Books are one of the most meaningful gifts to give friends who are expecting or to add to your own baby shower registry when building your little one’s first library. Reading together from birth supports early brain development and creates special moments of connection. These books for babies (ages 0-12 months) are perfect baby shower book gifts for newborns and growing infants, and many will remain favorites well into toddlerhood!
Baby Shower Books to Gift
Jimmy Fallon’s DADA, MAMA, and BABY Board Book Boxed Set
By Jimmy Fallon, Illustrated by Miguel Ordóñez
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This boxed set features a trio of board books by NBC’s The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon. In Your Baby’s First Word Will Be Dada, daddy animals try to get their baby to say ‘Dada’. In Everything Is Mama, mama animals try to teach their baby other words, besides ‘Mama’. This Is Baby is a celebration of all the parts of baby, from their head to their toes. When I was expecting, these board books were on the top on my baby registry!
Welcome Little One
By Sandra Magsamen
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This book beautifully captures the special bond between parents and their little one. It includes sweet illustrations of animals with their baby paired with heartfelt messages. It doubles as a keepsake for newborns, with space for entering baby’s name, birth date, weight and length. I received this as a gift with my 2nd child and it’s one we have read on repeat on multiple occasions.
Welcome, Little One
By Sophie Beer
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A beautifully, illustrated picture book that is inspired by the author’s experience of becoming a parent. “Welcome, little one, to our little world. We’ve been waiting a whole lifetime to meet you.” When I read these words, I knew I wanted to gift this for dear friends who were welcoming their first child. We’ve enjoyed reading Sophie Beer’s other board books and highly recommend this as the perfect book to gift parents-to-be.
High-Contrast Books
Look Look!
By Peter Linenthal
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Black-and-white images help support a newborn’s developing vision, with red often being the first color they see. This board book features high contrast cut-paper art with a few words in red describing the scene. Read it together with baby or prop it up for use during baby’s tummy time.
Indestructibles: Touch Your Nose!
By Amy Pixton, Illustrated by Lizzy Doyle
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Indestructibles are durable, waterproof, nontoxic, and lightweight books to bring with you anywhere. In Touch Your Nose! teach little readers about body parts: wiggle your toes, kick your feet, and touch your nose. Babies will be entertained by the black and white patterns and bold colors. This is one of many Indestructibles books to choose from, with popular themes such as animals, early learning, songs, and first words.
Baby Sees Colors!
By Akio Kashiwara
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A 2019 National Parenting Product Awards Winner, Baby Sees Colors! is a high-contrast board book that babies will love. Little readers will be mesmerized by the swirls, stripes, shapes and patterns on every page.
Touch-and-Feel & Sensory Books
Peek-a-Boo Forest
By Lamaze
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Guess which forest animal is hiding in this colorful sensory book for babies 6 months and up. The pages are soft, yet durable and features crinkly peek-a-boo flaps that promote hand-eye coordination. There’s a clip on the side so you can easily attach it to a stroller or car seat when you’re on the go.
Pat the Zoo (Pat the Bunny)
By Golden Books, Illustrated by LV Studio
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Pat the Bunny is visiting the zoo. Readers will discover the animals Pat meets and are invited to give them a pat. This large sized and sturdy book is filled with a variety of textures for babies to touch-and-feel.
That’s not my puppy
By Fiona Watt, Illustrated by Rachel Wells
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Explore the puppies on every page by sight and touch, then find out which puppy is yours. Also look for the little white mouse on each spread. There are over 40 That’s not my… books in the series. From trains to mermaids, there’s many interests to choose from.
Noisy Farm
By Tiger Tales
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Learn about the noisy animals found on the farm. Includes colorful photographs and the touch and feel texture has a button you can press so you can hear what the animal sounds like. The last page has a button to hear all 5 animals. Choose from many touch and feel sound books, from dinosaurs to trucks to things that go.
Under the Sea
By Little Hippo Books
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Learn fun facts about sea creatures and guess who they are in this question and answer “Who Am I?” book. It features bright, colorful illustrations and a variety of silicone touch and feel elements on the cover and each spread. Pick your favorite “Who Am I” books, from critters in the garden to construction vehicles to jungle animals and more.
Classic Board Books
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
By Eric Carle
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Follow a very hungry caterpillar as it eats its way through many foods and prepares to become a butterfly. As a bonus, you’ll introduce baby to themes of counting, days of the weeks, and change as a part of life.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
By Bill Martin Jr., Illustrated by Eric Carle
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Explore animals and colors in this timeless board book that features rhythmic, repetitive text and Eric Carle’s vibrant signature illustrations. It’s a sure favorite into toddlerhood!
Goodnight Moon
By Margaret Wise Brown, Illustrated by Clement Hurd
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In this classic bedtime story, listen to the little bunny say goodnight to all the things in the great green room. It’s the perfect book to read when establishing a calming bedtime routine for baby.
Looking for more book recommendations? Check out our favorite bedtime stories that help kids wind down for sleep.
These books for babies offer something for every little reader—from bold images that catch a newborn’s eye to textures that invite tiny hands to explore. Whether you’re building your baby registry or choosing baby shower book gifts for an expecting friend, books are a meaningful way to welcome a new baby and start a tradition of reading together.
What books would you add to this list? Share your favorite baby shower book gifts in the comments!
Happy exploring!