When choosing children’s books, keep in mind that the best books:

• Encourage participation. Young children can lift a flap — and enjoy finding a surprise underneath. Older children can respond to questions or use their imagination.
• Use interesting language, introducing children to new words.
• Include interesting pictures or illustrations to show children a variety of artistic styles that fit the words and the story.
• Are free of stereotypes: gender, race or ethnic group, religious preference. 

Best Books for Babies

Each year, Beginning with Books – Center for Early Literacy reviews newly published books for children from birth to 18 months of age. A selection committee comprised of literacy and early childhood development experts evaluates books on factors such as age-appropriate subject and theme, quality of writing throughout, and artistic merit of illustrations.

Look for the 7^th Annual Best Books for Babies winners at a bookstore or library you’re visiting.

Duckie’s Ducklings. Written by Frances Barry. Candlewick Press: 2005.

Tomie’s Mother Goose Flies Again. Written by Tomie dePaola. Putnam: 2005.

Honey Baby Sugar Child. Written by Alice Faye Duncan. Illustrated by Susan Keeter. Simon & Schuster: 2005.

My Garden = Mi Jardin. Written by Rebecca Emberley. Little Brown: 2005.

Snuggle Up, Sleepy Ones. Written by Claire Freedman. Illustrated by Tina Macnaughton. Good Books: 2005.

A Truck Goes Rattley-Bumpa. Written by Jonathan London. Illustrated by Denis Roche. Henry Holt: 2005.

Star Baby. Written by Margaret O’Hair. Illustrated by Erin Eitter Kono. Clarion Books: 2005.

Diddle, Diddle, Dumpling. Written by Tracey Campbell Pearson. Farrar Straus Giroux: 2005.

Alphabet House. Written by Nancy Wallace. Marshall Cavendish: 2005.

This Little Piggy. Written by Jane Yolen. Illustrated by Will Hillenbrand. Candlewick Press: 2005.

2005 Best Books for Babies
2004 Best Books for Babies

Additional book recommendations, by age group, are available from:

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Reading Is Fundamental
Reading Is FUNdamental Pittsburgh