2000 Best Books for Babies
Sleepy, Sleepy!
Emily Bolam (Price Stern Sloan)
This wordless book is made of cloth - perfect for babies to cuddle while parents point out the various animals snoozing happily on each colorful page. Simply outlined animals appear in familiar settings, like strollers, beds, and bounce chairs, allowing readers to create any story they choose as they turn the blanket-style pages to reveal (or tuck in) each sleeping baby animal.
Sleepytime Rhyme
Remy Charlip (Greenwillow Books)
A master of the picture book form uses lilting rhyme, a playful touch, and flowing stylized illustrations to depict a mother's love poem to her child. Small viewers will discover to their delight other parent-child pairs scattered through the vibrant pages. Extraordinary skill and style set this book apart from the flood of "I love you" books for babies.
Babies
Susan Canizares, Pamela Chanko (Scholastic, Inc.)
Close-up photos framed in borders of pink and blue illustrate "what babies need." From food to naps, baths to laughs, to hugs, kisses, and love, these babies are shown getting just what they need from parents and siblings.
Babies on the Move
Susan Canizares, Daniel Moreton (Scholastic, Inc.)
Clear, colorful photos of babies in exotic and familiar settings show readers and listeners that babies can be carried in baskets, pushed in strollers, or strapped in car seats, among other modes of travel. But all over the world babies are moving toward walking independently - a feat that's featured on the final page.
Here Comes Mother Goose
Iona Opie; Illustrated by Rosemary Wells (Candlewick Press)
Time-tested rhymes, both well-known and obscure, fill the pages of this exuberantly illustrated collection. Wells' comic pictures exude charm and energy, making these old poems come alive for a brand new audience.
Flappy, Waggy, Wiggly
Amanda Leslie (Dutton Children's Books)
Animal identification is made fun and easy in this "Peekaboo riddle" book. Half pages barely conceal the boldly drawn animals, while appropriate noises offer additional clues. Only eight animals are featured but the book's brevity will be appreciated by parents asked to "read it again" repeatedly.
Oh Baby! A Touch-and-Feel Book
Elizabeth Hathon (Grosset & Dunlap)
Babies love books - not just to listen to, but to hold, feel, open and close, and, of course, chew. This sturdy board book offers an opportunity for babies to interact on every page. Crisp photographs provide the perfect background for a movable mobile, shiny mirror, a soft teddy bear tummy, and even a lift-the-flap dog house door
Show Me!
Tom Tracy; Illustrated by Darcia Labrosse (HarperFestival)
Mom and baby share tickles and hugs in this brisk board book full of lively rhymes and familiar activities. Simply drawn smiling faces clearly show parent and child enjoying their time together.
Hello Lulu
Caroline Uff (Walker)
The essentials of a small child's world - house, car, family members - are rendered in large, glowing, childlike sketches that are just right for a very young audience. We predict babies will request repeated visits with Lulu
The Baby's Word Book
Sam Williams (Greenwillow Books)
A catalog of common objects and everyday activities, displayed and demonstrated by a cute crop of multicultural kids, this over-sized board book will provide plenty of opportunities for babies to "point and say" as they begin to practice their language skills. Parents can make up stories to link pictures and people together or can simply encourage young listeners to recognize and name the pictures. |
