity.
the snowy day, by ezra jack keats
peter wakes up in a snowy wonderland and goes exploring, making footprints with a stick and forging snowballs. a little boy’s point of view is so beautifully observed that he will remember exactly how it felt to be little.
let’s go bear hunting, by michael rosen and helen oxenbury
A family embarks on a bumpy adventure in search of a bear. whether they’re sailing through thick, muddy mud or a dark, dingy cave, they always approach with the same determined refrain: “we can’t go under. we can’t get over it. oh no, we’ll have to go through that!” it’s a great lesson in dealing with fears, and the onomatopoeic descriptions (“squelch squelch”) are great to read aloud.
more baby books for your room:
- best books for a baby’s first year
- interactive books for toddlers
- books for the first day of school
- books about race, justice and equality
- books that celebrate lgbtq+ stories
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Disclaimer: The information on our site is not medical advice for any specific person or condition. it is only intended as general information. If you have medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, contact your health care provider.
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