All On The Board: The Official Sunday Times Bestseller

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After the night of the concert, they realised that they could lift commuters’ spirits with their poems. They began wheeling spare whiteboards into quiet tunnels to write. To maintain their anonymity they donned masks, long before those became mandatory on public transport because of Covid-19. Younger babies tend to have pretty short attention spans when it comes to books, which is why baby books tend to be short. As they get older, their attention span will lengthen. Singing the words to the book, making your reading funny and animated, and cuddling with your baby while you read to them can help them stay interested. You’ve heard of this one, right? Thought so. This timeless bedtime story is a staple of any tiny reader’s collection, a poetic lullaby to put little ones to sleep. A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Na

Each Lovevery Play Kit includes books, along with other play-based learning activities. Their app gives caregivers creative ideas for using the toys and books in their play kits. While it seems like all board books should be perfect for young readers (isn’t that the point???), it’s not the case. Here are some things to avoid when choosing a board book for the young readers in your life. Books with overly complex content: Young children have short attention spans and may not be ready for long, complex stories. Avoid books with text that is too long or difficult for the child to understand. Personally, I include fonts in this. I look for board books with good, well-designed fonts. Set a circle of board books around your baby during tummy time. Placing the books just out of reach encourages your baby to move. Not all of Dr. Seuss’s works are baby-level reads, but this one works pretty well even for the littlest of the little. It’s just what it sounds like: the ABC’s Seussified. A good gateway into the rest of the Dr. Seuss world. First 100 Words by Roger PriddyBoard books are typically a child’s first introduction to the world of books. They introduce children to stories, literature, and printed words. Let’s be honest, a favorite book is a favorite for a reason. Preschoolers and early elementary children may continue to adore their favorite board books. Benefits of board books This one’s a little wordier than I’d usually say a baby book should be, but I just couldn’t leave my buddy Corduroy out in the cold. It’s another one of those classic stories for kids to grow into and grow with. All the World by Liz Garcia Scanlon, Marla Frazee And to cultivate mystique, they adopted the noms de plume N1 and E1, a play on London’s system of postcodes and shorthand for “No one” and “Everyone”. Referring to the feted street artist, N1 explains that they “quite liked the idea of being like the Banksys of the Underground”.

My only issue with this book is that I wish the imagery was more diverse. Still, the feminist baby has some pretty great knowledge to share and those pearls of wisdom make it a great gift. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

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It is difficult to determine the most popular board books of all time, as popularity can vary based on factors such as the time period, geographical location, and personal preferences of the reader. A friend recommended this one and it’s easy to see why: this collection of full-color photographs features babies from around the world in all of their diverse and chubby-cheeked glory. The book’s curators, Global Fund for Children, donate time and funds to community-based organizations working to improve the lives of the world’s most vulnerable youth. Great book, great message, great cause—and beautiful babies. Bonus: available in a bilingual version AND it’s the first in a series. Playshapes Series by Twirl Books, Illustrated by Nadia Shireen

I was first drawn to these books because of their covers—just slightly squishy with gorgeous hues of blue, green and purple. The stories are tender and heartfelt, the animals cute as buttons. I’m particularly smitten with Together and Happy—otters and owls!!! My Awesome Book Series by Make Believe Ideas Friends: Ask friends for recommendations. A simple post to your social media accounts will yield recommendations. If you have friends with children the same age, consider a board book swap to keep your inventory fresh. Board books are easily cleaned, so you can share stories without sharing germs. There are lots of reasons why babies should read board books and why they’re a great first choice for young readers. 1. They’re Baby Safe Some books are focused on sensory stimulation and encourage children to touch, trace, and manipulate the parts of the book. Board books and social skills

The best board books for babies

Books with inappropriate content: Choose books that are appropriate for the child’s age and development level. Avoid books with themes or content that may be disturbing or confusing for young children. I’m constantly amazed at the content in some board books. They’re for babies and toddlers! (See my discussion of adult-like books above.) Overall, the best way to repair a board book will depend on the extent of the damage and your own comfort level with repairing books. You can get really good at it, though, and board books cost enough that learning to fix them is worth your time. YOU’RE A BOARD BOOK EXPERT: They help to develop early literacy skills: Reading board books with young children helps to introduce them to the concept of reading and to build their vocabulary and language skills. The simple text and illustrations in board books can help children to make connections between words and their meanings, and to learn how to follow a story.