These are the books that have become absolute favorites in our home. Perfect for bedtime, playtime, or anytime, they’re a wonderful way to start your baby’s library and spark a love of reading. We feel so lucky that most of these were gifted to us fo...
Sections
4
Bedtime Stories
Interactive Fun
Rhymes & Early Literacy
Social & Emotional Learning
Bedtime Stories
Gentle tales perfect for snuggles and winding down at the end of the day.
Our all-time favorite bedtime story. A sweet, timeless classic—I learned to read with this book. Now I love sharing it with my own children.
Goodnight Moon
This one is an essential part of bedtime. We make sure we did all the things the animal do before we go to sleep.
The Going To Bed Book
A playful bedtime story about dinosaurs snoring loudly. Its silly rhymes and illustrations make bedtime extra fun.
Dinosnores
Storytime meets learning—helping children understand what happens first, next, and last.
The Napping House
It is so hard to read this without getting emotional! It's such a sweet book.
Mama, Do You Love Me?
This book is not for the faint of heart. It's a beautiful story, and still a favorite, but it is banned from my house. I can't read it without crying.
Love You Forever
Love in every page—perfect for cuddles and bedtime snuggles.
The I LOVE YOU Book
A gentle, rhythmic counting rhyme that’s perfect for bedtime, with a song that turns it into a soothing lullaby.
Over in the Meadow
Interactive Fun
Stories that make kids laugh, participate, or guess what comes next.
My son thought this one was so funny! It's just counting and dog sounds. After the third time in a row reading it though we have to hide it so mommy could have a break.
Doggies
An interactive lift-the-flap favorite where the zoo sends its animals until the perfect pet arrives.
Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book
A rhythmic, colorful classic that introduces little ones to animals and colors. My toddler can pick up this book now and read it on their own. It's repetitive and easy to memorize.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
"Llama Llama’s hiding, where could he be? Let’s lift the flap and we will see!"
Llama Llama Hide & Seek: A Lift-the-Flap Book
Little Llama hops, giggles, and bounces through a playful day full of fun and friends.
Llama Llama Hoppity-Hop
Help find Spot in this playful classic.
Where's Spot?: A Lift-the-Flap Book
We have this one at home, but there are so many in the series—and they all make wonderful gifts for little ones! Perfect for helping babies explore textures, build sensory skills, and boost early cognitive development.
That's not my puppy
Rhymes & Early Literacy
Books with rhythmic text and repetition to support early language skills.
A tiny caterpillar who munches through all kinds of foods before transforming into a beautiful butterfly.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Playful board books filled with cute illustrations and simple words little ones love to repeat. And for the record, both my kids said “Mama” first! Ha!
Jimmy Fallon's DADA, MAMA & BABY Board Set
Still a favorite in our house. Now my older one reads it to my toddler.
Moo, Baa, La La La!
"Five little monkeys jumping on the bed. One fell off and bumped his head. The mama called the doctor. The doctor said, "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
A clever little mouse outsmarts hungry animals (and even a Gruffalo!) in this witty, rhyming adventure. Easily one if our favorite books.
The Gruffalo
A bright, bubbly celebration of fish of all shapes, sizes, and colors.
Hooray for Fish!
A lively farmyard tale full of animal sounds and playful rhymes.
Oink-Oink! Moo! Cock-a-Doodle-Doo!
"Some bugs hop, some bugs fly, some bugs crawl, some bugs hide."
Some Bugs
An adventurous, rhythmic tale of a family on a fun (and sometimes muddy!) journey to find a bear, full of playful repetition that kids love.
We're Going On A Bear Hunt
A fun little story that teaches ‘big, bigger, biggest.’
Mouse Is Small
The classic wacky tale of an old lady with an outrageous appetite. This older edition is by far our favorite!
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly - 1973
A fun, circular story that teaches sequencing, cause-and-effect, and prediction skills.
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Social & Emotional Learning
Books that teach empathy, coping skills, and friendship.
A sweet story about a little llama who feels anxious at bedtime when Mama isn’t nearby. I love all the Llama Llama books, especially because they’re such a gentle way to talk with children about separation anxiety.
Llama Llama Red Pajama
A grumpy fish learns to turn his frown upside down and spread smiles with his friends.
The Pout-Pout Fish
A rhyming, honking adventure that teaches friendship, kindness, and teamwork. We’ve fallen in love with this series and now have several at home, but this one remains a favorite.
Little Blue Truck
A fun, interactive story that helps kids practice emotional expression and coping skills. This book was really helpful when my son was little and suddenly afraid of the dark.
