Baby’s First Books: 11 African-American Board Books for a New Baby + A Giveaway!

Baby’s First Books: 11 African-American Board Books for a New Baby + A Giveaway!

My absolute favorite gift to receive for my kids is a stack of great children’s books.  Of course that’s NOT the ideal gift my kids always want though as they’d much rather receive toys they can play with.  If I could gift every child in the world a stack of books to start their own little home library I would.  I think all children should have a collection of beautiful books to treasure, to enjoy, and to help them get the right start in life.  Wouldn’t you agree?

When my kids were younger I used to enjoy watching their interactions with books.  Once they got past the phase of chewing on them, they began helping me turn the pages and lift the flaps.  It’s truly amazing to see the progression kids make over time if they are consistently exposed to books and magazines.

Here are a few board book recommendations for building a baby’s first library.  I chose board books because they are more durable and can withstand all the wear and tear better than hardcover books. Enjoy!

Leo Loves Baby Time by Anna McQuinn

On Wednesdays, Leo and his mom go to Baby Time. There he plays peek-a-boo; sings the rolly song, the happy song, and the name song; plays with animals; and meets new friends.

Joy by Joyce Carol Thomas

This book is now out of print now, but you can still find a few copies online.  I believe the cover has also been updated too, but I like this cover best.  I think this book is such a sweet and tender story about a grandmother expressing her love to her grandson.  Absolutely LOVE this one!

Baby Loves Aerospace Engineering by Ruth Spiro

It is never too early to become an engineer!  With this adorable board book, babies will love learning the basics of flight giving them the head start they need.  Featuring friendly, simple text, cheerful illustrations and facts, this book is the perfect fun introduction to engineering.

Baby’s Big World Book Series from Barnes and Noble

This book in the Baby’s Big World series introduces children to important concepts using simple text and delightful art. Discover how we make music, from the letters for each note, to tempo, volume, and types of instruments.

Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang

This is a sweet counting book that showcases the bond between a father and daughter getting ready for bed.  Little ones will love counting down from ten to one.

You Can Do It Too! by Karen Baicker

In You Can Do It Too! a little girl passes newly won skills and abilities to a younger brother, teaching him everything she thinks he needs to know. The simple cadence of text and direct-to-the-heart art result in a book as warm and generous as its message, providing reading pleasure for toddlers, older siblings, and the grown-ups who love them.

Whose Toes Are Those? by Jabari Asim

My kids favorite part of this book is the “this little piggy” rhyme. This book has easy and fun rhymes, vibrant colors and cute illustrations…just look at those toes on the cover! A wonderful book for both infants and toddlers.

Peekaboo Morning by Rachel Isadora

Join this sweet toddler in the morning fun, sharing words your baby can repeat and pictures your baby will recognize.

Peekaboo Bedtime by Rachel Isadora

In this story a toddler boy plays peekaboo with everyone from his grandparents to his puppy, until it’s finally time to snuggle into bed with his blankie.

Baby Dance by Ann Taylor

For babies who are responding to music and movement, here’s a playful poem that has father and child dancing lovingly across the pages.

Please, Baby, Please by Spike & Tonya Lewis Lee

From moments fussy to fond, Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Spike Lee and his wife, producer Tonya Lewis Lee, present a behind-the-scenes look at the chills, spills, and unequivocal thrills of bringing up baby!

BONUS: I’ve also included a few picture book recommendations as well.

Welcome, Precious! by Nikki Grimes

This book is so sweet and beautiful!  It’s a great book to read with newborn babies and makes a perfect gift for new parents, parents-to-be or older siblings to-be.

Lola Reads to Leo by Anna McQuinn

Lola has a new baby brother and she can’t wait to read with him!  A precious story to read with babies and older siblings upon the arrival of their new baby brother or sister.

Baby Blessings: A Prayer For the Day You are Born by Deloris Jordan

Did you know Michael Jordan’s mother is a published author?  I think this is a cute book for introducing a new baby into the home.  The single sentence structure makes it a quick read to enjoy with babies letting them know what a blessing they are.

The Giveaway!
I’ve teamed up with Laurel and Octavia to bring you this giveaway for your baby.  You can either choose one of their popular bookworm onesies or a $25 credit towards any purchase in their Etsy shop.  Open to US residents age 18 and over only. Good Luck!

Laurel and Octavia Bookworm Onesie Giveaway

Your turn: What baby board books would you add to this list?  Feel free to share in the comments.