To be honest, when we first started our baby book collection for our son Luca, I didn’t really think much about what he would like. After all, he was still growing in my belly, and I figured he doesn’t really know what the books are saying anyway, right? So I just picked baby books that sounded cute to me or had pretty covers like I’d like like to think most new moms would do lol. Little did I know that our little guy would actually prefer some baby and toddler books over others!
Now obviously I’m generalizing the top baby & toddler books somewhat because these are my son’s favorites. But considering that a few of these baby books were gifts from other moms that they bought us because their babies and toddlers loved them too, I am venturing to say they are very popular with the baby and toddler crowd all around! Simply read reviews if you’d like to too 🙂 . One of the things I didn’t realize babies picked up on so young is rhyming. Our son LOVES baby books that rhyme, and has since he was first born, so that is a big factor for determining the top baby books. He honestly doesn’t last listening to ones that don’t rhyme usually even now at 10 months old.
Below are the 10 top baby & toddler books from my “research” with my own son and chatting with friends. They are not in an exact ranking, but I will say the top of the list ones are my son’s {and mine and my husband’s} all time favorites. And one of the great things about these books is that they are all under $10, many under $5 so it’s easy to build your baby’s library or as a little gift for the new moms in your life!
Top Baby & Toddler Books
The Llama Llama books are fan favorites and never get old. I have the best video of Luca hysterically laughing as we read him our favorite one, Llama Llama Hoppity Hop, before bed one night lol.
I’ll be honest, I picked up ABCs of Kindness because I thought the cover was really nice looking initially lol. But also the message I think is so important for children of any age, and Luca loves listening to us read him this baby book. He makes it all the way to the end of the alphabet listening intently the whole time. It’s also great to help toddlers learn their ABCs in a fun way!
From the same author as ABCs of Kindness, 123s of Thankfulness is also an adorable book with a great message. I especially love giving these books as an add on gift for baby showers and first birthdays!
Seeing a pattern lol? Ok, I promise Happiness is a Rainbow is the last one in this series I’m going to list, but believe me, they are that good. I mean, how cute is the cover first of all? Great for learning the colors and Luca loves the illustrations.
Night Night Jungle was one of many books gifted to us by a friend, and it is one of her daughters’ favorites too! With silly, cute rhymes it says night night to all the animals in the jungle and ends with saying night night to God.
Welcome Little One was the first book that Luca really listened to and looked at intently while I read to him. I’m not sure if it is the illustrations or the words, but he has loved this book ever since he was very little {see me reading it to him above when he was a little over 5 months old}.
I Love You to the Moon and Back is a phrase we all tell our little ones, so of course this book has a message everyone will love! It’s a sweet book about all the things you do with your baby.
The Wonderful Things You Will Be has such a sweet message for little ones about a parent’s love for whoever their child grows up to be. It also has really pretty illustrations and of course rhymes. 🙂
This little book has such sweet rhymes about you & your baby plus it has some texture to the pages that older babies will love to touch and outline the animals! You’re My Little Cuddle Bug is an adorable bedtime or nap time book to read to your baby.
Another Llama Llama book made the list because we got this for Luca recently & he loves it! Llama Llama Hide & Seek has lift-a-flaps that at Luca’s age he loves to lift and lower and it has a special surprise on the last page that your baby will love!
Happy reading!
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I just bought “Llama Llama Red Pajamas” from my son’s daycare book fair and it’s SO cute! I need all of the books in that series now haha
Oh my gosh, so many good ones! Our son loves them all! 🙂