Here's the deal: I'm 33 and have no kids. There were a few years ago when I didn't read a lot of kids books. Things then started to happen in two different ways, so 1) I started working at a bookstore in a neighborhood where a lot of parents want to buy books for their small children, so I started there. 2) My brother and his wife told us that they are having their first child. BAM! As of now, I'm reading all of the board books for babies and saving them up to give to friends and family as gifts.

Why Board Books For Babies?

Board books are the best way to read to the little ones. Their thick paperboard construction makes them strong, which is important because kids are likely to chew on their books. Their easy-to-understand ideas and bright pictures are good for young people who are learning and growing. Board books are also very cheap. On average, they cost between $6 and $10, and that's at full price.

Where to Buy Board Books For Babies

You may already know where to get new books, like at your favorite local indie, Barnes & Noble, or on Amazon. As for used board books, what if you want to get them for a good price? You can get some great deals on books at places like Alibris and Thrift Books. They have prices as low as $0.99. Your local thrift store, sales at your local library, and used bookstores are also good places to look for deals. Am I right? Less money spent means more books bought, right?

Another great thing to look into is personalization. Companies like Pint Size Productions and Pinhole Press let you make a board book that is completely unique to you. Use your own photos, tell a story, or leave out any words at all; there are so many ways to make a one-of-a-kind gift. This is where you can find even more ideas for books that can be made for kids.

Choosing Board Books for Babies

Some board books are better for toddlers than for babies who haven't learned how to read and write yet.

Most parents I've talked to agree that rhyme and repetition keep babies' attention; color and contrast stimulate their senses; there are a lot of different textures for babies to touch; and simplicity is best.

The best board books for babies

50 board books for babies are a great way to get babies interested in reading while they're still young.

Hug Machine by Scott Campbell

The song you're singing right now says, "I'm a hoooooooooooooooooooog machine." I'm not angry with it. This well-known picture book has been made into a board book. It's about hugging and is so. darn. cute. It's also kind of funny that the little boy in the book hugs everything. My heart sank when I saw him hugging a mailbox and I was sad.

Moo, Baa, La La La by Sandra Boynton

There was a lot of cute noises in the children's section of the bookstore. If anything, this has shown me that kids love funny noises. This is a great book to read aloud to babies to help them learn about animal sounds. It's also fun to say the title.

Besos for Baby by Jen Arena and Blanca Gomez

Because they were drawn by a Latina, I can't stand how cute they are! The bilingual storyline, which is simple enough for a baby to understand, is paired with beautiful, graphic images that make baby want to give her a sweet kiss. Certainly.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr, Illustrated by John Archambault

I think this might be the most popular title for little kids at my store. Baby's eyes light up when they see the book on the shelf. Toddlers shriek and clap every time the title comes up. This is how it works: Fun: Go on, you know you want to.

The Pout Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen, Illustrated by Dan Hanna

This book is about a fish with RBF. An adorable story about a gloomy guy and his fishy friends. There are some books that kids know and get excited about. This is another one of them.

Some Bugs by Angela DiTerlizzi, Illustrated by Brendan Wenzel

There is a three-year-old girl who owns the indie bookstore where I work. She has her own section on the store's website called "Staff Picks." This one is at the top of the list, and I can see why. The illustrations are so beautiful that I almost forgot that most bugs scare me.

Dream Big, Little Leader by Vashti Harrison

I'm cheating because this one hasn't come out yet, but hear me out! I'm going to tell you why. Vashu Harrison is the author of Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History, which is full of little girls who look like them but have a lot of power. This new board book is based on the first one, and it will feature 18 black women who have made a difference in American history. Because it might not be easy enough for babies, I'm still going to say that. Representation is important! It was worth the wait until October.

Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy E. Shaw and Margot Apple

Sheep in a Jeep is a name for it. Do you need to know more?

Baby Koala: Finger Puppet Book (Little Finger Puppet Board Books) by Chronicle Books, illustrated by Yu-Hsuan Huang

You can give kids finger puppets and they will love them so much! There you go. These little books are a favorite because of the cute finger puppet at the center of each one. They come in all kinds of animals, from a koala to a tiger to a crab.

Lil Libros Board Books by Patty Rodriguez and Ariana Stein, illustrated by Citlali Reyes

I can't say enough about how much I love this series: beautiful illustrations of first concept stories in both English and Spanish with a focus on Latin American cultural and historical icons. Check this out: It's time for Frida, Cantinflas, Celia, Zapata, and... wait for it... Selena. What are you going to do next? For Salinas, you'll do anything you can to help.

Feminist Baby by Loryn Brantz

The only thing I don't like about this book is that the images aren't very different. That doesn't mean that the feminist baby doesn't have a lot of good information to share. The pearls of wisdom it has make it a great gift.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

There wouldn't be a list of board books without this one. A favorite of parents and babies, this book has a timeless story with beautiful art and die-cut pages that make it fun for both. As a bonus, this book and other classics can be paired with socks or a onesie that match. This is one of my favorite things to give as gifts.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr, Illustrated by Eric Carle

It doesn't matter that Eric Carle's most famous book for kids is A Very Hungry Caterpillar. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? came first. Bill Martin Jr, a teacher and author, asked Carle to illustrate a story he had written in 1967. If you like bears, there are panda and polar bear versions of Brown Bear for you to read. This is the first of many collaborations.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

After The Snowy Day came out in 1962, it was the first book to break the color barrier in mainstream children's publishing. Peter, an adorable brown boy in a red snowsuit, was shown playing in the snow. Keats has worked hard to make all of his characters different, so he gets all of the points.

Mini Look At Me books by Giovanni Caviezel, Illustrated by L. Rigo

These books are die-cut and have cute animals in them. For me, it's always hard to choose which ones to put in the store because they're all so special. Have a lot of fun!

Corduroy by Don Freeman

You might not think this is a good idea for a baby book because it's so long. But I couldn't leave my friend Corduroy out in the cold. It's one of those stories that kids can grow into and grow with.

All the World by Liz Garcia Scanlon, Marla Frazee

This Caldecott winner is a classic story about how we all connect in big and small ways. It shows how we all share the same world. Simple but powerful, I've given it to many people.

Vegetables in Underwear by Jared Chapman

Vegetables. Underwear. A no-brainer: This is what I'm going to buy. But, hey, it's cute and funny and vegetables are important, so that's why I like it. Underwear is too much.

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