If you’re a parent eager to start reading to your baby, you’re probably wondering “What are the best baby books around?” As you browse through the bookstore or online, some of the popular titles you’re likely to come across include books like The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Goodnight Moon, The Very Busy Spider and Five Little Ducks. What do you think these books have in common?
Not only are all of these popular, but they are classics in their own right. They have a timeless appeal, this charming quality that has earned them a place on almost every child’s book shelf.
When it comes to choosing the best baby books for your little one, the options will astound you. There are tens of thousands of wonderful board books and other read-aloud books for babies, most of which I had never heard of when I started looking for books to read with M. Although picking up popular choices like the ones above is a safe way to go, how do you know if a your baby will like a book if it’s a title you haven’t come across earlier?
The best baby books around share some common elements. In my observation, some of those elements are
1. Repeated words or phrases appearing throughout the book at regular intervals. So baby forms an internal rhythm after a few readings, begins to identify the sound or phrase. Even if he isn’t ready to speak yet, he is sure to get excited as you pause at the familiar place….he just knows that ‘the phrase’ is about to come next. This is one of the first indications of comprehension and memory retention in your baby, as far as reading is concerned. I think The Very Busy Spider is a great example. My personal favorite is Baby Shoes by Dashka Slater. My daughter would just squeal with delight as I repeated the silly tongue-twister on each page, followed by “Uh Oh” and “Oh No” that were repeated throughout the book.
2. They have clear, sharp images – preferably one large mono or dual-tone image against a contrasting background, rather than scenes or complex images. M and I love the Elephant and Piggie series.
3. The books have a simple, linear storyline or flow. One page or concept just flows into another.
4. For younger babies, choose books with some texture that the baby can feel easily. Cloth or vinyl books, board books, books with embossed pictures, cut-outs, pull-out tags, pop-ups or touch and feel books are all good choices because they stimulate the baby’s senses as he touches the book. Young babies learn about the world around them by touching things with their fingers and hands and yes, by putting them in their mouths.
5. If your baby or toddler is a little older and understands stories and concepts, pick out books where the characters experience different emotions like sadness, joy, anger, love, compassion etc. As you read along, help your child identify the emotions related with situations by asking questions like, “How do you think little mouse feels?”, “Why is baby elephant not smiling?”
I’m sure there are several factors that make a great baby book. These are some that I think are common to most. In coming posts, I’ll list some excellent but lesser known books that are a lot of fun to read with your baby.
What are your favorite picks when it comes to baby books?
