Board books, full of colorful illustrations and heartwarming stories, are the perfect introduction to reading for the youngest of readers. A board book in terms of sturdiness is the best option for baby books, and baby board books are a great way to build up a library that can withstand all your baby and/or toddler has to throw at it -- literally!
Here are our top 27 classic board book recommendations, so that you can share your favorite stories and illustrations with your little ones.
1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
This story explores change and hunger, and it's great for learning the days of the week. It's also a fun way to help little ones start to identify colors, foods, and cause-and-effect relationships.
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2. Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
Take a tour of the farm yard with this awesome board book. Kids will learn about the animals and animal sounds as they flip through the thick pages of the board book editions featuring every barnyard animal. It's a great way to help kids identify everyday objects in beautiful illustrations, too!
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3. Time for Bed by Mem Fox and Jane Dyer
This is one of the bedtime story books that can help children make that important transition into sleep. It's good for calming kids down at the end of the day, and it introduces and reiterates the importance of a clear bedtime routine.
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4. The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear and Jan Brett
This book is based on a beloved children's poem that explains a silly love story. The illustrations in this board book are an absolute favorite of kids with strong imaginations, and they offer a lot to talk to your young reader about.
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5. The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
This is a heartwarming story of a mother's love for her little one. The story is about a young bunny who wants to explore, and its mother who will do anything for her child's safety.
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6. The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
Sometimes, we can't always be who others want us to be. that's the moral of this story about a bull who won't get angry -- at least not when he's supposed to. It's a great lesson in being yourself and standing strong despite others' expectations.
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7. A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni
This story is one of my favorite board books that explain the importance of being yourself. It's an awesome book that teaches kids to accept who they are, even if who they are is different from the others around them. It's encouragement in board book form!
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8. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
This story of a young orphan girl has been spread all around the world. It's set in Paris and gives kids a sense of the wider world. It follows the adventures and antics of young Madeline, who learns many life lessons along the way.
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9. The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
This is the classic story about believing in yourself and never giving up. Even trains need support and encouragement from time to time, and this story helps young readers learn the importance of positive self-talk and achieving their goals.
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10. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
Here's another story about a bunny and her baby. In it, the two go back and forth about how much they love each other, always trying to outdo the previous confession and declaration. It shows the true love that a mother feels for her child, and the love that the child can grow, too.
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11. Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
This lighthearted book is a great way to introduce kids to animals and animal sounds. It also shows how a family is bigger than just those who may look like you. Kids can learn about asking for help and sticking together thanks to this classic board book.
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12. Corduroy by Don Freeman
Follow the adventures of a loveable bear in this board book adventure. He learns about bringing himself, and your little one can see this important value woven through the story. Plus, the illustrations are endearing and captivating for young readers.
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13. Moo, Baa, La La La! by Sandra Boynton
This board book of animal characters is a hoot and a half, with amazing illustrations and fun rhymes and rhythms throughout. It can help kids with animal identification, and it touches on themes such as being yourself and having a great time while you do it!
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14. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
This classic board book is great for simple concepts like empathy and forgiveness. It tells the story of a boy and his favorite tree, and how the tree gives him everything. In the end, the tree is left with nothing. Lots of different interpretations of this book have emerged, and the message grows up alongside your child.
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15. With a Little Help from My Friends by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
This board book is based on a song from the Beatles of the same name, and it's a favorite baby gift for parents who love music. It takes the reader through the highs and lows of being with friends and being alone, and it emphasizes the importance of growing up in a strong community.
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16. My Mother Is Mine by Marion Dane Bauer
This makes the board book list for its heartwarming reminder of a mother's love. It also looks at the dynamic going the other way, exploring how a young child would express their deep love for their mother in the best way that they know how. Its sweet message has been known to bring parents of young children to tears.
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17. Boo to You! by Lois Ehlert
This board book gold features a fun (although sometimes grumpy) cat as the main character, and the bold colors and exaggerated features of the illustrations add to the quirky nature of this book. It's about a black cat who just wants to fit in; will he reach his goal by the end of the board book adaptation of this popular kids' story?
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18. Daddy Hugs by Karen Katz
This book is a great way to talk about love between the family, and it looks at love in animal families, too! It's one of the classic baby books that features a baby - and plenty of baby animals - as the main characters. As far as books about hugs go, this is a comprehensive and heartwarming look at how we all express love to one another.
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19. When Mama Comes Home Tonight by Eileen Spinelli
This is one of the books for kids that emphasizes the importance of family and the love that persists in the home. It features lovable characters, and the plot builds enough suspense and expectation to make the ending exciting and well worth reading.
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20. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Eric Carle
The classic books of this author are all well known, but the most popular question in books for babies these days is: "Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see?" The answer leads to more questions and more colorful friends, and it's no wonder why this has been such a popular children's book for decades.
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21. Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
This lift-the-flap book is a great way to engage kids with total physical responses while they're reading. It's also a fun way to learn about animals, animal sounds, and different behaviors that can be seen at the zoo. Plus, it's been one of my favorite board books for several years running!
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22. Jamberry by Bruce Degen
This book is all about having fun in the garden and in the kitchen. It is one of the great books for babies that introduces them to helping and being part of the family, especially when it comes to big projects that everyone does altogether.
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23. Ten Nine Eight by Molly Bang
This is one of the counting picture books that take things from the top: it starts with ten and works its way down to one. It is one of the many beautiful books that reinforce the bedtime routine for young kids, which can lead to calmer evenings and better sleep for everyone in the house!
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24. Hippos Go Berserk! by Sandra Boynton
This is one of the favorite books of parents who want to introduce a fun and varied vocabulary to their toddlers. It's a fun way to bring new words and ideas into your young child's life, while also living the fun adventures of the hippos just before bedtime.
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25. Elephants Spray by Rebecca Glaser
This book is great for learning about animals and simple verbs. Some of the verbs are things that kids do every day, and some are meant to expand their growing vocabulary. Either way, the engaging board book stage is perfect for setting up new ideas and words!
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26. Look Look Outside by Peter Linenthal
This book is designed to help introduce kids to multiculturalism and the story of the Buddha. It is set in a faraway land along the Silk Road, and it highlights the importance of being present and mindful in the moment.
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27. Counting on Community by Innosanto Nagara
This book is about working together to achieve social justice and change in the community. It highlights the importance of bringing everyone together, with all of their different talents and ideas, so that real sharing can lead to real change.
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