: For Students, Faculty, and Staff
A Baker’s Dozen Board Books For a New Baby
Reach Out and Read a national nonprofit which promotes early literacy through doctors and nurses who provide primary care to young children at nearly 5,000 clinics, health centers, hospitals, and doctor’s offices in all 50 states.
Moo, Baa, La La La! by Sandra Boynton
Sandra Boynton is a genius. Seriously, where is her MacArthur Fellowship? She gets babies. She gets humor. She brings song and joy to every nursery.
Baby Goes Beep by Rebecca O’Connell, pictures by Ken Wilson-Max
Rhythm and repetition are what make this Charlotte Zolotow honor title an outstanding read-aloud.
I Kissed the Baby by Mary Murphy
I Kissed the Baby! is my go to for deceptively simple and simply perfect. The repetition of the phrase sprouts giggles in tediously fraught situations like waiting in line to board an airplane that the parents will be endlessly grateful to the giver.
Dear Zoo by Rod Cambell
Baby’s first lift-the-flap and absurd tale. Fits the bill for the parent who might find the books a little tediously concrete.
Time For Bed by Mem Fox and Jane Dyer
Dare I say, baby’s first good night book? Let’s face it. Someone will give the parents Good Night, Moon and if not there will be plenty of time for that. By the author of Reading Magic is a soothing read aloud paired with Jane Dyer’s delicious watercolors.
Global Babies by The Global Fund For Children
We know that babies love to look at babies. These crisp photographs will delight parents and newborns with a window to babies around the world.
Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers and illustrated by Marla Frazee
More, More, More Said the Baby by Vera B. Williams
Vera Baker Williams · She holds that baby nose to nose
1990, Gouache Painting, Black Mountain College Collection, Permanent Collection. 2012.07.02.23. Asheville Art Museum
Peekaboo Morning by Rachel Isadora
What is more fun than a spontaneous game of peekaboo
Cars Go by Steve Light
The Everything Book by Denise Fleming
Gossie by Olivier Dunrea
Yummy: Eight Favorite Fairy Tales by Lucy Cousins
And as soon as I finished this list I thought of Tails by Mathew Van Fleet. Baby’s first informational book.
AND I was just reminded by Kerlan Board member, Gretchen Wronka of the bilingual Ojibwe-English, Cradle Me by Debby Slier published by Star Bright Books.
What are your favorite board books for new babies?
Post them in the comments and I will round them up on Friday for another blog posting.
I would also include “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats!
I just gave Welcome: A Mo Willems Guide for New Arrivals as a baby gift for one of my very favorite moms that I babysit for, and the whole family LOVES it. The big brother, who’s 5, makes me read it whenever we’re hanging out in the baby’s room, and he is curled up at my shoulder, rapt, by the end — every time. It’s lovely.
Thanks so much for this list, btw — you reminded me of several board books I still need to get for this particular baby — his mom has officially put me in charge of both her sons’ libraries!
Rachel Payne, Coordinator, Early Childhood Services Youth and Family Services, Brooklyn Public Library suggests What Does Baby Want, http://www.phaidon.com/store/childrens-books/what-does-baby-want-9780714874074/
A 2017 title sure to tickle the funny bone of any nursing mom.