Earlier this year, people on the Inter-webs were yammering about Oprah giving a trunk stuffed with books as a baby gift to Beyonce and Jay-Z. Many of our Facebook fans chimed in on the topic. And we were struck by the fabulous and thoughtful book suggestions made by HPB fans. It left us feeling all chock-full of warm fuzzies. Fellow booklovers seem to agree: A library of books is a lovely gift for a little one.
So, in celebration of this First Day of Spring, when new life is blooming all around us, here’s a list of “Welcome to the World” gift ideas –– 21 books to give new parents to jumpstart their baby’s library.
If you were to give the gift of a library to a baby, what books would you include?
Happy Spring, everyone! – Meredith
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Meredith is Associate Creative Director at Half Price Books Corporate.
You can follow her on Twitter at @msquare21.
The Half Price Blog 
The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown (even though Goodnight Moon is already on the list. 🙂 )
Pat the Bunny! I've got it for all of my expecting friends. One of my young childhood favorites. 🙂
One of my favorite books when I was a kid was _Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day_ by Judith Viorst. A great book to show kids (and remind adults) that even when everything seems to be working against you, that's not the "end of the story". 😀
I would add "Horatio's Bed." Hard to get anymore but well worth looking for!!!
My favorite book as a kid was Corduroy!!!!!!!
Thanks so much for this list! I'm printing it out and taking it to my HPB this week. I should have baby shower gifts covered for a while! 🙂
The nutshell library. Perfect for little hands. Pierre, One was Johnny, Alligators all around and Chicken soup with rice!
Goodnight Moon!!
When I was a kid my absolute favorite was the rainbow fish!!!!
I used to love Mrs. Wishy Washy
The "Going to Bed" book was one of our favorites! I had it memorized so even when we weren't at home I could still "read" it at bedtime! =)
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst. In fact, any and all children's books by Viorst should be standard.
Love You Forever! I sang that to my son many nights for many years. A book of Mother Goose is definitely a must, too! I often give books for baby showers and the soon-to-be-moms always seem to be excited about them.
Add Paperbag Princess to the list- fabulous feminist book for kids to realize that being a princess isn't about being saved by a prince.
On the night you were born and wherever you are my love will find you by Nancy Tillman should def be on this list
Someday is my absolute favorite. I too love On The Night You Were Born.
Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom and Where the Wild Things are.
My sons' favorites were "Good Night Moon" and. "Tales of Peter Rabbit"_
The Kissing Hand was loved by my kids. Also Stellaluna.
Biscuit books were my fav as a kid!
I almost always include a Sandra Boynton book. My favorite is Blue Hat, Green Hat, and it is still a favorite of my daughter (age 5!) and her pre-K class (many ESL students – they find it hilarious!). I also love Mem Fox's Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes and Hello Baby.
Awesome list! We have 18 out of the 21 already in our house from our firstborn. We have another boy on the way in 4 weeks, and I can't wait to share these wonderful reads with him!
I Am a Bunny, Bunny's Noisy Book, The Bear Snores On collection, Goodnight Gorilla
Dinotopia by James Gurney. Also, The First Forest (I forget the author). And I second The Runaway Bunny! And many of the Golden Books.For baby's very first book, a black and white book, particularly one with faces in it.
Our daughter loved The Little Monster (now renamed The Little Critter) books. We’ve given them as gifts to our friends’ children & grandchildren and they’re just as popular! For the holiday season, I highly recommend Santa Calls, by Joyce. The story is great and the art is wonderful.