The Best Baby Board Books of 2023

Keep them hooked with these top-rated nursery classics and special new finds.

dad reading book to baby


  By: Tali Ditye, Ph.D., Co-founder
 

Mommyhood101 independently tests and curates baby gear to help you make informed decisions. If you buy products through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

Reading to your baby is one of the most important developmental experiences you can give your little one. Reading will teach them sounds, language, arts, cause and effect, object-word associations, counting, colors, emotions, social cues, and about love and friendship.

Clearly books are very important building blocks for your baby's brain development, and you'll be happy to know that there are tons of excellent, fun, colorful, and engaging books out there for you to read and enjoy.

best baby books baby board books

Whether during the day or at bedtime, reading to your baby will leave you and your child smiling and wanting more! We pulled together over 50 of the best baby books available, including not only classics like The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Goodnight Moon, but also relative newcomers like the amazing line of children's books by Blue Dot, and timely topical books like The Colors of Us and Hair Love.

Some of our all-time favorite baby books are up at the top, but otherwise this list is in no particular order, and includes options suitable for both infants and toddlers. They're all fantastic and highly recommended! We hope you enjoy! Also check out our new list of the best bilingual English-Spanish baby books!

Full disclosure: Some of these baby books, including The Colors of Us, Leafy Critters, Hair Love, Under My Tree, Numbers Colors Shapes, and Ivy Bird, were sent to us as free test samples by the manufacturer.

Here are the Best Baby Books of 2023!

best baby books the very hungry caterpillar

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

By Eric Carle

Eric Carle uses bright mixed-media collages with primary colors to illustrate a simple story about, you guessed it, a very hungry caterpillar! Great artwork, interactive book design, and delicious snacks!


best baby books goodnight moon

Goodnight Moon

By Margaret Wise Brown

This is a classic baby book with adorable rhyming, and beautiful and simple illustrations. It's perfect for bedtime, and saying goodnight to the inside and outside world.


best baby books press here

Press Here

By Herve Tullet

This interactive book is tons of fun, inviting your baby to press the dot and see what happens! Teaches cause and effect, with the dots moving, multiplying, and scattering with the touch of your baby's finger!


best baby books the colors of us

The Colors of Us

By Karen Katz

An important and timely celebration of diversity and the beautiful skin tone differences that characterize the world around us. Join 7-year old Lena as she explores the colors that paint ourselves, our cultures, and our neighborhoods. A great first read about race, belonging, and the power of differences.


best baby books itsy bitsy spider

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

By Madie Frost

The classic nursery rhyme comes alive in this adorable story about perseverance and commitment, as our little arachnid friend experiences the ups and downs along their journey to the top of the water spout!


best baby books goodnight gorilla

Good Night, Gorilla

By Peggy Rathmann

This fun, lighthearted book tells the story of a mischievous gorilla who grabs a zookeeper's keys and lets all of his fellow zoo animals free for a secret night sleeping in the zookeeper's house!


best baby books mo willems pigeon needs a bath

The Pigeon Needs a Bath!

By Mo Willems

Mo Willems makes some of the cutest and most helpful books for babies and toddlers who are questioning their uncertain worlds, learning to express their emotions and independence, and navigating complex social relationships.


best baby books brown bear what do you see

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See?

By Bill Martin, Jr.

Another beautiful Eric Carle illustrated book, with bold primary colors and adorable animals, the brown bear answers the question "what do you see?" as it journeys through its world.


best baby books around the farm

Around the Farm

By Eric Carle

Another amazing Eric Carle production, but this time with the addition of hands-on interactions that guide a multisensory reading experience, with the sights and sounds of the farm. From ribbits to oinks, this book combines beautiful watercolor paintings with 30 fun sounds!


best baby books chicka chicka boom boom

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

By Bill Martin, Jr.

This is a great book for teaching the alphabet in a fun-filled, rhythmic way. Watch as letters race each other up the coconut tree and fill up the top in an alphabet adventure!


best baby books leafy critters

Leafy Critters

By Yvonne Lacet

The author uses nature (leaves, twigs, flower petals) to make beautiful critters like lions, pigs, flamingos, and one of the most beautiful butterflies we've ever seen! Simple, creative, and inspiring interactions with nature.


best baby books pajama time

Pajama Time!

