Board Books for Baby's First Library

The sticky fingerprints on "Pat the Bunny" tell their own story—countless tiny hands have stroked that fuzzy white patch, lifted daddy's scratchy face, and played peekaboo with Paul. Dorothy Kunhardt's touch-and-feel classic from 1949 remains the gold standard for interactive board books, and it's the perfect cornerstone for any baby's first library.

Building that library requires books that can survive being chewed, thrown, and loved to pieces. These six board books have endured decades of bedtime readings and survived millions of grabby fingers, earning their place through sheer staying power and the magical ability to hold a squirming toddler's attention.

"Goodnight Moon" works its sleepy spell through Margaret Wise Brown's hypnotic rhythm and Clement Hurd's soothing illustrations. That great green room becomes as familiar as your own nursery, while the quiet ritual of saying goodnight to each object creates a perfect wind-down routine. It pairs beautifully with Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," which brings daylight energy through its vibrant collages and clever die-cut holes. Watch a one-year-old poke their finger through those holes, following the caterpillar's feast, and you'll understand why this 1969 creation still flies off shelves.

For pure repetitive joy, Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle's "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" builds anticipation with each page turn. The bold animals and rhythmic text make it ideal for memorisation—soon your toddler will be "reading" along. Karen Katz takes the interactive element further in "Where Is Baby's Belly Button?" with sturdy lift-the-flap pages that transform reading into a game of hide-and-seek. Those oversized flaps survive enthusiastic lifting far better than most.

Rod Campbell's "Dear Zoo" combines both elements—repetition and interaction—as children lift flaps to discover which inappropriate pet the zoo has sent this time. The suspense of each reveal never gets old, whether it's the first reading or the fiftieth.

Start with "Pat the Bunny" for the youngest babies who need tactile engagement. Move to "Brown Bear" once they're sitting up and pointing at pictures. Add "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" when they're ready for simple counting and days of the week. Save "Dear Zoo" and "Where Is Baby's Belly Button?" for confident sitters who won't tear the flaps in their excitement. Keep "Goodnight Moon" on the bedside table—you'll need it every single night for years.

These books work because they respect their tiny audience. They understand that babies learn through repetition, appreciate bold graphics, and desperately want to participate. Most importantly, they create those precious moments of connection between parent and child, building associations between books and comfort that last a lifetime.