best educational books for babies
baby loves gravity!
- price: $
- age: 1-4 years
- author: ruth spiro
- publication date: 2018
“my baby loves gravity!” is an installment in the series baby loves science. This is an adorable and easy-to-read board book with simple sentences that break down the complex scientific concept of gravity. Little ones will love the brightly colored pages, and caregivers will enjoy narrating the adorable sound effects.
rocket science for babies
- price: $
- age: 1-4 years
- author: chris ferrie
- publication date: 2017
It’s never too early to encourage STEAM learning (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) with your little one. “Rocket Science for Babies” is part of the college board book series for babies, and this installment deals with aerospace engineering. For maximum effect, read this book with enthusiasm to help your baby understand the ups and downs (pun intended!) of rocket science.
You are reading: Educational books for babies
my first abc: the metropolitan museum of art
- price: $$
- age: 0+
- author: new york metropolitan museum of art
- publication date: 2002
Help baby learn their ABCs by associating each letter with a unique image that happens to be an iconic piece of art. The detailed images on this board book help foster a love of reading. Don’t be surprised if her little one likes to flip through the pages even when she’s not reading it to him!
during the day during the night
- price: $
- age: 0-2 years
- author: william low
- publication date: 2015
Who doesn’t love animals? With this adorable and simple board book, your little one will have one of their first introductions to wildlife and learn which animals are active during the day and which are active at night. Both you and your little one will love the full-color, realistic illustrations, and the simple one- or two-word text on each page will keep even young babies interested.
the little chatterbox loves colors
- price: $
- age: 1-4 years
- author: lauren thompson
- publication date: 2009
The association of words and colors, in addition to the adorable and colorful illustrations, are some of the biggest attractions of this board book. Your toddler will quickly learn how to tell the colors apart, as the actual name of each color is written in that shade. Plus, simple sentences will help engage older babies.
best bilingual books for babies
the very hungry caterpillar / the very hungry caterpillar
- price: $
- age: 1-4 years
- author: eric carle
- publication date: 2011
Although technically much older than this publication date, this adorable classic has become a useful bilingual board book that teaches your child English and Spanish. Colorful drawings and detailed descriptions help kids understand numbers and common fruits they’ll encounter regularly. And dual languages on each page make it easy for caregivers to read this fan-favorite to their little one, whether they speak English or Spanish.
I love my dad because… / I love my dad because…
- price: $
- age: 1-4 years
- author: laurel porter-gaylord
- publication date: 2004
This cute board book features adorable baby animals with their parents. it focuses on daily activities, making it relatable to older infants and toddlers as they notice similarities between the animals’ lives and their own. Best of all, the animals in the book are clearly labeled in English and Spanish to help expand your child’s vocabulary.
fix it! / to repair!
- price: $
- age: 1-4 years
- author: georgie birkett
- publication date: 2013
broken toys are part of growing up, but “fix it!” It’s part of the Helping Hands series of books and teaches little ones to understand the steps involved in repairing broken toys or replacing batteries. This colorful paperback features simple sentences in both English and Spanish and makes it easy to learn key Spanish vocabulary words.
While this book is about battery replacement, batteries and other small parts should be kept out of the reach of small children as they can be a choking hazard.
party!
- price: $
- age: 6 months+
- author: ginger foglesong boy
- publication date: 2007
Getting ready for a party has never been so easy! In this bilingual counting book, you and your little ones will follow a group of children as they travel around town collecting everything they need for an upcoming party. In addition to learning to count, this easy-to-follow story also helps build your child’s Spanish vocabulary.
the little mouse, the ripe red strawberry, and the big hungry bear / the little mouse, the ripe red strawberry, and the hungry big bear
- price: $
- age: 6 months+
- author: don and audrey wood
- publication date: 1997
Available as a bilingual English/Spanish board book as well as a Spanish paperback and hardcover, this adorable book is a fan favorite for good reason. Your little ones will listen excitedly as you cheer on the adventures of a cheeky mouse who must hide his loot of strawberries from a hungry bear. Everyone will love the full-color illustrations and breathe a sigh of relief as you and the mouse enjoy the sweet rewards.
