Why are books important for babies? Are they even getting anything out of storytime yet? Does it really make a difference in your child’s learning journey? These are questions we’ve all wondered about our kids’ most formative years. The answer is 100% yes! There are so many benefits to reading to your baby. In fact, it’s one of the most important things you can do for their language development. They are learning to speak, bonding with their parents and loved ones, and participating in an activity that inspires an early love for reading. A recent study showed that babies whose parents read to them every day are exposed to 78,000 words each year. That’s 1.4 million words by the time your child turns 5 years old! It’s no surprise that this consistent habit directly prepares them for future academic success.
It’s never too early to start reading to your baby! There are an incredible amount of baby books to choose from and we’re happy to help guide you along the way. In this article, we’ll help you build your child’s library from the ground up with a list of educational titles. It’s easy to begin creating a collection of stories for your baby that are interactive, engaging, and durable. Grab your notepad and let’s get started!
Durable Books
It’s important to find durable books, like board books for example, that can withstand all kinds of rough play and will remain safe in little hands. From teething and chucking, to dropping and dunking, Cali’s Books are indestructible! A great option for babies and toddlers, their thick pages make them strong enough to last through all types of wear and tear, and are easy for kids to turn on their own while developing their motor skills. Cali’s Books provide a tactile experience that introduces new vocabulary and teaches core foundational skills like colors, counting, and ABCs.
Include Variety
Don’t forget to include a variety of baby books in your child’s library! Kids benefit from a diverse assortment of books with different themes—from animals and letters, to space and cars, introducing your child to all kinds of topics lets them explore different words, images, and whole new worlds. Diversity matters, too! Inclusivity and representation teach kids empathy and acceptance from an early age.
Focus on Illustrations
Look for books with bright, colorful, and detailed illustrations. Engaging and eye-catching artwork will draw little ones’ attention and keep them focused on the task at hand. For babies and toddlers, illustrations are the only way to understand the story outside of what the reader is saying. Picture books provide kids with an immediate idea of the characters, setting, and mood of the story. Illustrations can be an excellent tool for developing kids’ analytical and interpretative skills, as well as forming an early appreciation and love for art.
Consider Interactive Features
Try introducing interactive books to help keep babies engaged. Interactive books take board books to the next level with sensory learning. There are several different kinds to choose from that will give babies the chance to explore with touch, sound, and sight.
Sound Books use sensory learning to help kids retain information better and learn faster. While reading, they can touch and feel with buttons to press, listen to catchy music, and look at adorable illustrations of their favorite cuddly characters.
Lift-the-Flap Books also use sensory learning and let kids take control by exploring on their own and lifting built-in flaps to reveal more of the story. Reading becomes an immersive experience with these books that support cognitive development, encourage active participation, and build comprehension.
Textured Books are great for building a better understanding of what your child is reading. These will usually include a texture that relates to the story, helping explain concepts easily to little ones. For example, babies can see a picture of a sheep and feel a wooly texture, helping them associate faster and have a fun time learning!
Rhyming and Repetition
Rhyming and repetition are fun literary elements, but did you know they actually help kids learn to read? Rhyming teaches kids early literacy skills like phonemic awareness and fluency. When children learn to rhyme, it helps them break words down into smaller parts like puzzle pieces. It becomes a fun game when kids recognize that words can sound similar and be manipulated to create sounds. Similar to rhyming, repetition in stories is good for the growing brain, teaching kids how language works and improving their memory, concentration, spatial intelligence and thinking skills. This is why nursery rhymes tend to be a favorite among little ones—the rhyming and repetition in these books is an enjoyable way to learn with each reading session.
Grow Your Library Gradually
Are you ready to start building your baby book library? Start with a few tried and true classics and slowly add more over time. Allow your baby to develop preferences and favorite books in a way that lets them guide the process. This will make it easier to determine which stories they enjoy the most. It will also help create a collection that is unique to your child and guaranteed to bring a smile to their face.
Our Favorite Cali’s Books to Get Started
Cali’s Books has an ever-expanding collection of baby books that are educational, entertaining, and interactive. Let’s take a look at some of our best-sellers to spark your child’s love for reading.
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Humpty Dumpty: Revisit a classic nursery rhyme and more with this interactive sound book featuring six songs: Humpty Dumpty, Finger Family, Skip to My Lou, Row, Row Your Boat, Ring Around the Rosie, and Star Light, Star Bright. Perfect for a first birthday, this fun book is a great gift to help little ones refine their motor skills with songs that encourage hand motions.
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Mommy I Love You: Looking for a heartwarming baby shower gift? This sweet, loving story is perfect for new moms and babies alike. A unique collection of six original nursery rhymes, it celebrates mothers with songs including: Good Morning Mommy, Singing Songs, Mother's Day, A Gift for You, Quality Time, and Goodnight Little One. The last two pages of this sound booklet children explore their creativity with a blank space to write Mom's name, draw, and color to their heart’s content.
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You Are My Sunshine: A joyful sound book featuring a beloved song, You Are My Sunshine introduces babies and toddlers to the weather with fun nursery rhymes. This fun sound book sparks their imaginations with eye-catching illustrations and songs including: You Are My Sunshine, Doctor Foster, Rain Rain, Go Away, It's Raining, It's Pouring, Thunder, and Mr. Sun, to foster their story sense.
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The Wheels on the Bus: Interactive sound buttons let little ones take control in this sound book that features all six verses of the Wheels on the Bus song! Another great gift to bring along to a baby shower, this book captures the attention of newborns, babies, and toddlers with hand motions and songs including: Wheels, Driver, Wipers, Horn, Doors, and Baby.
- Bedtime with Mozart: Bedtime is a breeze with this soothing book of lullabies. This delightful sound book takes children through a nightly ritual with calming classical music. The pages burst with vibrant illustrations and selections from six magical melodies. Say goodbye to bedtime woes with songs including: Sonata- Mozart, Nocturne - Chopin, Gymnopedie - Satie, Lullaby - Brahms, Suite N.3 - Bach, and Moonlight Sonata- Beethoven.
Looking for more options to build a collection of educational baby books? Or maybe you’d like to gift a new parent a baby book to support their child’s development? Check out Cali’s Books’ growing collection of sound books and our incredible new digital reader, the infinibook™.