Board books and babies go together like cookies and milk. You can have one without the other, but together there’s something magical. Watching a baby’s eyes light up while reading a book they can touch, hold, and experience is one of the greatest first moments of a parent’s journey – and theirs.
While the classics are thrilling, sometimes babies need something a little more than The Very Hungry Caterpillar. After the pages have been closed on that one, here are six unique board books that babies will love:
LetterHeads by Stefan G. Bucher (Creator)
Letters are people, too, in this unique alphabet book. LetterHeads is the first book of its kind to use 3D modeling software to sculpt letterforms into human faces. Infused with unique personalities, surrounded by playful vocabulary and an intriguing color palette, the letters reflect just how alive language can be. There’s an index that explains each color, along with a few Easter egg details. The characters, which reflect diverse backgrounds, also allow for more grown-up associations, making it fun for parents to read along. “It’s really fun to watch kids scrutinize each letter for its details. When they turn the pages, they’re fascinated to discover that they can inspect each letter front and back. For babies, there’s the happy head-tilt of ‘human, but also not human’ when they encounter the faces.,” says author Stefan Bucher.
Tails Chasing Tails by Matthew Porter (Author)
Known for his wide-eyed animal art and vibrant acrylic paints on distressed pinewood backgrounds, Indie artist Matthew Porter brings playful tigers, foxes, and pigs to life in his creative board book, Tails Chasing Tails. Using green and blue paint, babies can only see one part of each animal until the pages are turned. Then, the faces and front end of each fanciful creature are revealed. Help your baby guess the animals they see. “[Matthew Porter is] the undisputed king of the hipster board book genre,” says School Library Journal.
Alice in Wonderland: A BabyLit Colors Primer by Jennifer Adams (Author), Alison Oliver (Illustrator)
Jennifer Adams takes classic literary stories and reinvents them in ways that babies can learn and interact with the characters and stories. In Alice in Wonderland, babies can journey with Alice in her black shoes as she follows the white rabbit down a hole into Wonderland. There she meets an orange cat, a blue caterpillar, and the queen of red hearts. “The many peculiar characters in Carroll’s novel, such as the red Queen of Hearts and the time-conscious white rabbit, lend themselves to a natural introduction to colors. The literary ties are creative, but the illustrations take these primers to the next level and make them shine,” says Whitney Butters’ Deseret News.
The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson (Author), Beth Krommes (Illustrator)
A Caldecott Medal Winner, The House in the Night is an intriguing board book that uses contrasting dark colors with vivid gold to provide a mesmerizing experience for babies. In pages that nearly glow, little minds can explore the inside of a house at night. “Executed in scratchboard decorated in droplets of gold, Krommes’ illustrations expand on Swanson’s reassuring story (inspired by a nursery rhyme that begins, ‘This is the key of the kingdom’) to create a world as cozy inside a house as it is majestic outside,” says Booklist.
Sometimes I Like to Curl Up in a Ball by Vicki Churchill (Author), Charles Fuge (Author)
Sometimes I like to curl up in a ball, so no one can see me, because I’m so small. What a great reminder for children that it’s okay to be small. In this captivating picture book with soft-toned illustrations, babies can follow along as a little wombat does all its favorite things. Each page is filled with extraordinary details and a menagerie of adorable animals. Does your baby like the same activities as the wildlife?
Paris: A Book of Shapes (Hello, World) by Ashley Evanson (Author, Illustrator)
Hello, World, is a board book series that pairs early learning concepts with colorful, stylish illustrations of cities around the world. Paris is an enchanting destination with all sorts of wondrous shapes – triangles at the Louvre Museum, rectangles at Notre-Dame Cathedral, arches at the Arc de Triomphe, and stars in a beautiful Parisian night sky. Your baby can find them all in this beautifully illustrated book.
What’s your favorite board book for babies? Tweet Momma Bear @MommaBearBooks!