red racer presents abcs of racing my first guide to formula 1 racing
- price: $$
- age: 2-6 years
- author:andy amendola
- publication date: 2022
Sports fans will rejoice at this fun twist on the alphabet. While most alphabet books focus on tried-and-true classics like “a is for apple,” this cute version ups the ante by introducing concepts like early stem with parallels like “a is for aerodynamics.” Better yet, this book is available in English and Spanish. Parents and children alike will love the vivid, full-color illustrations, and racing fans in particular will appreciate this ode to a popular sporting tradition.
best historical books for babies
maya: my first maya angelou
- price: $
- age: 18 months+
- author: lisbeth kaiser
- publication date: 2018
Introducing young children to historical figures can be difficult. The Little People, Big Dreams series of stories offers two options, hardcover and board, for each historical figure. board books are perfect for offering simple stories that introduce your little one to pivotal people like poet and civil rights activist maya angelou, along with their diverse backgrounds and how they shaped our pop culture and shared history.
ali: my first muhammad ali
- price: $
- age: 18 months+
- author: maria isabel sanchez vegara
- publication date: 2020
How do you tackle complex concepts like peaceful protest and the quirky personalities of some of society’s most influential and prolific figures? Muhammad Ali’s board book from Little People, Big Dreams manages to seamlessly address his transition from Cassius Clay to Ali, as well as how he continued to inspire those around him even after his retirement from boxing.
the life of / the life of selena
- price: $
- age: 1-4 years
- author: patty rodriguez and ariana stein
- publication date: 2018
Selena Quintanilla is one of the most recognized Latin music artists of our time. Teach her little one about the Texan Queen with this simplified bilingual board book from Lil’ Books. This book is adorably illustrated in full color and highlights Selena’s lasting impact on her industry and her fans, and is easy to read for any caregiver of her little one.
the history of rap
- price: $
- age: 0-3 years
- author: caterpillar books publishers
- publication date: 2019
Whether you prefer your rap the vintage nwa way or you’re here for kendrick lamar telling us we’re gonna be alright, if you’re a true rap fan you’ve probably been introducing your baby to the greatest hits since you were still they were in the pothole. “The History of Rap” is a cute introduction for kids to the history of rap music from the days of grandmaster flash to now. You’ll recognize icons from Eminem and Jay Z to newcomers like Cardi B illustrated throughout the pages.
best interactive books for babies
I love you all day
- price: $$$
- age: 6 months+
- author: ana martín-larrañaga (illustrator)
- publication date: 2012
See Also: Susan Meissner – Book Series In Order
Babies are tactile, which makes I Love You All Day the perfect book for them. The full-color pages are further enhanced with game pieces that can be slipped into the pocket on each page. Your only challenge will be figuring out which baby game piece best suits the scenes on each page.
Although the game pieces are attached to the book with a string, it is important to ensure that they are securely fastened to avoid the risk of suffocation.
if i were a monkey
- price: $$
- age: 0-5 years old
- author:anne wilkinson
Babies love to play, and these board books from the jellycat series are the perfect solution. Your little one will love touching the various textures on each colorful page as they learn about the anatomy of an adorable monkey.
you are my work of art
- price: $$
- age: 2-5 years old
- author: sue dicicco
- publication date: 2011
Children need to know what makes them special, and this adorable story helps them learn that being unique is perfectly fine. They’ll love the colorful, interactive pages that encourage them to open the flaps, and they’ll appreciate being exposed to iconic works of art like “Starry Night” and “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.”
harold and the purple crayon
- price: $$
- age: 1 year+
- author: crockett johnson
- publication date: 2015
We all know that children have very creative imaginations, even at a young age. “Harold and the purple crayon” follows a little boy as he uses an oversized purple crayon to create amazing backgrounds that turn into exciting adventures. While the art in this book isn’t as colorful as others on our list, the engaging plot will help attract young readers.
visiting – visiting the farm
- price: $$
- age: 1 year+
- author: binibi
- publish date: 2021
Bilingual and interactive can go hand in hand, as seen in this cute little audible board book, “visiting – visiting the farm”. the little ones will learn to say popular names of farm animals in English and Spanish. Meanwhile, they can also press the button on each page to hear one of the cute farm animal sounds. choose between the cow, the horse, the pigs, the chicks or the sheep. there are even songs too. meanwhile, the page buttons encourage fine motor skill development.
who said moo?
