20 Classic Baby Books Every Parent Should Know About

20 Classic Baby Books Every Parent Should Know About

Open up the imaginative possibilities of your baby with these classic baby books. Introducing books to your child at an early age boosts their language development and sparks a lifetime reading passion. It is also an opportunity to bond and have fun with your baby.

Pat the Bunny is one of these all-time masterpieces in children’s literature that promotes hands-on “touch and feel” activities with your child. Guess How Much I Love You is an affirmative of love in your baby in easy language.

Furthermore, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?  is a lesson of various colors. Its simple repetitive text makes it enjoyable for babies. Love You Forever uses a song in the form of a lullaby that babies can relate to and memorize as they grow older. Read on for more classics for your baby.

Here are the 20 Classic Baby Books Every Parent Should Know About.

1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

This baby classic is a picture book that is meant to inspire your child and help them prepare for kindergarten. The story is about a caterpillar who is hatched out of an egg and starts eating everything around him. He eats fruits, sweets, and junk which causes him a stomach ache after six days.

What’s more, on the seventh day he eats a “nice leaf” which makes the caterpillar feel better. So the book informs babies of the foods the caterpillar eats. It also serves as a little counting lesson as well as lets the little ones learn the importance of healthy foods. The book was published in 1969 and is the work of American children’s author Carle.

Check out Classic Children’s Books of All Time.

2. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

The American writer Brown was inspired to pen this masterwork bedtime story by her childhood rituals. She always said goodnight to all her toys in the nursery. Goodnight Moon has a little bunny and an elderly lady bunny as the main characters. The pictures and the bold colors in the book are ideal for babies.

Moreover, the story is centered on a little bunny who lies in his bed dressed in striped blue pajamas. His bedroom walls are painted green and the time is seven o’clock at night. The bunny tells everything in his room goodnight.

Afterward, he begins to fall asleep so the lights in his room go dim and a big picture of the moon on the window brightens and glows up. The book is a 1947 release and lets us into the faith or belief system of babies.

3. Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt

This masterpiece baby book by American children’s writer Kunhardt is an interactive text that supports sensory approach learning. You and your baby can engage in the “touch and feel” activities illustrated in the book.

To add on, some of the activities include patting the fake fur of a rabbit and feeling the texture of a scratchy face using a rough surface like sandpaper. You can look into the mirror together and also play peekaboo. These tasks help you bond with your baby making them perfect pastimes.

At the time of writing Kunhardt meant the book to help her three-year-old child then. The title was published in 2001.

4. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

Written by the Northern Irish author McBratney, it is a moral lesson of the immeasurable love parents have for their children. Thus making the book perfect for introducing the subject of love to babies as well as affirming the same feelings from parents.

The storyline focuses on Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare. They share their love and feelings for each other throughout the book. The book was published in 1994.

5. The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

A baby’s masterpiece by the American writer Theodor Geisel who wrote the book under his pen name, Dr. Seuss. It is credited for bringing simplicity and fun to the American children’s genre.

Furthermore, the main character is a cat so a baby can easily relate to it. The cat has human attributes and is dressed in a red bow tie with a red and white striped hat which makes the picture attractive to babies.

The plot follows a cat that shows up at Sally’s home on a rainy day while Sally was home alone caring for his brother. Hence the cat and his friends entertain the children and wreck into the house causing a lot of damage. Yet they clear the mess up and disappear before Sally’s mother returns home. It is a 1957 release.

6. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

An epitome of children’s literature by American authors Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle. The repetitive aspect of the book including its title makes it easy for babies to grasp.

Additionally, the simple text in the book also boosts the reading skill of young ones. The book also helps babies learn to identify different colors. It was published in 1967.

Get to know the Famous Children’s Authors.

7. Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

An epitome picture book for babies written in 1986 by American-Canadian author Munsch. The theme in the book is the love of parents for their children. Thus it is a teaching to children on the topic of love and how to reciprocate the same to their parents.

On top of that, the plot involves a mother who sings his son a lullaby through all stages of his life. Both grow older and the mother is angered by the rebellious nature of his son as he grows older. Yet she sticks to her ritual of singing the song to affirm her love.

In the end, the mother is too old to sing the son the lullaby anymore. So the son shows his love by singing the same song to his mother and his daughter. Babies relate to the book because it is in the form of a song and the pictures register well in their young minds.

8. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

It is a masterpiece for babies by American author Sendak. It is appropriate to build up on the topic of punishment and dreams in the minds of children.

Max is a young boy who is sent to bed without supper by his mother for acting out. In his dreams, he goes on an excursion to the magical land of the wild things. With this book, babies get introduced to different worlds besides what is common in their surroundings.

