15 of the Best Books for Newborns

Written and illustrated by Indigenous creators, the simple rhyming words and beautiful illustrations in Little You put a beautiful spin on parents expressing their wonder and love for a new baby.

This gorgeously colorful books tells the story of a young girl who spends the day playing with her mother’s khimar (headscarf) and explores all the different meanings it has for her and her mom. A newborn will love the bright colors and simple but sweet words.

The illustrations of the burly dad and tiny baby are adorable in Made for Me. One of the few recent books that focuses on new parenthood from the dad’s perspective, it has rhyming text that lends itself to sing-song reading and quite a few “awws.”

Babies are often so cute you want to nibble them (That is normal, right?). Doubly so if they are swaddled like a burrito. This is a bilingual English-Spanish story about a baby’s first days at home. Good luck actually swaddling the baby into a snuggly burrito — that’s magic only maternity ward nurses seem to have perfected.

Illustrated in bold, black, white and red (especially designed for babies’ developing eyes), It Had To Be You tells the sweet story of how every baby is the most unique and wonderful person to their parents. The story will resonate especially for those parents who had a long road to parenthood.

The title is a refrain every parent wants engrained in their baby’s heart. I Love You to the Moon and Back is illustrated with snuggly animals and tells the story of how much babies are loved. The board book can also withstand a baby’s curiosity.

This one doesn’t have any text, but your baby will love the high contrast, black and white contemporary art chosen specifically for infants. The images take up the whole board book page. I’d stand up the book to an open page during “tummy time” and get a few amused gurgles from my daughter. It’s also a welcome break for adults — consider it a starter book for your baby’s artistic tastes.

Baby books might not be your first association with the legendary director Spike Lee, but he and his wife wrote a lovely ode to the joys and frustrations of a baby’s endless antics. Hopefully the gorgeous illustrations won’t give your baby ideas for new tricks before bedtime.

This classic by Mem Fox tells a story in rhyme about how babies around the world have Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes. Babies will love all the baby faces, and readers can practice counting off chubby fingers and wiggly toes as they read along.

Another Oxenbury-illustrated pick, So Much! tells the story of relatives who shower a baby in love. Everyone who visits — including aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins — have hugs and kisses for the newest member of the family.

Simple black and white images will grab the attention of newborn eyes as this board book shows familiar sights like faces, hands, and flowers.

Calm the littlest ones with this sleepy story of cuddly woodland creatures tucking in their babies at bedtime. You and baby will be pleasantly yawning by the end.