- price: $
- age: 0-2 years
- author: yi-hsuan wu
- publish date: 2020
Involve your little one in the story by encouraging them to recreate the sounds of their favorite farm animal. With each page, children will not only recognize animals, but they will also be able to feel different textures and follow the story as they try to figure out which animal should match which sound. And younger babies will love the back page that features a child-safe mirror so they can practice their own sounds.
best baby books for diversity
baby dance
- price: $
- age: 0-2 years
- author: ann taylor
- publication date: 1998
Young babies will love the rhythmic nature of this adorable book that highlights a scenario many parents can relate to: a baby’s distress that a parent is sleeping while they’re awake. Colorful illustrations complement vintage lyrics by 19th-century poet Ann Taylor. Parents will also love that this book focuses on the relationship between a father and his daughter.
conscious day
- price: $$
- age: 2-5 years
- author: deborah hopkinson
- publication date: 2020
Although this is one of the few books not included in our list, we believe that the simple but important message of being mindful and learning to enjoy the moment are important lessons that cannot be taught too early in life. Full-color illustrations and soothing text will help baby and parents enjoy those last peaceful moments at night before drifting off to sleep.
best classic baby books
richard scarry’s trucks
- price: $
- age: 0-2 years
- author: richard scarry
- publication date: 2015
Parents who grew up immersed in the unique world of Richard Scarry will enjoy this fun trip down memory lane. trucks is a perfect board book for younger babies with short attention spans thanks to the simple text and colorful illustrations.
there’s a wocket in my pocket!
- price: $$$
- age: 0-4 years
- author: dr. seuss
- publication date: 1996
While this is an abridged version of the full hardcover book, “There’s a Wocket in My Pocket” is a fun rhyming book that introduces your little one to puns and word associations. The colorful illustrations will delight both you and your child, as well as foster a love of reading.
are you my mother?
- price: $
- age: 1-5 years
- author:p.d. eastman
- publication date: 1998
Help young children learn to distinguish between different objects and animals with this hilariously fun classic – in board book form! Little ones will love the expressive baby bird as it tries to find its mother. One advantage is that this book is also available in a board book in Spanish.
the generous tree
- price: $
- age: 3-8 years old
- author: shel silverstein
- publication date: 1964
See Also: The Top 10 Chess Books Every Chess Player Should Read – Chess.com
an old but good, “the giving tree” teaches us about unconditional love, as an anthropomorphic tree goes to great lengths to give the apple of its eye (pun intended) everything it needs to be happy . meanwhile, we also learn about lasting friendships as the boy continues to return to her beloved tree at every important stage of life. Although technically a book for older children, some young children may be captivated by the simple language and vivid illustrations.
good night moon
- price: $$
- age: 0-5 years old
- author: margaret wise brown
- publication date: 2007
This classic tale is now available in board book form to help new parents create bedtime routines with their little bundles of joy. Full-color illustrations on each page will delight children as they listen to a sleeping bunny say goodnight to all the familiar objects in the room. And parents will love reliving a bit of nostalgia with their child while building new memories.
ideal for bedtime stories
little blue truck
- price: $
- age: 0-3 years
- author: alice schertle
- publication date: 2015
Although this is one of the longest board books in terms of actual words per page, even young babies will love hearing their parents imitate the sound of the little blue truck (beep, beep, beep) and its farm animal friends. the colorful illustrations appeal to little ones, while you’ll appreciate that the underlying message of helping your neighbors is reinforced at an early age.
