15 Fantastic Board Books for Ages 0 – 3 Years Old (2017)
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Board books are the sturdy books made from heavy cardboard and meant for children ages 0 to 3 years old. In other words, for babies and toddlers. They’re practically indestructible so even if you children chew on them after you read (or was that just my kids?), they still can be read and read again. Here are the latest and greatest choices so far from 2017!
Fantastic Board Books for Ages 0 – 3 Years Old
Peekaboo! in the Snow with Flaps by Cocoretto
From penguins to polar bears, lift the flap and see who is playing peek-a-boo! Vibrant illustrations and easy-to-guess illustrations make this a winner for ages 1 and 2.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Baby by Tiger Tales, illustrated by Sarah Ward
Sweet rhymes will get you ready for bedtime with bear and bunny, puppy and penguin. One last hug and as the animals go to sleep, so can you.
Hush-a-Bye Bunny by Holly Surplice
Read this calming story as a bedtime ritual. Soft colors with gentle rhymes with repetition show Bunny as mama talks him through getting ready for bed. “Hush-a-bye, Bunny, / pajamas all ready. / First arms in, then legs, in, / then snuggle with Teddy.”
Noisy Noisy Digger (My Little World)
This is such a great board book! Friendly vehicles meet each other; readers learn about each one. “Noisy Yellow Digger meets someone new. “What is your name and what do you do?” / I am Orange Crane. I’ll show you what I do.” Lift the flap to see the orange crane lifting logs and read ““I lift heavy objects and move them, too!” The next is my favorite part, the inside flap, because it has an active motion for your children — “Can you stretch from low to high so your fingers touch the sky.” How fun is this!? The sound on my book doesn’t work but apparently there are 5 sounds. (I’m fairly glad it’s broken though because ugh.)
My First Baby Signs by Phil Conigliaro and Tae Won Yu
Talk about a must-own board book! Parents, you’ll want this for you and for your little ones. It will first teach then reinforce the important signs that kids ages 9 months, age 1, 2, and even age 3 can use to communicate with care givers. Sign language helped my own children tremendously because they could always sign if they needed food, more food, milk, or if they were all done. This book’s colorful pages show eight essential signs that young children can use to communicate basic needs. All the pages have interactive pull tabs so you can see the child in the illustration do the sign’s motion. Fantastic!
Opposite Surprise by Agnese Baruzzi
Surprises are the best, and you’ll find tons in this fun unfold the flap book. Unfold to discover that your first guess to the question (small or big?) isn’t quite right. Maybe it looks small but unfold and it’s something big. Lots of fun here!
Cheep! Cheep! with Big Flaps to Lift! by Sebastian Braun
Welcome spring time with baby animals. Lift the sturdy flaps to find who is hiding! You’ll reveal baby ducks, a baby donkey, a kitten, a chick, and a baby goat. Great for ages 1 – 3 to learn about animals and their babies.
Do You See My Tail? by Anita Bijsterbosch
Because this is made from thickish paper, not cardboard, I’d recommend it for ages 2 to 3. Readers look at the illustrations and see the tip of someone’s tail. Can you guess whose tail it is? Lift the flap to meet the animals. “Well done! I am a deer! / My baby is lying in a little nest in the high grass. / She loves giving kisses.”
Happy Birthday (Sing Along with Me!) by Nosy Crow, illustrated by Yu-husan Huang
Only four pages but this board book is super appealing to young children who love birthday celebrations — their own and other people’s. See the parents pop in for a surprise, reveal what’s in the wrapped present, get happy birthday mail, and sing with friends. I predict you’ll be singing a lot of this song afterwards!
Tinyville Town I’m a Veterinarian by Brian Biggs
Kudos to the author who not only has a female vet, but a woman of color. Simple text narrates the veterinarian’s day from the morning at home to her busy office and back home again. Even though the text is simple, the book does a great job of showing that a vet works with animals.
Shake, Wiggle, and Roll by Carli Davidson
Captivating photographs of dogs demonstrate the action words in this board book — shake, lick, roll, and so forth. Great for animal loving kids!
Masha and Her Sisters by Suzy Ultman
It seems almost too simplistic, but babies and toddlers will love flipping through these colorful nesting dolls to meet all the sisters. Each doll says who they are and what they like (“Olya is the chef”) and has decorations that represent their interest.
Mommy Snuggles by Anne Gutman and Georg Hallensleben
Animal mothers take good care of their babies. “Mommy swan glides with her cygnet / under her wing.” See the animals and learn the names of the adults and babies.
Don’t miss my huge list of the BEST Board Books for Babies and Toddlers. (The ones you should own.)