Building a Library?

So my best friend just told me that she’s pregnant with her rainbow baby, and she asked for recommendations for books to build the baby’s library. I’m so excited for her, so I went a little overboard. Then I realized that maybe other mamas-to-be could get some use out of this, so I’m posting it here.

For newborn-9months:

Baby Cakes- Teddy loves this one. We got it at the doctor's office, and it's simple and sweet and a lot of fun.

https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Cakes-Karma-Wilson/dp/1416902899/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=babycakes+book&qid=1593304668&sr=8-2

I'm going to Give You a Bear Hug- This was Teddy's first favorite book. There's a part at the end about saying your prayers before bed and we just skip over it, lol.

https://www.amazon.com/Going-Give-You-Bear-Hug/dp/0310754941/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2H1GTZ7XR1SK6&dchild=1&keywords=i%27m+going+to+give+you+a+bear+hug&qid=1593304761&sprefix=i%27m+going+to+give+you+%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-2

I Love You to the Moon and Back- I only recently got this for Teddy, but it would be a great one for newborns.

https://www.amazon.com/I-Love-You-Moon-Back/dp/1589255518/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2SVY21ST322TB&dchild=1&keywords=i+love+you+to+the+moon+and+back+book&qid=1593304806&sprefix=i+love+you+to+the+moon+and+back%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-2

Guess How Much I Love You- I love this book. We used this in our maternity pictures. (BTW, you won't be super far along, and I'm not an amazing photographer, but I'm decent. If you want me to take your maternity pictures while you're here, I'm more than happy to do so.

https://www.amazon.com/Guess-How-Much-Love-You/dp/1536210633/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2SVY21ST322TB&dchild=1&keywords=i+love+you+to+the+moon+and+back+book&qid=1593304928&sprefix=i+love+you+to+the+moon+and+back%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-3

Goodnight Moon- I actually really hate this book, but it's kind of a classic, and it's simple. They also have versions that are specific to your location, so you could get a Goodnight Finger Lakes or a Good Night Colorado.

https://www.amazon.com/Goodnight-Moon-Margaret-Wise-Brown/dp/0694003611/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=goodnight+moon&qid=1593305007&sr=8-2

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?- Teddy loves this one. I really like the aesthetic, but it's also really simple. For infants, you want something that is quick, because they won't hold their attention very long.

https://www.amazon.com/Brown-Bear-What-You-See/dp/0805047905/ref=sr_1_2?crid=SRHDB1LEMJSH&dchild=1&keywords=brown+bear+brown+bear+what+do+you+see&qid=1593305024&sprefix=brown+bear%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-2

For 9months-18months:

All of the above, plus

Little Blue Truck- This is our all-time favorite. It's actually going to be Teddy's birthday theme this year. There's a whole series, and Teddy loves them all.

https://www.amazon.com/Little-Blue-Truck-board-book/dp/0544568036/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=little+blue+truck&qid=1593305242&sr=8-2

The Very Hungry Caterpillar- Short and sweet. It's got little mini pages and Teddy like turning them.

https://www.amazon.com/Very-Hungry-Caterpillar-Eric-Carle/dp/0399226907/ref=sr_1_2?crid=270EU6SZQYALI&dchild=1&keywords=the+very+hungry+caterpillar&qid=1593305102&sprefix=the+very+%2Caps%2C160&sr=8-2

First 100- There's a whole series of these. There's no story to them, just pictures and words, but it's great for helping kids learn words.

https://www.amazon.com/First-100-Board-Book-books/dp/0312521065/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2HUQAB12XAYWS&dchild=1&keywords=first+100+board+book+box+set+3+books&qid=1593305265&sprefix=first+100%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-2

Roadwork- This is another that we got at the doctor's office. It's fun and it has a lot of sounds.

https://www.amazon.com/Roadwork-Construction-Crew-Sally-Sutton/dp/0763646539/ref=sr_1_2?crid=R86I6CJBK33Y&dchild=1&keywords=roadwork+book&qid=1593305381&sprefix=roadwork%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-2

Llama Llama- This is a whole series. They're short and sweet and they rhyme. Teddy loves them.

https://www.amazon.com/Llama-Llamas-Little-Library-Dewdney/dp/0670016489/ref=sr_1_3?crid=7XPL38IV86IL&dchild=1&keywords=llama+llama+books&qid=1593305539&sprefix=llama+llam%2Caps%2C163&sr=8-3

18months & up:

All of the above, plus

Giraffes Can't Dance- This is fun, but it's a little long which is why it's not in the earlier categories.

https://www.amazon.com/Giraffes-Cant-Dance-Giles-Andreae/dp/0545392551/ref=sr_1_2?crid=H1IIQ2BA5KCO&dchild=1&keywords=girrafes+cant+dance+book&qid=1593305854&sprefix=girr%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-2

There's a Monster in Your Book- I love this one and so does Teddy. It has a lot of instructions, like shake the book, and tickle the monster's feet, so it's best for a baby that's old enough to do those things.

https://www.amazon.com/Theres-Monster-Your-Book-Fletcher/dp/1524764566/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1TBX8NYWIC218&dchild=1&keywords=there%27s+a+monster+in+your+book&qid=1593305890&sprefix=there%27s+a+monster+in+%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-2

We're Going on a Bear Hunt- This has a lot of fun sounds in it, but it's a little long, so it's in the later category.

https://www.amazon.com/Were-Going-Classic-Board-Books/dp/0689815816/ref=sr_1_2?crid=IUUWTYY3F8BE&dchild=1&keywords=we%27re+going+on+a+bear+hunt+book&qid=1593305905&sprefix=we%27re+going+%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-2

The Monster at the End of This Book- This one is best if the child is the one turning pages, which is why it's in the later category. Also, it's really hard to find this one in a board book format. I recommend getting only board books. We have quite a few books that are packed away because they have paper pages and Teddy will tear them. I don't think he'll be ready for paper pages until he's at least 3.

https://www.amazon.com/Monster-End-This-Book/dp/0307010856/ref=sr_1_2?crid=30BF23OZ4WA9P&dchild=1&keywords=monster+at+the+end+of+the+book&qid=1593305717&sprefix=monster+at+t%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-2