guess how much I love you
- price: $$
- age: 6 months+
- author: sam mcbratney
- publication date: 2008
In this adorably competitive book, Little Hare and Big Hare try to “outdo” each other to show how much they love each other. Young children in particular will love this cute story as the little walnut hare continues to express how much she loves her father. we think this is a perfect book to send your baby to dreamland.
the night you were born
- price: $
- age: 1-4 years
- author: nancy tillman
- publication date: 2010
It can be hard to tell if your little one knows how much you love them, but this adorable book can help you put that love into perspective. Your baby will love the colorful illustrations, and you’ll appreciate that the soothing lyricism of the text will help them fall soundly asleep.
good night, good night, construction site
- price: $$
- age: 1-6 years
- author: sherri duskey rinker
- publication date: 2011
Learning to work together is always an important lesson we try to teach our children. “goodnight, goodnight, construction site” is the perfect bedtime companion for little ones who are obsessed with trucks. Although it’s a bit longer than some of our other options, the engaging illustrations, animated trucks, and rhythmic text will make this a bit of a fan favorite.
little rabbit waits for the moon
- price: $$
- age: 2-6 years
- author: beth shoshan, stephanie peel
- publication date: 2011
Bedtime is a special time, but the bunny is worried that the moon won’t watch over him while he sleeps. So, he goes in search of the moon and comes across a variety of natural wonders that try to help him in his search. Finally, he realizes that he may never find the moon, but he never gives up hope. and in the end, the moon finds him sleeping in a meadow. This is the perfect relaxing story to help little ones travel to dreamland.
best books for babies under 6 months
look, look!
- price: $
- age: 0-1 year
- author: peter linenthal
- publish date: 1998
Very young babies will be drawn to this simplistic, high-contrast, black-and-white book. friendly faces and short text will help newborns get the experience of being read to. and you’ll enjoy starting new traditions with your latest addition.
shine, shine, unicorn
- price: $
- age: 0-4 years old
- author: jeffrey burton
- publication date: 2019
The classic nursery rhyme “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” serves as the background for this adorable and colorful glitter-filled story of a unicorn who spends her days playing with her forest friends. Thanks to the source material, you can even sing this simple book to your sweet baby to help them fall asleep.
best books that teach lessons
don’t touch my hair
- price: $
- age: 2-6 years
- author: sharee miller
- publish date: 2019
Personal autonomy and microaggressions may seem like a difficult topic to address when discussing toddlers and preschoolers. but “Don’t Touch My Hair” manages to address both issues without making them uncomfortable, while at the same time reinforcing the idea that even young children have a right to decide what happens to their bodies. while this book addresses society’s obsession with black hair, it also translates to uplifting children of all ethnicities and races by letting them know they have the right to refuse to be touched.
to school
- price: $
- age: 3-7 years old
- author: sesame workshop
- publication date: 2015
Starting school can be difficult, especially for children who did not attend day care as infants. “off to school” follows our favorite lovable monster, elmo, as he prepares for and experiences his first day of school. teaches your kids simple ways to control first-day jitters and highlights how much fun school can be, making it a must-read for all preschool parents.
never let a unicorn doodle
- price: $
- age: 3-6 years old
- author: diane alber
- publication date: 2019
Creativity and imagination go hand in hand. and this fun book about a little girl, her crayons, and her favorite unicorn (which happens to be a stuffed animal!) will encourage your kids to tap into her artistic side. When coloring time goes wrong, the girl realizes that doodling isn’t really a bad thing and, in fact, can spark joy and wonder, while leading to beautiful masterpieces.
who did it?
- price: $$
- age: 2-4 years
- author: olivier tallec
- publish date: 2015
Get your child interested in asking questions and use deductive reasoning to figure out the answers. In this full-color illustrated book, children will be asked simple questions that require them to look at the pictures and discover the answer. for example, “who didn’t get enough sleep?” or “who forgot her swimsuit?” – all clearly responsible if you pay attention to the attached images. This is a fun little guessing game that kids will love to read with their parents.