By Sandra Boynton

Our all-time favorite bedtime book, this book will lull your little one to sleep with clever rhymes and a lot of silly fun. Pull on the bottoms, put on the top, and get yourself set to pajama-bee-bop!


best baby books beautiful oops

Beautiful Oops

By Barney Saltzberg

We all make mistakes, and it's important for your baby to know that it's a natural and beautiful part of the learning process. This book turns tons of little mistakes into a beautiful and interactive collage of beauty!


best baby books goodnight construction site

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site

By Sherri Duskey Rinker

This great bedtime baby book is a #1 New York Times Bestseller, for great reasons. It uses beautiful imagery of a construction site and its expressive equipment settling in for a good night's rest.


best baby books if animals kissed goodnight

If Animals Kissed Goodnight

By Ann Whitford Paul

Animals kiss each other good night in this simple rhyming tale of mama and daddy animals kissing their little babies good night.


best baby books kissed baby

I Kissed the Baby!

By Mary Murphy

Bold contrasts and simple words guide babies through the magical experience of animals sharing their excitement over a new baby's arrival.


best baby books if you give a mouse a cookie

If you Give a Mouse a Cookie

By Laura Joffe Numeroff

This classic tale of cause-and-effect describes the chain reaction that happens if you give a mouse a cookie. Things quickly get out of hand as the mouse continues to ask for more!


best baby books where the wild things are

Where the Wild Things Are

By Maurice Sendak

One of the best stories for kids, the hero Max goes on a rompus and gets himself in a little trouble, and ends up sent to bed without dinner. Watch and listen as Max explores an imaginary forest that grows in his room, and his adventures with the wild creatures fo the forest!


best baby books hair love

Hair Love

By Matthew Cherry

A wonderful toddler book about the important relationship between a black child and her father, this book won the Feminist Book Project award, and was nominated for the NAACP Image Award and Irma Black Award. A beautiful story that positively represents black men and their daughters, and a great read for all colors and genders!


best baby books the day the crayons quit

The Day the Crayons Quit

By Drew Daywalt

Duncan opens his box of crayons to find a series of notes written by each crayon, telling him that they quit! What will Duncan do to get his crayons to come back!?


best baby books little blue truck

Little Blue Truck

By Alice Schertle

Blue is a muddy blue truck that gets into some fun misadventures while traveling down a bumpy country road with all his animal friends!


best baby books corduroy

Corduroy

By Don Freeman

This book is a classic tale about a stuffed animal and his missing button, and the little girl who loves him, will make you feel good inside!


best baby books my very first mother goose

My Very First Mother Goose

By Iona Opie

This book of nursery rhymes and animal characters is a great introduction to rhyming, sing-song language, and some favorite nursery rhymes.


best baby books close your eyes

Close your Eyes

By Kate Banks

This bedtime story about a mother tiger settling down with her restless cub for a long and dreamy night of sleep, is one of our favorite baby books of all time!


best baby books is your mama a llama

Is your Mama a Llama?

By Deborah Guarino

Lloyd the Llama explores the forest and asks his friends if their mama is a llama. Their clues about their mama are a real treat, and teach babies about beautifully illustrated creatures.


best baby books best baby books rainbows in bloom

Rainbows in Bloom: Discovering Colors with Flowers

By Darroch and Michael Putnam

This book explodes with vivid and beautiful colors represented in flowers, plants, fruits and veggies. Each page opens up to reveal a wonderful collage bringing colors together in plant life, with fun little treasures to be found on each page!.


best baby books five little monkeys jumping on the bed

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

By Eileen Christelow

One fell off and bumped his head! An exhausted mama monkey deals with her silly monkeys before bedtime, bathing, putting on pajamas, brushing teeth, and jumping on the bed.


best baby books guess how much i love you

Guess How Much I Love You

By Sam McBratney

A bunny and his dad try to out-do each other in expressing their love for one another. Illustrated with beautiful watercolors, this story will make you feel warm in your heart.


best baby books busy penguins

Busy Penguins

By John Schindel

This book has real photographs of penguins going about their daily business, including splashing, dashing, drooping, and even pooping! A fun delight with beautiful images from professional photographers.


best baby books where is babys belly button

Where is Baby's Belly Button?

