My Favorite Board Books for Babies (0-12 Months)

I bought this book on a whim online, and I am so glad that I did. It is so sweet, and so unique. I love getting to read about a hippogriff, phoenix, jackalope, and more, to my little one.

Lesson: The grass isn’t always greener.

This book is so much fun! We were given two copies from friends, and I can see why it’s so popular. The rhymes are so upbeat, which makes it so much fun to read. I can’t wait to try more from the series over the years.

Lesson: Things aren’t always what they seem, and you can decide to be different than what you’re told.

What adorable and sweet nonsense phrases to profess your forever love for your child. This book is filled with things that would never ever happen, which is such a different way of saying that you will love your baby forever.

I’ll probably find myself saying, “I will love you till the sheep set sail on a cruise ship bound for the Isle of Kale past manatees and a humpback whale,” as I send my daughter off to school someday.

Lesson: I’ll love you forever and ever.

Knitting Reference: Sheep

This book about a giraffe that finds his own rhythm is so cute.

Lesson: Dance to the beat of your own drum, and don’t let the naysayers get you down.

I bought this book before my daughter was born. My husband and I really like the Korean dish of Bee-bim Bop, so I thought it would be fun to have. I was right! It’s great. And bonus - my daugher’s first word is Bop, so she will finish the verses that end with, “bop,” for me. I love it.

Lesson: Cook and eat with family!

I bet you didn’t expect the book about a truck to be one of two on this list with barnyard animal noises, but here we are. I like this one so much more than I expected.

Lesson: Help your friends (and frenemies) when they are in need, and even a tiny bit more can make a difference.

Knitting Reference: Sheep

Sandra Boynton books are hit or miss for me. This one is a hit! So cute!

Lesson: Bask in the glory of what you love (even if what you love is showing off your belly button).

The second and final Sandra Boynton book on my list. This one is short and cute, and it’s great fodder for doing little sitting dance moves as we read.

Lesson: Just dance!

Of all the little kid songs out there, my daugher’s favorite is the ABCs, so I sing the ABC books when I read them to her. The Abrams block books are so impressive. Each letter is cut out, and the graphics are great. And with two pages for each letter, there’s lots of page turning, which keeps her interested. 

This book is full of the most unique animals. Have you ever heard of a quetzal? I had not. What a fun way to introduce more words for each letter.

Bonus activity: Ask Siri (or your preferred digital assistant), “What does a ______ sound like?” and let your little one hear the actual animal sound.

What a unique way to learn the alphabet! Maybe all of these ABC books will pay off with baby learning her letters early!

The Baby Beluga illustrations are absolutely beautiful. And I really do need the reminder for lyrics.

While I remember Baby Beluga from when I was a little kid, I did not remember Down by the Bay. This is probably the silliest book of the bunch.

Did Raffi invent the Wheels on the Bus? I don’t think so. Do I need a book to remind me of the lyrics? Nope. But I’m pretty sure this board book bus is rolling around Paris. Such fun illustrations.

I would not know all of the words and verses of this silly sweet song without the book. Another fun way to say, “I love you.”

If you ever wanted to know all of the cool, animal themed goodbyes, this is it. Toodle-oo, Kangaroo!

I never expected this short little book to make my 7-month old crack up. She loves it! I’ve tried some of the others in this series, but she’s a Texas gal who loves her tacos, apparently. 

There are so many touch-and-feel books out there, and this is the first one that my little one was even remotely interested in. There’s a lamb with soft, fluffy wool, and she loves it. Maybe I’m raising a little knitter after all!

Knitting Reference: Sheep

These flaps lift to form a picture of the animal yelling their sound. It’s cute and hilarious.

Knitting Reference: Sheep and “Do frogs knit?”

This is a classic for good reason. It’s calm, soothing. My daughter loves looking at the illustrations, too. It’s always the last book we read before going down for the night.

Knitting Reference: The quiet old lady whispering, “Hush,” is knitting, and the two little kittens are playing with the ball of yarn.

I have a sweet spot for the pout-pout fish. These books are so entertaining. We were given two copies of the original before our little one was born, so people must love it. I expanded our collection with this one and will likely add more from the series over the years.

The Abrams Block books are amazing. The cutouts are unique, the illustrations are bright and colorful. This one gives a real life equivalent attribute for lots of different dinosaurs. Bonus: it has pronunciations for each dinosaur right on the page.

This is another Abrams block book with great cutouts and illustrations. My baby and I count to 100 multiple times a day. Here’s hoping she’s not scared of numbers as she gets older. Bonus: the number six is about yarn turning into sweaters!

Modification: It says that, “six balls of yarn become six sweaters.” I modify it to say, “six balls of yarn become six BABY sweaters.”

Knitting Reference: Six balls of yarn becoming six (baby) sweaters.

Would a board book list be complete without this classic? I think not.

Modification: Where the book says, “big, fat caterpillar,” I bring out my most Texan twang and say, “He was a big ‘ol caterpillar.”

Lesson: You need to eat to grow, and that’s normal. (I am the Knitritionist after all. I need a book about food helping you grow.)

Put on your best Grover voice and have fun!

This book is cute, although I do worry about it teaching the wrong lesson. Grover says, “Don’t turn the page!” And then I cheer on my daughter when she turns the page anyway. But she loves it! Grover’s so fun (even though he gaslights you at the end)! We’ll see if that comes back to bite me. I might have to put this one away soon.

This tongue twister about a (rather unfortunate) donkey, makes me laugh every time.