The 36 Best Board Books for Babies, According to the Adults Who Read Them
Build your baby's love of reading early on with these fun, sturdy and well-loved books made just for tiny hands.
By Amylia Ryan | Fact Checked by Shannon Vestal Robson
It's never too early to start reading to your baby—even when they're still in the womb, they love listening to your voice as you read out loud. The sooner you introduce books into your kiddo's daily routine, the more likely they are to develop a lifelong love of reading and learning.
While you can probably get away with reading just about any book to a baby to help develop their language skills, the best ones to grab their attention are visually interesting (try high-contrast baby books for the first few months, then brightly colored books after that) and use simple, baby-friendly language to introduce basic concepts. That's where board books come in.
What makes board books different from regular books? First, they’re smaller and have thicker pages, making them easier for little hands to grasp and turn. Second, their construction is sturdier, so they’ll hold up to teething babies, energetic toddlers and trips to the park.
But that doesn't mean they're not just as good as regular books—in fact, some board books are well-loved classic stories, and some are even award winning books! There are board books about different cultures, bedtime, potty training and just about anything you can think of.
To give you a good head start on building your little one's first library, I've narrowed down my favorite board books to a decent variety. Who am I, and why should you care about my recommendations? I'm a parent of two young kids, and I'm also an avid reader with a background in the book industry. I know all too well the most important things to look for in books for babies: they need to keep your baby's attention, be developmentally appropriate and be good enough that you don't mind reading them a million times (multiple times a day, in a row).
And I'm not recommending some of these just because I've heard they're good—I've personally read (and loved) every single one of these books and, even more importantly, so have my kids. So here's a selection of the best board books to help spark curiosity, inspire giggles and cultivate a love of reading and learning in little ones ages newborn to three years old.
(And be sure to check out all my other children's book roundups too!)
(Old & New) Classic Board Books
High-Contrast Board Books
Touch-and-Feel Board Books
Board Books for Baby's First Words
Amylia Ryan
Associate Editor
Amylia Ryan is the Associate Editor at Babylist, specializing in the topics of health, wellness and lifestyle products. Combining a decade of experience in writing and editing with a deep passion for helping people, her number one goal in her work is to ensure new parents feel supported and understood. She herself is a parent to two young children, who are more than willing to help product test endless toys, books, clothes, toiletries and more.
