Best Books for Newborns and Babies: Board Books and Bedtime Reads
First books for babies from birth to about one year: high-contrast pictures, touch-and-feel pages, soft rhymes and bedtime favorites. Every book here is in the Tori catalog, and each line says why it fits.
Calm, cozy and heartfelt reads
1947Goodnight MoonMargaret Wise Brown
Children’s Books · WarmA little rabbit says goodnight to everything in the great green room.
1994Guess How Much I Love YouSam McBratneyChildren’s Books · WarmLittle Nutbrown Hare tries to out-love Big Nutbrown Hare, right up to the moon.
2008Little Blue TruckAlice SchertleChildren’s Books · WarmA friendly truck beeps hello to farm animals and helps a big truck out of the mud.
- 1982The Going to Bed BookSandra BoyntonChildren’s Books · Warm
Animals climb aboard a ship to wash, brush and get ready for bed.
2000I Love You Through and ThroughBernadette Rossetti-ShustakChildren’s Books · WarmA little one is loved inside and out, for every mood and every part.
2005Llama Llama Red PajamaAnna DewdneyChildren’s Books · WarmBaby Llama calls for Mama while she is just downstairs.
Playful and funny reads
1967Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?Bill Martin Jr.Children’s Books · LightEach animal sees the next one, in a chant babies love to hear.
1940Pat the BunnyDorothy KunhardtChildren’s Books · WarmThe first touch-and-feel book, made for tiny hands to explore.
- 1969The Very Hungry CaterpillarEric CarleChildren’s Books · Hopeful
A tiny caterpillar eats his way through the week and becomes a butterfly.
1998Baby FacesMargaret MillerChildren’s Books · LightBig photographs of babies showing happy, sad and silly faces.
2000Where Is Baby’s Belly Button?Karen KatzChildren’s Books · LightLift the flaps to find the belly button, nose and toes.
1982Moo, Baa, La La La!Sandra BoyntonChildren’s Books · LightCows say moo, sheep say baa, and three pigs sing la la la.
1982Dear ZooRod CampbellChildren’s Books · LightEvery animal the zoo sends back is wrong until the perfect pet arrives.
2000Peek-a-Who?Nina LadenChildren’s Books · LightA rhyming game of peek-a-boo with a surprise on every page.
1993Black on WhiteTana HobanChildren’s Books · LightHigh-contrast photographs made for a newborn’s first sight.