Every year for more than two decades, a committee of librarians and child development experts have selected the year’s best Books for Babies. 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s nationally recognized guide that assists parents, teachers and caregivers in selecting quality materials to share with babies ages birth to 18 months. That means that some of the babies who enjoyed the first books recognized as Best Books for Babies may now be welcoming babies of their own. This year’s list includes a book of nursery rhymes with flaps to open, several books that feature photographs of beaming babies, and one title in both English and Spanish.
This year’s selection committee included librarians, a local author/illustrator, an early intervention specialist, a PRIDE professional from the Office of Child Development at the University of Pittsburgh, and others interested in promoting literacy and learning. They selected the following twelve books from the thousands that were published in 2023. The featured books were evaluated on more than 25 criteria, including: how they sound when read aloud; clear, uncluttered illustrations; diverse and authentic representation of race, gender, ability, culture, and family structure; durability; age appropriate subject matter or theme; and design for an infant audience.
Best Books for Babies 2024 |
Alma, Head to Toe/Alma, de Pies a Cabeza (Candlewick Press)
by Juana Martinez-Neal
Soft pictures in pink, red and black show a cheerful little girl;brief English and Spanish text labels her body parts and describes her experiences.
Babies (DK Publishing)
by Fiona Munro, illustrations by Laura Hambleton
Brightly colored pages are packed with pictures of busy babies, offering plenty to look at and talk about.
Babies and Bunnies Book (Clarion Books)
by John Schindel & Molly Woodward
Babies love to look at babies and these crisp, clear photographs, paired with pictures of adorable rabbits, are sure to bring a smile.
Good Night, Baby & Hello, Baby (Little Bee Books)
Appealing photos of babies enjoying everyday activities include saying hello and good night in 15 languages.
Good Night, Little Fish (Candlewick Press)
by Lucy Cousins
Little Fish swishes through the bright blue sea saying good night to friends and family.
Leo on a Hike (Charlesbridge Publishing)
by Anna McQuinn, illustrations by Ruth Hearson
Leo and his father enjoy a walk in the woods, discovering small treasures and lovely views.
Look, It's Hoot Hoot Owl & Look, It's Moo Moo Cow (Nosy Crow)
by Camilla Reid, illustrations by Clare Youngs
These board books combine eye-catching illustrations, animal noises, and felt flaps to create fun read-alouds sure to entertain little listeners.
My First Lift-The-Flap Nursery Rhymes (Nosy Crow)
by Ingela P. Arrhenius
Traditional rhymes are accompanied by brightly colored pictures; flaps reveal amusing details.
See Touch Feel: Tummy Time (Priddy Books)
by Roger Priddy
Simple pictures and engaging photographs show familiar objects in an interactive touch-and-feel format.
Train (Templar Books)
by Sebastien Braun
Easy-to-use tabs create motion and fun in cartoon-style illustrations that show a train moving through a colorful landscape.
“One of the goals of creating the annual Best Books for Babies list is to encourage authors, illustrators, and publishers to produce quality materials for babies ages birth to 18 months,” said Lisa Dennis, Coordinator of Children’s and Teen Collections at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and co-chair of the Best Books for Babies committee. “Research tells us that the first three years of brain development are critical and having excellent books that engage the very youngest listeners is key. Another important goal is to encourage parents and other caregivers to read to babies right from the start -- that’s because learning begins at birth. We believe that the books on our list will delight and engage babies age birth through 18 months and the adults who care for them.”
In addition to the list, the Best Books for Babies Committee shared the following tips to help caregivers make the most of out of time spent reading together:
- Babies explore their world through touch and taste. Share sturdy books and books that offer different textures and sensations. Board books, in particular, are a good choice since babies are less likely to damage them in their explorations.
- Books with simple black against white pictures really appeal to babies and are easiest for babies ages birth to six months to see. Young babies also love patterns and photographs of people’s faces, especially other babies.
- Read, read, repeat! Be willing to read stories over and over again. But also give yourself permission to give some books a rest sometimes.
- Young children are wiggly! Do your best to share books when your child is relaxed but still alert. And don’t be afraid to put a book down and pivot to another activity. Reading throughout the day, rather than just once, helps to reinforce the idea that books are a part of everyday life.
- Tune in, talk more! Share new words every day. Point to pictures on the page as you describe them. Make connections to things you see and interact with in real life too.
- Children learn from everything they experience. Talk, sing, read, write and play, at least a little bit, every day. When you share these activities with young children, you’re helping them develop the early literacy skills (or reading readiness skills) children need to learn to read.
Throughout the year Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will host Best Books for Babies storytimes where local families will receive one free book from this year’s list. Staff will also be at this year’s Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books on Saturday, May 11th to speak with attendees about selecting best books for babies and raffle off collections of this year’s titles.
More information about Best Books for Babies, including an archive of previous selections, can be found online at bestbooksforbabies.org.
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