By Karen Katz

This fun lift-the-flap baby book is a colorful first lesson about our bodies, revealing parts of the body hiding under hats, shirts, and bubble baths! A fun game of peek-a-boo for baby and parents alike!


best baby books more more more said the baby

More More More Said the Baby

By Vera B. Williams

Vera Williams tells the story of multiracial babies with a musical rhythm, with asian-american, african-american, and caucasian babies, showing the universality of love.


best baby books gossie

Gossie

By Olivier Dunrea

This book tells the tale of Gossie, an adorable yellow gossling who wears her signature red boots. In this tale, Gossie goes on a mission to find her lost boots.


best baby books dear zoo

Dear Zoo

By Rod Campbell

I wrote to the zoo to send me a pet… This book tells the tale of a child who requests a pet from the zoo, and the silly series of animals that were sent. Some too heavy, some too naughty, until the perfect pet arrives.


best baby books in the tall grass

In the Tall, Tall Grass

By Denise Fleming

Beautiful and simple illustrations fill this fun book about animals and insects in your backyard. The story is told from the caterpillar's perspective, looking up at the big curious child peering down.


best baby books are you my mother

Are you my Mother?

By P.D. Eastman

A baby bird falls from the nest and goes on a journey to find his mother. Are you my mother? This book is a classic and story about devotion, love, and the animal kingdom.


best baby books love you forever

Love you Forever

By Robert Munsch

A story about growing up and the special bonds between mother and son, from baby to adult. A lovely story about love, generations, and parenting.


best baby books under my tree

Under My Tree

By Tallandier & Fujisawa

Beautiful artwork combined with an inspiring story about Susanne and her exploration of the natural world around her, this book guides children through a multi-sensory exploration of the natural world all around them.


best baby books peek a boo

Peek-a-Boo

By Roberta Grobel Intrater

This book has vibrant photographs of baby faces from all walks of life, with all emotions, and multiracial representation.


best baby books the snowy day

The Snowy Day

By Ezra Jack Keats

A story about the wonder and fun of a snowy day, with snow angels, snowmen, snowballs, and a ton of fun after a snowstorm blankets the neighborhood.


best baby books time to get dressed

Time to Get Dressed

By Elivia Savadier

Baby Solomon decides to get himself dressed, but puts his clothes on in very silly ways. This book about the spirit and independence of toddlers will certainly resonate with parents!


best baby books pat the bunny

Pat the Bunny

By Dorothy Kunhardy

This classic interactive baby book is a lot of fun, with multi-sensory interactions, including smelling flowers, feeling daddy's face, plating peek-a-boo, and touching the soft soft bunny.


best baby books wheels on the bus

Wheels on the Bus

By Raffi

All through the town… This popular children's song has been made into an adorable book that parents and babies can sing along with!


best baby books runaway bunny

Runaway Bunny

By Margaret Wise Brown

This is a beautiful story about a mother's unconditional love for her baby bunny who wants to run away. A fun tale of make-believe chase, with a mother who is willing to travel to the lengths of the earth to stay with her baby.


best baby books eyes nose fingers toes

Eyes, Nose, Fingers, and Toes

By Judy Hindley

Stand up and jump around with this fun book that gets your baby moving and identifying body parts. This book has cute illustrations and is super fun to follow along with!


best baby books numbers colors shapes

Numbers, Colors, and Shapes

By Roger Priddy

Roger Priddy is back with another board book filled with bold colors and adorable pictures of everyday things, this one focusing on teaching about numbers, colors, and shapes.


best baby books my heart is like a zoo

My Heart is Like a Zoo

By Micheal Hall

This book is about the complex emotions characterizing each and every day of baby's and your life, and how love is a constant throughout. Find the hidden heart on every page for a fun interactive activity!


