• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • FAQ
    • Disclosure and Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
  • Community
  • Books
    • Books for Children by Age
    • Book Lists
    • Holiday Books and Activities
  • Reading Ideas
    • Babies
    • Toddlers
    • Preschoolers
    • Kindergarteners & Early Elementary
  • Writing Ideas
  • Parental Involvement: Building Partnerships
  • Start Here!
    • WELCOME TO THE GROWING BOOK BY BOOK COMMUNITY
    • Subscribe
    • Contact
    • FAQ
      • Disclosure and Privacy Policy
  • Shop
  • Home
  • Book Lists
    • Books for Children by Age
    • Book Lists
    • Holiday Books and Activities
  • Book Activities
  • Early Literacy
    • Alphabet Activities
    • Circle Time Activities
    • Phonological Awareness Activities

Growing Book by Book

  • Family Involvement
    • Start a Family Dinner Book Club
  • Start Here
  • Store
discovering with babies playing with toddlers exploring with preschoolers building with beginning readers

Bring joy and play into children's lives through books.

Yes, please!
Home » Books for Kids » Book Lists » Books that Will Be Baby’s First Year Favorites

Books that Will Be Baby’s First Year Favorites

November 7, 2011 •

Sharing is caring!

1893 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
good books for baby's first year

Today is my son’s first birthday.  So, I thought I would highlight his top favorite and very good baby books of his first year.  All of the books are board books.  Board books are constructed with durable cardboard pages that make them great for wear and tear with a baby.

good books for baby's first year

Good Baby Books for the First Year

Full Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links.

1.  My Truck is Stuck by Kevin Lewis and Daniel Kirk is his favorite book of the moment.  Hence, the theme of his birthday cake!  He loves when your voice does the “beep! beep!” and “vroom” sound effects.

2.  Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow was the first book we ever read to him.  He has enjoyed this book all year long and has now begun to shake his finger for the part when the doctor says, “No more monkeys jumping on the bed.”

3.  Belly Button Book by Sandra Boynton is another year-long favorite.  The rhythm of the story really keeps him engaged.

4.  Toes, Ears, & Nose by Marion Dane Bauer and illustrated by Karen Katz is a lift-the-flap book.  This is another recent favorite.  Throughout the story, different body parts are named.  We then touch the same part of his body.  He shakes this one in front of you over and over to read it again.  One warning though  I do not recommend lift-the-flaps with an almost one-year-old.  He has ripped all but one lift the flap off.

5.  I Love You, Sun I Love You, Moon by Karen Pandell and illustrated Tomie dePaola is a simple tribute to loving the planet earth.

6.  That’s not my monkey by Fiona Watt and illustrated by Rachel Wells is a touchy-feely book.  In my opinion, most touch-and-feel books out there aren’t very good.  However, this series by Usborne does a very nice job of placing a variety of textures in their books.  My son’s favorite page is feeling the monkey’s fuzzy tongue.

7.  The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper and Illustrated by Christina Ong was an early favorite.    The edges of the book are completely chewed.  I love the message of the book to believe that you can do anything.

 

8.  Dr. Seuss’s ABC An Amazing Alphabet Book! by Dr. Seuss is a silly romp through the alphabet.  Again, this story has a great rhythm that keeps the listener engaged.

9.  Chicka Chicka a b c by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault and illustrated by Lois Ehlert is super fun.  It’s an oversized board book that has really intrigued my son.  He now even uses his finger to mimic the letters climbing the coconut tree.

10.  The favorite book throughout the whole year is Hickory, Dickory, Dock and other favorite nursery rhymes illustrated by Sanja Rescek.   Wow, this book has seen a lot of wear and tear.  He loves, loves, loves this book.  Favorite rhyme is ‘Old King Cole’.  I haven’t figured out that one yet.

UPDATE

I thought I would add my youngest son’s favorite books from his first year.  He enjoyed all of the books above, but he also had some additional favorites!

Peek-a-Who? by Nina Laden was his absolute favorite.  In fact, we based his first birthday cake off of the book. He loved to look at himself in the mirror at the end of the story.

Where is Baby’s Belly Button by Karen Katz is a fun lift-the-flap book.  My younger son did much better with lift-the-flaps.  We didn’t have a problem with him tearing them off.

Get the Printable Book List of Good Books for Baby

Grab a printable book list of the books shared above.  Just click the button below to download.

Looking for more book lists?  Check out our Favorite Books of Songs for Babies post!

Does your child have a favorite board book from their childhood?  We’d love some ideas for we are getting tired of the same stories and would love something fresh.

Did you get your free list of Books Kids Will Beg You to Read?

Get It

Sharing is caring!

1893 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Filed Under: Book Lists Tagged With: BABY

About Jodie Rodriguez

Jodie Rodriguez is a mom of two young boys and an early childhood/elementary educator with over 20 years of experience. Jodie's passion is helping parents, teachers, librarians and anyone else interested in nurturing and reaching ALL of our youngest growing readers.

Comments

  1. teachingyoungchildren says

    January 2, 2012 at 9:21 pm

    Thanks for joining WMCIR! A lot of the books you mentioned were my daughter’s favorites when she was 1! She also loved ABC I Love You poem (in a board book format) and anything by Giles Andreae

  2. Tricia says

    November 7, 2011 at 11:18 am

    Love the cake themed to match his favorite book. Happy Birthday to the ONE YEAR OLD birthday boy!

  3. Kimberly K says

    November 7, 2011 at 6:47 am

    Today is my daughter’s 5th birthday! Congrats Mama! Loved many of those books and awesome job on the cake! I have a princess one underway. Wishing us all a great day!

    • growingbookbybook says

      November 7, 2011 at 7:12 am

      Thank you and Happy Birthday to your little one!

Trackbacks

  1. Book Favorites for One to Two Year-Olds says:
    November 5, 2012 at 6:11 am

    […] so little anymore guy turns two this week.  Wow, time sure does fly!   Last year, I shared his top 10 favorite board books and this year I thought I’d share his favorite books of this past year.  I will say that […]

  2. Tips for Reading With Newborns to Age 5 says:
    August 13, 2012 at 6:06 am

    […] Babies love to put everything in your mouth.  Board books, cloth books and vinyl books work best for this age.   You can find a list of my son’s favorite board books by clicking here. […]

What can we help you find?

Subscribe to Growing Book by Book

lead magnet for growing book bybook
Welcome to Growing Book by Book!  Learn about the creator, Jodie Rodriguez.

Find More

alphabet activities
book lists for children
circle time button

Set Up for Circle Time Success

month by month circle time songs


Copyright ©2025, Growing Book by Book. All Rights Reserved. Custom design by Pixel Me Designs | Privacy Policy