16 New Board Books for Littles

The littlest of readers don’t get as much attention on this blog as they should, so I’m hoping to remedy that a bit today with a list of 16 new board books for littles. New board books don’t seem to be promoted as much as picture books or even middle grade novels, so new parents may not hear about all the great new titles that are available. If you’re looking for some new great books, check your local library for access to board books that you can rotate through, keeping your home library exciting and fresh.

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16 New Board Books for Littles

Bear Has a Belly by Jane Whittingham

A soft, round belly,
Bear has a belly.
I do too!

Do you have a nose like Fox, cheeks like Squirrel, and a tongue like Frog does? In rhythmic text perfect for an energetic read-aloud, Bear Has a Belly points out Moose’s legs, Otter’s back, and Duck’s feet, inviting little ones to chime in with every body part they share in common. Bright photographs of the animal friends are paired with images of real children of diverse backgrounds and abilities who are joyfully engaging with that body part.

Little Kids First Board Book: Birds by Ruth A. Musgrave

Designed to be the stepping stone to the best-selling National Geographic Little Kids First Big
Book series, the Little Kids First Board Book series takes similar big subjects and distills them
down to the simplest nonfiction concepts for the youngest audience. Not only will readers learn
about a variety of birds, they can also find recurring shapes and patterns in the art, while adults
can keep their eyes open for occasional funny commentary from the animals. Sidebar text offers
additional learning for older siblings or those ready for more complex information.

Bumblebee Grumblebee by David Elliott

Playful animals get up to everyday toddler mischief in this board book built on child-based wordplay, where each page twists animal names into funny new words that are fun to share.

With illustrations drawn from a toddlers world, babies and young children will recognize each activity―getting dressed, playing, painting (including themselves), having a bath, using the potty―and see how the animal makes the mischievous most of it.

The bumblebee breaks its toy―bumblebee grumblebee!
The cockatoo is getting dressed―cockatoo sockatoo!
The pelican tries out the potty―pelican smellican!
What will turtle do? Everybody gathers for the final squirtle.

Eat Together by Miguel Ordonez

Various parts of a meal are formed one by one, piece by piece, in this visual play on the interaction between shapes. If just three simple shapes can combine to create a strawberry, then four shapes make a…? Part guessing game, part visual narrative, young readers will follow along as shapes are added to build new foods, and laugh along as some sneaky critters attempt to take on more than they can chew. With humor, anticipation, and possibility on every page, this board book encourages creativity and proves that anything is possible when taken piece by piece.

The Hair Book by LaTonya Yvette and Amanda Jane Jones

Covered hair,
Bun Hair,
Party Hair…
No matter your hair—YOU are welcome anywhere!

I’m Still Up! by Anotinette Portis

The sun is DOWN but the moon is UP, and so is the baby! They are not sleepy…not at all.

Perfect for babies and their loved ones, I’m Still Up! is a joyful story about the age-old struggle of bed time, and a soothing reminder that when Mommy and Daddy, the cat and the dog and even the sun are sleepy, baby might be, too. By repeating shapes, words, and language, I’m Still Up! will help your baby learn new words and routines while you read a bedtime story.

Monster Clothes by Daisy Hirst

When monsters get up in the morning, they have to find something to wear. Simon wears socks, Darrell puts on a dress, and Terrence tries on a tomato. Meanwhile, Cassie is wearing cars and Lester has on the latest trend: leaves. What can Evie wear to outdo them all? With child-friendly art in the brightest of colors, this whimsical foray into toddler fashion will tickle the fancy of mischievous monsters everywhere.

Name Your Numbers by Smriti Prasadam-Halls, illustrated by Edward Underwood

Whether it’s an elephant’s two tusks, a lion’s four paws, a koala’s five claws, or a goose’s ten feathers, each animal on these cheery pages has something to count. But what about Crocodile Claire, popping up at the end? Who dares to count her teeth? The rhythmic, singsong text combined with sweet, simple illustrations will have toddlers laughing along while learning numbers from one to ten.