best baby books opposites

Opposites

By Xavier Deneux

With scooped-out die-cut pages that invite baby's fingers to explore, this is a great hands-on multisensory book that will get baby thinking about opposites, like day-night, small-big, and heavy-light.


best baby books opposites boynton

Opposites

By Sandra Boynton

By one of our all-time favorite baby book authors, Sandra Boynton, this book involves serious silliness with beautifully illustrated animals that teach all about opposites, like big-small, short-tall.


best baby books ivy bird

Ivy Bird

By McCartney & Racklyeft

Another amazing book by the folks at Blue Dot Kids Press, Ivy spends an imaginative day with the birds, singing as they sing, eating as they eat, and flying as they fly. A rich and creative journey that is both creative and educational.


best baby books but not the hippopotamus

But not the Hippopotamus

By Sandra Boynton

This silly tale about a shy hippopotamus who doesn't want to participate in fun activities, ends with the hippopotamus making a big splash!


best baby books first 100 words

First 100 Words

By Roger Priddy

Roger Priddy is back with another learning board book with bold colors and adorable pictures. In this one, he focuses on 100 simple first words for baby, inviting baby to play along and find the objects.


best baby books baby signs

Baby Signs

By Joy Allen

Baby signing can teach your baby to communicate basic needs with simple gestures, teaching baby and parents about the interactive nature of communication beyond the spoken word.


best baby books fuzzy fuzzy

Fuzzy Fuzzy Fuzzy!

By Sandra Boynton

Another awesome Sandra Boynton book with interactive textures ranging from smooth, bumpy, fuzzy and rough. This is a great book for piquing your baby's curiousity and sense of touch.


best baby books hoppity frog

Hoppity Frog

By Emma Parish

Your baby will love moving the slider to reveal the underwater creatures hiding in the pond, from tadpoles to swans, ducks, and fish, this book is fully of beautifully illustrated sea animals!


best baby books moo baa la la la

Moo Baa La La La

By Sandra Boynton

Learn all about animal noises in the cheerful and silly book with some amusing twists and turns. Keep your baby on her toes correcting all the silly errors in this baby book!


best baby books trucks

Trucks

By Roger Priddy

For the baby who loves all things automobile, this book about trucks and tractors is a sure hit! Slide open the doors to reveal all sorts of machinery, colors, and drivers!


best baby books seuss sleep book

Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book

By Dr. Seuss

In this classic Dr. Seuss book, a tired little bug is getting sleepy and his yawn sets off a chain event of yawns for some very silly looking creatures. Experience great rhymes and illustrations that are sure to get your child yawning!


best baby books a book of sleep

A Book of Sleep

By Il Sung Na

This beautifully illustrated book takes your child on a journey through the wild to see how different creatures sleep. Except the owl!


best baby books time for bed

Time for Bed

By Mem Fox

Beautiful watercolor illustrations make this book an instant classic. Follow along as all sorts of baby animals are tucked in for a restful night's sleep.


best baby books im not sleepy

I'm Not Sleepy!

By Jonathan Allen

Baby owl does not want to go to sleep, but he sure is tired! A tale most parents can relate to, follow along as baby owl tries his best to resist the inevitable.


best baby books hush little polar bear

Hush Little Polar Bear

By Jeff Mack

This dreamy polar bear will guide you along through a vivid dreamscape, through lands of tall grass and the deep sea. Its rhyming and sleepy images will start your baby off for a great night!


best baby books hey sheep let me sleep

Hey Sheep Let me Sleep!

By Sigal Adler

Counting sheep backfires in this silly book describing brightly colored sheep showing up to dance and party the night away!


best baby books goodnight darth vader

Goodnight Darth Vader

By Jeffrey Brown

For the Star Wars fans, this book describes the silly shenanigans of Darth Vader's kids Luke and Leia who refuse to go to sleep.


best baby books a sick day for amos mcgee

A Sick Day for Amos McGee

By Philip C. Stead

Amos has great friends at the zoo, and every day he visits them to play a special game. What happens when he stays home sick and his animal friends miss him? They return the favor!

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