Best Books to Read to a Baby Under Age One

I think that anyone can agree that reading to a child is one of the most important things you can do as a parent, guardian, or caregiver. Some parents start reading to their little ones before even giving birth! But as any parent of a young baby can tell you, it's not always easy to read to them. Their attention span is short and they get antsy easily, wanting to explore the world around them.

So how can a parent instill a love of books early in their child's life? By reading books that are age appropriate (read: board books). And believe it or not, there are age-appropriate books that are perfect for babies under 1 year. Here is a list of the best books to read to a baby under 1, drawn from trial and error in my own experience.

1. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
It's a classic, there's no denying it! This little treasure has been around quite awhile, and it's simple and comforting. It's basically just a short book about saying goodnight to everything in a bedroom, but the wording and the pictures are so simple, you can read this book quickly but get so much out of it. It's been a favorite in daycares I've worked at, and it's been my daughter's favorite since she was 4 months old.

2. Elmo Loves Hugs! by Sesame Street/Reader's Digest
This book is great for the fact that it gets physical, so to speak. It follows a typical day in Elmo's life and the kinds of hugs he can give out during the day to different people in his life. What's great about this book is that it has two spongy arms attached, and kids are able to give Elmo a high-five, a hug, a wave, etc. The bright colors of the drawings also help keep baby's attention.

3. The Paper Bag Princess by Robert N. Munsch
It's a modern fairy tale with a twist about a princess who goes after a dragon that has kidnapped her prince...but what happens when she rescues him is both comical and different. It's short, well drawn, and just plain fun if you're willing to spice up the dragon's speaking parts (and what parent can resist making the sounds for their little ones?). On a more personal note, this is a great tale for the girls, especially!

4. Skidamarink! I Love You by Michael Scott (photographer)
Originally meant to be a Valentine's Day book, Skidamarink! is still a great read any time of year. You can't help but to break out into the actual song as you're reading it, and the live-action shots of babies in the book will definitely keep your little one interested. In fact, the only complaint about this book is that it's too short, believe it or not.

5. The Foot Book: Dr. Seuss's Wacky Book of Opposites by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel)
Of course, there has to be at least one Dr. Seuss book that makes the list, although, honestly, for babies under a year old, it's hard to find a Dr. Seuss book that is readable to them. Although they're great fun, they tend to be on the long side, and for a baby younger than one, it's much too hard to keep their attention for that long. However, The Foot Book is perfect, because it's short, has colorful pictures, and the rhyming words are just plain fun for a baby to hear. This one is so much fun, my 11 month old daughter visibly gets excited when she sees it.

6. Little Hands Love (A Tiny Handsies Touch and Feel Book) by Piggy Toes Press and Anthony Nex (photographer)
This has been a favorite for my daughter since she was five months old. This very simple book has a different texture on each page that babies can feel with their hands (a tutu on one page, cotton on another, for example). The wording is nice and simple, and the book is big enough that even the youngest babies can try to turn the pages, which has been great for my daughter's building motor skills. This is a great book to have in the diaper bag to keep little hands busy during that wait in the doctor's office.

7. Good Night: A Touch & Feel Bedtime Book by Melanie Mitchell
One of my personal favorites, this book is another touch and feel board book, but features animals (like a furry dog, soft bunny, etc.). Each page says goodnight to a different animal, and the illustrations picture baby animals with their moms, which is a nice touch.

8. Pat Them Gently by Melanie O'Brien (author) and Treesha Runnells (illustrator)
A fantastic book for even the very youngest because it's so short but features cute illustrations of cats and dogs and rhyming lines that teach how to approach an animal so they don't get scared. It's also fun to make the barking and meowing sounds as you read the book. Tip: you can sometimes find this little treasure in the $1 bins at Target, so keep an eye out!

9. Back In My Arms by Dorothea Deprisco (author) and Lesley Summers (illustrator)
Much like the Pat Them Gently book, this was a great find at my local Target store. It's a quick read with wonderful pictures that will keep your baby interested, but is also sentimental for parents.

10. Daddies Are For Catching Fireflies and Mommies Are For Counting Stars by Harriet Ziefert (author) and Cynthia Jabar (illustrator)
I know, I know...there's a tie for number 10, but on top of that, neither of these are board books. However, they are fun for babies as young as 7 months (which is when my daughter started taking a great interest in these), so they're definitely worth a mention. They're also sentimental for parents, and the lift-the-flap pages are very interested for babies. Also, the colorful illustrations are fun to look at from all point of views.

Source:
Personal experience, and the opinion of Miss Aria Shallcross