The 21 Baby Books You Need to Start Your Child's Library
From the classic Dr. Suess to newer, trending titles, it's never too early to get your child interested in reading.
By Emma Baty
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Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Judith Viorst
Alexander is having an absolutely terrible day. He gets gum in his hair, has to eat lima beans, and that's just the beginning. This is the story of how he handles it.
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Are you my mother?, P.D. Eastman
This book, edited by Dr. Suess, is about a baby bird who hatches to find his mom isn't there. A hilarious journey ensues.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
This book is less about the story and more about the pictures, which are super colorful and guaranteed to capture your little one's attention.
This book, which focuses on rhyming and sounds, is perfectly cheerful.
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Giraffes Can't Dance, Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees
This is the story of Gerald the giraffe. Gerald just wants to dance, but it's hard for giraffes to do so — until he gets some advice from a friend.
The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein
This classic book about a tree who gives too much to a young boy is one you'll enjoy reading as much as your child will enjoy listening.
Goodnight moon, Margaret Wise Brown
Lull your baby to sleep as the main character of this book says goodnight to all his favorite things.
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Love you forever, Robert Munsch
If you were ever curious where the saying "I'll love you forever I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be," comes from, you'll love this book.
The pout-pout fish, Deborah Diesen
If you have a pouting child on your hands, this book is the remedy.
the wonderful things you will be, emily winfield martin
Think of all the dreams you have for your child. This book sums them up in a whimsical way.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle
You probably had this book on your shelf when you were growing up, so keep the tradition going by reading it to your child, too.
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Corduroy, Don Freeman
This story of a teddy bear waiting on a department store shelf to be purchased will melt your heart.
Dear Zoo, Rod Campbell
With this book, you and your baby can lift the flaps to discover animals together. It doesn't get much cuter than that.
Dragons Love Tacos, Adam Rubin
If you're a regular human, you probably love tacos. It's never too early for your kids to love them, too.
The Going To Bed Book, Sandra Boynton
Most people don't appreciate when someone falls asleep while they're talking, but children are obviously the exception. This bedtime book will definitely do the trick.
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If Animals Kissed Good Night, Ann Whitford Paul
How many animals say goodnight to one another? One girl's bedtime thoughts make for an adorable story.
Just Me and My Dad, Mercer Mayer
Looking for a Father's Day gift? This book has you covered.
The Princess and the Pea, Hans Christian Anderson
For a story to be around as long as this one has, it has to be good.
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The Rainbow Fish, Marcus Pfister
This story about a fish who makes friends by sharing his most prized possessions, which is already cute, but it's the gold foiling in the illustrations that takes it to the next level.
She Persisted, Chelsea Clinton
This one's for the baby who was in your womb while you were at the Women's March.
Where the wild things are, Maurice Sendak
Follow Max on an imaginative journey to "where the wild things are."
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Emma Baty Emma Baty is the Entertainment Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she shapes TV, movie and music coverage, writes celebrity profiles, edits stories across both print and digital, and generally obsesses over all things pop culture.
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