To boot, as they grow older the story can serve the purpose of informing children on the importance of obedience. Also, unfold to them the pain they cause their parents through being disobedient. The book was published in 1963.

9. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

An exemplary children’s picture book published in 1962 by American author Keats. It is the story of an African boy who woke up to the sight of snowfall in the morning. In his snowsuit, he went out of his house to make snow discoveries.

Over and above that, the pictures in the book make it suitable for babies. Also, the sound made by the boy’s feet as he walked on the snow is well described. Thus parents can use such sounds to trigger laughter in their babies making reading fun.

As the children keep growing the book can be used to teach them about weather as portrayed by snow. They can learn about their neighborhood since an urban setting is evident in the book. They can also learn to celebrate diversity as a black child is used to show appreciation for the same.

10. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

The book is the creation of American authors Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault. It is a 1989 title that makes use of rhyming text which is infectious in babies. The cheerful illustrations in the book make it interesting for a baby.

It is a perfect fit for read-aloud sessions with your child. The book shows the alphabet letters going up a coconut tree making it a concept book as well.

11. Corduroy by Don Freeman

It is one of the models of children’s literature written by American author Freeman in 1968. The book is about a small stuffed bear who hopes that someone special will take him one day from the department store he lives in.

A girl named Lisa expresses interest in buying him. But her mother opposes the idea because the bear has a missing button on his apron. So the bear goes in search of his missing button to no avail.

Later Lisa gets money from her piggy bank and buys the bear. She then sews a button on the bear’s apron. In the end, both of them hug each other because each of them was in search of a friend.

Discover the Best Books for Black Kids’ Self-Esteem.

12. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

American writer Silverstein developed this classic in 1964. It is the story of an apple tree who gives selflessly to a boy throughout his entire life. The tree is on the giving end while the boy from childhood through his entire life is on the receiving end.

Subsequently, the book can be an opportunity for parents to teach their children about the environment like trees and their fruits. For older children, it is a chance to introduce them to selfless love and the concept of giving by both parties in any friendship.

13. The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown

A definitive of baby-friendly content by American author Brown published in 1942. It portrays a small rabbit who desires to run away. His mother tells him that she will run after him if he attempts any escape. So the book introduces a baby to simple physical activities and words they can repeat after their parents.

14. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

An outstanding read for babies published in 1960. Seuss uses simple language and repetition to accommodate relatability among babies. The use of easy-to-find foods at home makes it a good book to read aloud and demonstrate to the child the foods talked about. The pictures in the book also enrich the storytelling.

15. Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman

A vintage in children’s literature, and the work of American writer Eastman. It narrates the story of a bird who sat on an egg anticipating it to hatch. Then she left to find food for her young one in preparation for her coming.

Once the little bird was hatched from the egg, he didn’t find his mother around so he went in search of her. On his way, he asked everyone if they were his mother.

16. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

Williams was an English-American writer and she published this first-rate baby fit literature in 1922. The book describes the strong connection between a Velveteen Rabbit and his owner.

Subsequently, the rabbit wishes he could become real because of the much love he shares with his owner. Hence the book can serve the role of sparking a strong bond between babies and their favorite toys.

17. The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

A paradigm of the children’s genre by English writer Potter and has existed since 1901. The story centers on a mischievous Peter Rabbit who is also disobedient. Thus for babies, it is an amazing story about animals. As children advance in years, it is a cautionary lesson on obedience and the consequences of disobedience.

18. Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman

It is a detailed illustration of dogs as they make their way around work and play. The dogs can operate cars, scooters, and other conveyances. In the end, they throw an amazing dog party.

Eastman uses color to educate babies on various colors. He also uses simple language and humor which is a good way to introduce babies to reading. The book was published in 1961.

19. Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss

It is the last work of Dr. Seuss and it’s a trip through life, its challenges and joys. It is a good start to put forward confidence and courage in a baby’s life. The book promotes high self-esteem and strength to face life with boldness right from childhood in simple language. The title was released in 1990.

Get parenting insights from the Best Parenting Books.

20. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

One of the finest read-aloud books for your baby is this 1955 children’s picture book. It’s the work of American cartoonist cum writer, Johnson.

Moreover, the use of the color purple in the book introduces your baby to color recognition. The elaborate pictures in the book are a great way to build imagery in the baby’s mind. Further, the simple language makes reading exciting for little children.

These classic baby books are a firm foundation for a child’s literary adventure. They ignite a baby’s imagery and curiosity spheres expanding the same to limitless boundaries. The books can inspire a lifetime reading culture in your child. Happy reading!