I guess it’s been ages, but awhile back, I asked my readers on facebook what kinds of posts they would like to see more of. My good friend from high school mentioned I should do a post on our favorite baby books. Since a lot of our board books have been lost over the years, while others have been chewed to death, the kids and I put this list together of all the favorite books we can remember.
Goodnight Moon
We read this one so many times, we had to buy several copies. When those wore out, I simply recited the poem to my kids as they fell asleep.
Guess How Much I Love You
We loved this one to death. So much that my youngest never got to see it. It’s about two hares—a mommy and a baby—who have a battle of wits to see who loves the other more. It may make you cry. I’m getting a little choked up as I write about it.
The Going-To-Bed Book
Oh, how we love Sandra Boynton. Her stories are adorable and quick. I don’t know about you, but for me, quick is key when reading to babies. This is a little rhyming book that follows a posse of animals through their bedtime routine while residing on a cruise ship.
Blue Hat, Green Hat
This one is hilarious for toddlers, and when you read it enough, they will soon be able to read it to you. It’s the story of a turkey, who never seems to be able to dress himself right.
Snuggle Puppy 
The song that goes to this story is on Sandra Boynton’s CD Philadelphia Chickens. This was the song that used to make my oldest son cry as a four-year-old. When I saw it as a board book, I had to buy it right away. It became an instant favorite of my youngest son.
Olivia
Love that pig. I never thought the book could be better until it came out in the board book form. Ian Falconer is an absolute genius.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Wasn’t this one of your favorites when you were a kid? And wasn’t the one you checked out of the library torn and covered in something sticky? The board book will last much longer. Problem averted . . . for a couple of years, at least.
Doggies
Now, this one, I do have to state a disclaimer. It’s basically a counting book where different kids of dogs help you count. For example, it goes, “One dog: Woof. Two Dogs: Woof. Yap! Yap!” and so on, until the end. It made me exhausted to do all the voices—and I never got let off the hook with reading it once. It was almost always a two or three time read through. At least. That said, though I may have been hoping it found it’s way to the bottom of the toy box, it was one of my kids’ all time favorites.
Each Peach Pear Plum
Now, this one is underrated. We loved it. I learned about it first in high school, when I worked at a children’s book store. It was a best seller then, and I was so happy to find it as a board book, though you do have to look for it—or special order it on amazon. It’s basically a little rhyme that throws together about ten fairy tales, and you have to play I Spy at the same time. It’s lovely, and the colors are so sweet, it makes me want to have another baby so I can design a nursery around the book.
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?
Eric Carle. Maybe it’s the writer in me—I love this one for its descriptive verbs: braying, hissing, trumpeting, etc. I would read this one with a low voice to lull my little ones asleep.
What are your family’s favorite board books?
Ohh..Snuggle Puppy of mine, everything about you is especially fine.
I used to read this to my foster daughter every night.
Fuzzy little snuggle puppy I love you.
The very hungry caterpillar so deserves top ten. I love your selections.
We have all of those in our collection – great books! I feel the same way about Doggies!
Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown! Love her!
You guys have great taste in books.
We love a lot of them, but I have the Doggie book. In fact I made it disappear. It just got to be too much.
We just found the Llama Llama books and my 2 1/2 year old LOVES them.
A tip for anyone that still needs kiddo books is to keep an eye on Kohls. They have a special book every couple of months that is only $5 and the net profits go to the kids charity. That is how we got the Llama books and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. They aren’t board books, but they do have nice sturdy pages that my daughter doesn’t seem interest in trying to rip.
We have the first six of the books and my kids love them! My toddler finds the Blue Hat, Green Hat book hilarious.
How great are Sandra Boynton books? Thanks for this post. I have a 1 year old and she loves when I read to her. I want to check out Each Peach Pear Plum now.
Sonya–They are great!! And I just saw her new one called Happy Hippo, Angry Duck. It’s so cute.
We had all the Sandra Boynton books and loved them! The Going to Bed book was my favorite. Both of my kids also loved Goodnight Gorilla – I would have to read it over and over to my little boy…
Each peach pear plum is a family favorite. We’re now on our second generation of reader/listeners and our third copy of the book. Lots of great interactive fun finding the familiar fairy tale/nursery rhyme characters hidden on each page. Don’t miss it!
Moo Baa, La La La by Sandra Boynton is hilarious for all ages – my 16 month old loved making the animal sounds and finishing off the sentences. In Australia, we love “Where is the Green Sheep” and “Time for Bed” by Mem fox.
I am a little late to the party here; but we love Each Peach, Pear, Plum and start the recitation often. It is usually the book for first Christmas in our family. It’s rhythmic. And yes, difficult to find without ordering it.
Isn’t that just a great book?
You forgot the red ripe strawberry and hte big hungry bear. First book ever got my daughter.=)
Each Peach Pear Plum is my favourite. But my little guy enjoys Sandra Boynton’s, Moo, Baa, LaLaLa, and the Going to Bed Book. They’re such great books! And board books are the way to go! Especially with boys.
Kayleigh–You’re so right about the board books. I love that you don’t have to worry about their getting ripped or chewed on. They’re on the cheaper side, they fit into any bag, and the more beat up they are, the more you know they’re loved.