Best Baby Board Books

1. Jamberry: Silly rhymes, sweet illustrations, bouncy rhythm, and just the perfect length! We get hungry for jam just reading this beautiful book.

2. Is Your Mama A Llama?: Follow Lloyd as he visits his friends and finds out whether or not their mamas are llamas. Excellent book for "anticipation": hear a rhyming "riddle" and then turn the page to find out what each mama actually is. I read each character in a different accent and this cracks Baby Diva up!

3. Green Eggs and Ham (lift the flap book): There is unfortunately very little Seuss available in board book format. This story is short enough to adapt nicely and works well with the flaps. The rhythm and repetition is great for little ones and toddlers will quickly learn to identify the things/locations in the book. The flaps do pose a tearing temptation for little hands, but Baby Diva gets so excited lifting the flaps, it is worth it!

4. One Fish, Two Fish (bath book): Okay, not really a board book. But it fits the spirit (books your baby can chew without destroying) if not the letter of the list. Infants will enjoy the rhymes and vivid pictures, toddlers can learn their colors and simple words. This is a timeless Seuss classic in or out of the tub.

5. The Very Hungry Caterpillar: We read this as the very hungry Divapillar--she has so much in common with our little insect friend This is MY favorite from when I was a little baby. Lots of repetition, plus numbers, colors, foods, and the most gorgeous illustrations!

6. The Big Red Barn: Our second bedtime favorite. Meet the animals and learn about the noises they make, where they live, how they play. Baby gets used to hearing a high level of vocabulary. The story and illustrations start off upbeat and bright and then gradually slow and fade as the animals go to sleep.

7. Goodnight Moon: A classic bedtime story. Little ones like the soft rhymes and high contrast pictures. Older kids can spot-the-object in the rooms.

8. Sailaway Home: A very sweet message about toddlers and preschoolers balancing independence with the need for reassurance and comfort. A little pig goes out on imaginative adventures, but always sails away home. Not as good or as long as Jamberry, but still in our regular rotation (Mama needs some variety).

9. Barnyard Dance: We have fun acting out this barnyard square dance...lots of animal sounds and moves to mimic and enjoy!