Board Books Are Great for Introducing a Love of Reading
Board books are a great way to introduce your little one to the joys of reading. Each of these books is chosen for their fun colors and stories.
One of the sad parts of my children growing up is them outgrowing certain books. Apollo still loves pictures books, though these days I am the one who selects them from the library, but board books? No more. Thank goodness I have three beautiful grandsons in New Zealand who are at the perfect age for board books. I send Chuck over with piles of books for Percy, Monty, and Abel. Here are some of my favorites!
Some books were given to me for review purposes- I received no compensation and all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.
Where Is My Pink Sweater? by Nicola Slater
I am an avid knitter so you know I am going to love any book about a handknit sweater…even if it seems to be unraveling.
Rudy wakes up one morning to find his favorite pink sweater is missing. He searches through the house which happens to be full of ten tumbling cats, nine jiving llamas in fancy-pants pajamas…
eight prima pigerenas and more.
This book is a fun backward counting book with lift-the-flaps and windows to peek through. Rudy has to follow the thread of his sweater to find out where it went.
Toddlers and preschoolers will love the pictures in this book. This board book is sturdy and entertaining. Especially if you love knitting.
Ninja, Ninja, Never Stop! By Todd Tuell
This board book about ninjas has fun rhymes that are sure to get stuck in your head (in a good way). Not in the Baby Shark way.
This little ninja goes, goes, goes! He climbs and jumps, and sneaks, and hops. Much like several of my children…and a certain two-year-old grandson…
Your toddler will be eager to try out his own Ninja moves. I really like the illustrations and bright colors in this book.
In fact, I am kind of jealous of the furniture in this house! Check out those open shelves and retro chairs! This book is perfect for any active toddler or future-ninjas.
Spring is Here by Carles Ballesteros
Introduce your baby to spring with Spring is Here! When you turn the page the faces of the animals change. This book is sturdy enough to stand up to your baby or toddler.
I Love You Elephant is another fun book in the changing faces series. I gave this book to my grandson, Abel, and Tilly said he loves it. In fact, he tries to eat it.
“ ‘I love you!’ is the refrain on each spread of this joyful story. Readers will delight in seeing new faces appear and then change when the page is turned, thanks to the magical Venetian blind element built into the book.“
Farm Block by Christopher Franceshelli
Farm Block is a fold-out board book that tells about life on the farm. I was already also a fan of his earlier book, City Block.
The farmer has to do chores, feed the animals, get ready for winter and more. Toddlers will love unfolding the thick pages and exploring the scenes while learning about farms.
I sent this book to New Zealand for Percy.
While he doesn’t technically live on a farm, he lives surrounded by acres of pasture, horses, and cows (which he loves to feed). Chores are definitely a part of his life.
The Cutest Thing Ever by Amy Ignatow
Okay, The Cutest Thing Ever isn’t a board book, but it is ideal for older toddlers who can handle books without eating them or shredding the pages. And it’s so cute I just had to share it.
What’s cuter than a cute monster? A cute monster with a kitten!
And what’s cuter than that? A cute monster with TWO kittens.
And so this book goes with things getting cuter and cuter
…until the final page reveals the cutest thing ever…your child!
Baby Up Baby Down: A First Book of Opposites
This board book is full of bright (but not overwhelming) pictures of toddlers and babies demonstrating opposites such as up and down, awake and asleep.
This book is sure to be a hit with toddlers.
You should also check out Baby Loves: A First Book of Favorites. These books are so great for introducing new vocabulary to your kids.
God is Great God is Good by Sanna Anderson Baker
And I save the best for last!
This board book, God is Great God is Good, has simple words that will be enjoyed over and over by little ones.
The simple text reminds me of the book of Job (which just happens to be my favorite book of the Bible) with words like
“Who was there
When the sea was born?
And who wraps it round
With a blanket of fog?”
A simple book introducing little ones to creation and God.
I hope you enjoyed these board book suggestions. Let me know what your favorites are in the comments!
I had to smile. My granddaughter loves that shark song. So for Christmas I gave her father a pair of shark socks! Everyone else was amused!
Reading is the best gift.
We love board books! They are my go-to baby gift;never to early to start your library. 🙂 Our traditional favorites are Max and Ruby books by Rosemary Wells, Good Dog, Carl (mostly pictures, hardly any text, but babies love these as they can “read them by themselves), and Sandra Boyton books. Llama, Llama, Red Pajama was the favorite of our youngest, and Olivia is a lot of fun. (She reminds me of our oldest granddaughter.)