Books That Make Excellent Baby Shower Gifts
When I had my first child, we decided not to find out the baby’s gender. Which meant when my baby showers (I was fortunate enough to have two!) rolled around, friends and family gave us an abundance of books. Board books truly are the workhorse of any new parent’s arsenal. They are compact, virtually indestructible (minus some teething marks), and quick to read, making them ideal for endless rereads. Here are some excellent children’s board books to give as a gift the next time you are invited to a baby shower!
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Add to BookshelfGuess What?-Fruit
by Yusuke Yonezu
Any board book by the brilliant, design-forward Yusuke Yonezu makes a fantastic gift. Every title is adorable, and many of them use interactive, lift-the-flap pages. Guess What? Fruit turns an orange into a horse and a banana into a duck. We Love Each Other pairs up animals into first concept shapes — an elephant and her baby become a half circle, while three cats become a rectangle. With 20+ Yusuke Yonezu board books to choose from, you can’t go wrong!
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Wonderful Babies
by Emily Winfield Martin
Funny and messy babies. Grumpy and sleepy babies. This sparsely worded book depicts a range of babies, in all their moods. The simplicity of this book makes it easy to incorporate extra questions during read-alouds. For instance: Why is this baby sad? What is the wild baby dressed as? Should we give the funny baby a raspberry on her tummy? Ad-libbing with this book is a great way to engage little minds. Don’t miss Emily Winfield Martin’s other book, The Wonderful Things You Will Be.
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$8.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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My First 100 Library: Boxset of 5 Early Learning Board Books for Kids/Children (homeschool / preschool / baby/toddler)
by Wonder House Books
Is this a board book? No. Will you lift these flaps 1,000 times? Absolutely! With bold colors and foundational word-picture pairings, the books in this series encourage language development and make story time interactive. It won’t be long before your little one will dig their fingers into the cut-out notches and lift the flaps themselves. Our home copies are a bit battered, clearly indicating how beloved these books are.
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$24.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! (Board Book)
by Mo Willems
It’s time for Pigeon to go to bed. But Pigeon needs a drink and is NOT tired. He also wants to count the stars. When every well-worn bedtime delay tactic is used up, Pigeon finally succumbs to sleep. The beloved pigeon, first introduced in 2003, is a perennial favorite with kids and adults for good reason. Reading any book by Mo Willems and giving them as gifts are equally rewarding!
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$9.99Preorder from:
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Stanley’s Store
by William Bee
Stanley the hamster is hard at work at the grocery store. He unloads the forklift with fresh produce and notices his neighbor buying cheese and bread. At the register, Stanley rings up groceries and then makes a local delivery. Stanley works hard and always goes to bed at a reasonable hour. Stanley’s board books cover first concepts like colors and opposites, while his picture books show him working at various jobs in his friendly neighborhood. These books were a big hit with my kids from ages 2-5!
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$16.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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B is for Baby
by Atinuke
In this adorable book from beloved children’s creator, Atinuke, readers discover words starting with the letter “B.” Mama weaves a bead into her baby’s black hair. Baby falls into a big basket of bananas. Brother hoists the basket with the baby inside onto his bicycle and heads off to see Baba. The siblings see butterflies, birds, and baobabs along their bumpy journey. This joy-infused book is just one of Atinuke’s popular titles.
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$7.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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Now I See Board Book Box Set
by Mac Barnett
Identical text and pictures of the same image are featured throughout each season. How does a tree or garden box morph from spring to winter? What remains the same and what changes? Different hats are worn through the seasons, but does the person wearing the hat also change? Designed to be seen through the eyes of a child, this fresh take on the four seasons is a lovely addition to any home library.
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8
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The Mitten (Oversized Lap Board Book)
by Jan Brett
Nicki begs his grandmother, Baba, to knit him a white mitten. Before long, Nicki drops the mitten in the snow and loses it. A burrowing mole finds it and nestles inside, safe from the winter wind. Soon, a rabbit joins the mole, then a badger, and a fox. Animal after animal finds the mitten and joins the group inside. When a mouse squeezes into the mitten, a grizzly bear’s sneeze dislodges the creatures. Detailed illustrations and longer text make this best for children ages 3+.
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$15.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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9
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Opposite Surprise
by Agnese Baruzzi
This fold-out board book explores opposites with babies and toddlers. Each page presents a visual mystery that little ones solve when they open the flaps. Is there one sheep or many sheep? An empty or full fish tank? A clean or dirty shirt? A pencil or the supports of an expansive bridge? My favorite spread involves a slow turtle magically shape-shifting into a fast airplane. This diaper bag staple is a unique gift that parents and babies will love!
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$12.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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10
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Global Babies
by The Global Fund for Children
Babies love reading about other babies, and this simple book showcases babies from around the globe. Although it can be read in under two minutes, this simple but powerful book offers caregivers a chance to talk about the featured pictures and introduces diversity to kids at a young age.
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11
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A Ball for Daisy
by Chris Raschka
Daisy, a black-and-white puppy, loves her red ball and spends her days playing with it. But when her friend accidentally pops it, she is upset. The next day, Daisy’s human presents her with a blue ball, and the world seems right again. This wordless award-winner beautifully depicts a spectrum of emotions and connects with young readers on a primal level.
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12
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The Book of Nursery Rhymes
by Debi Gliori
Albert Einstein famously said, “If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” I’d extend that truism to include nursery rhymes. Every child deserves a healthy dose of nursery rhymes in their formative years. Hey, Diddle Diddle and Mary Had a Little Lamb are quintessential childhood favorites for their cadence and charm. This nursery rhyme collection contains these favorites and more that children will want to read again and again.
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13
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Go! Go! Go! Stop!
by Charise Mericle Harper
Little Green’s first word is Go! He likes how it sounds and heads into town to practice. At the construction site, Little Green gets the vehicles back to work with his new word. However, saying Go! Go! Go! turns a bridge-building project into a jumbled mess. When Little Red rolls into town, he utters the only word he knows: Stop! Together, Little Red and Little Green get the pacing right for their powerful commands. This classic interactive book is best for ages 3+.
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This Is Sadie
by Sara O'Leary
Sadie climbs into a box, which she imagines is an enormous boat. She sails around her room before starting a new project. Sadie dresses up, spends a perfect day with friends, climbs trees, and seeks out adventure. With nods to other famous picture books, Sadie is beloved by young kids and grown-ups alike. Truly, I could sing Julie Morstad’s praises all day — her books are pure childhood magic.
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