Odd Birds by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Gareth Lucas

Backyard birds—move over! Odd Birds introduces babies and toddlers to unusual bird species, including the magnificent frigatebird with a bright red throat pouch and the California condor—the largest flying birds in North America! Gentle rhyming verses provide the comforting repetition that little ones crave, even as their minds are opened to new and fascinating creatures from around the world. At the end of the book, readers will find photographs of each bird, along with more detailed factual information. The eight birds featured are the magnificent frigatebird, blue-footed booby, shoebill stork, ostrich, hoatzin, oilbird, California condor, and burrowing owl.

One Sky by Aaron Becker

Its dawn begins in darkness.
With hope we greet its light.

Within the pages of this elegant book is the entire sky. Lyrical text moves readers through the day, from dawn to dusk, while ink- and die-cut lines resembling stained glass arc across the pages like birds in flight. An encounter with the translucent, jewel-colored panes in this special board book offers a luminous reminder that, no matter the hour or the hue, we all dwell together under one magnificent sky.

Red House, Brown Mouse by Jane Godwin, illustrated by Blanca Gómez

Red house, blue house, green house, tree house.
See the tiny mouse in her little brown house?

As an adventurous little mouse sets off into the world, she introduces new concepts to the very youngest. From colors and counting to animals and vehicles, this rhyming read-aloud gem is sure to enthrall babies and toddlers, who will delight in the search-and-find element on every spread–the intrepid mouse herself!

Splash! by Leslie Patricelli

Pack a beach bag and join Baby for that quintessential summer activity: a day at the seashore. With a new buddy in tow to join in the fun, it’s time to put on sunscreen (rubby, rubby), set up the umbrella (ouch, this sand is hot!), splash in the waves (run away from the big ones!), and build a sandcastle (extra hands help!). And don’t forget ice cream! Thankfully, there’s a shower for rinsing off that sandy, sticky stuff. There’s so much to do and see that it might be a challenge to get these babies back home! Little ones off on a summer vacation will soak up this fun adventure, and fans of the beloved Baby will be tickled to meet an adorable new character.

Tree by Britta Teckentrup

Through a hole in the book’s cover, an owl invites you inside to meet a majestic tree and all its forest inhabitants during the changing seasons. With clever peekaboo holes throughout, each page reveals a new set of animals playing and living in the tree—baby bears frolicking in the spring, bees buzzing around apples in the summer, squirrels storing nuts in the fall, and finally the lone owl keeping warm during the winter chill—until another year begins. . . . 

Children will love seeing a new set of animals appear and then disappear as each page is turned, and along the way they’ll learn about the seasons and how a forest and its inhabitants change throughout the year.

Who’s Behind There? by Giuliano Ferri

Is that a scary tiger—or just a playful kitten? A reaching earthworm—or a chameleon grabbing a snack? A sea anemone—or a giant puffer fish? This interactive board book offers so much for little animal lovers, as each spread folds out twice to reveal a larger-than-life creature practically leaping off the page.

Woodland Dance by Sandra Boynton

Destined to be a read-aloud favorite, Woodland Dance is a mystical, waltzing story from beloved author and illustrator Sandra Boynton, and a magical book to share with a magical child. Woodland animals heed the call of the fox’s bugle to join the woodland dance in a moonlit glade, dancing all night to the music of the Woodland Dance Trio. As the animals wander off to bed, the Trio plays one last piece to welcome the sun. A lovely, lyrical way to end, or start, the day.

You Are Getting Sleepy by Lori Alexander, illustrated by Monica Mikai

Tick-tock, peek at the clock.
It’s time to sleep, sweet baby.
First a bath to soak…relax.
Are you getting sleepy?

A calming bedtime tune for all those wide-awake babies, this board book is about to become a favorite step of your sleepytime routine. Take your little one through the motions of bedtime, from bathtime to jammies and kisses galore.