Best Books for Babies 2024

The Best Books for Babies Committee has been meeting annually since 2000 to select and celebrate excellent books for the very youngest listeners. That makes this the 25th list we have compiled. Which means that some of the babies who enjoyed the first books we honored may now be welcoming babies of their own.

We’ve learned a lot about early literacy over the years. And most of the research suggests that our goal of encouraging parents and other caregivers to read to babies right from the start is right on target. That’s because learning begins at birth.

We have also worked to recognize the authors, illustrators and publishers who focus on creating quality materials for babies ages birth to 18 months. Children’s books go out of print quickly, but demand can sometimes prolong the shelf life (pun intended) of a title.

Our committee members are librarians, child development specialists, educators, and others with an interest in promoting literacy and learning. They represent child-centered organizations across our area and bring their considerable expertise and experience to our process.

Some have participated since the beginning. Others joined for the first time this year. Whatever their tenure on the committee, all committee members have valuable insights and opinions. (And they aren’t shy about sharing them, which can make the final voting pretty exciting.)

Our list of ten best books this year actually numbers 12 this year with a couple of sets of books included. There’s 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.

We believe that these and the other books on the list will delight and engage babies age birth through 18 months and the adults who care for them.

So, stop by your local library to pick up one (or a bundle!) of these titles soon and share them with a baby in your life. Read them again and again—repetition is a wonderful way to learn and the committee has done their best to find books that grownups will enjoy too. While you are cuddling together, you’ll also be doing the important work of preparing your baby’s brain to learn and grow.