10 of my favorite children’s books that make great baby shower gifts.
The perfect book for the mom-to-be in your life and her bundle of joy
I’m a sucker for a good children’s book! I love their whimsical stories, life lessons and adorable imagery. I also love how they bring families closer—snuggling up and reading a book together can be so comforting. Unsurprisingly, reading to children—even babies—can help moms bond with their newborns, boost a child’s vocabulary and prepare kids to read on their own. That’s why I love gifting books at baby showers.
I’ve listed a few of my favorite children’s books that make great shower gifts below. A lot of them are classics I love and have gifted to my mom friends. Wrap one up and add a supportive note for mama and a love note to the baby-to-be.
1. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
This one is a total classic. In Goodnight Moon, a bunny says “goodnight” to everything in their room and, of course, to the moon. It’s a sweet bedtime story teaches kids to appreciate the things around them, and that’s a great lesson for a little one.
2. Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
Oh my goodness. This is such a wonderful story. Love You Forever tells the story of a mother’s love for her son through a lullaby she sings to him. After his mom’s passing, the son sings the lullaby to his own baby girl, showing that a parent’s love is forever. Yep—bring on the tissues!
3.The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
This is a really great early education book. Exactly as the title suggests, this story is about a very hungry caterpillar who eats different foods throughout the week before spinning a cocoon and emerging as a butterfly. The illustrations are captivating and small “bite marks” on each page make it look like the caterpillar is actually eating its way through the book.
4. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Where the Wild Things Are is filled with wonder. When Max is sent to bed without dinner, his anger fuels his imagination, transporting him to a land where the “Wild Things” roam. Where the Wild Things Are teaches children about anger, forgiveness and independence in a captivating adventure.
5. On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman
Celebrate baby with this sweet story. On the Night You Were Born paints the picture of how magical it was when a little one came into the world. This story illustrates how loved a child is within their family and the village.
6. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
Vivid illustrations with cute and silly letters. What’s not to love? This book is an imaginative story about the letters of the alphabet climbing a coconut tree. The story is written rhythmically, and there are song adaptations online that make for a fun sing-along as your child ages.
7. Potty by Leslie Patricelli
As the name suggests, this book is about learning to use the potty. It’s such a fun story of a child’s thought process leading up to their first, ahem, successful trip to the bathroom. Plus, it ends on a high note, with a big “I did it!” moment. Maybe not the most sentimental gift, but definitely something mom will use and appreciate.
8. The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin
The Wonderful Things You Will Be is about loving parents encouraging their child to grow into someone wonderful. The story is rhythmic, sweet and filled with parent (or auntie!) pride for the child in their life. Beautifully illustrated, the scenes in this book are sure to capture a little one’s attention.
9. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? By Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See is a silly book that little kids will love. From a brown bear and blue horse to a goldfish and black sheep, kids will learn about colors and animals through these cute illustrations.
10. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
The theme of The Giving Tree is selfless love, much like that of a parent to a child. This book tells the story of a boy and his relationship with a tree throughout his life. The tree gives him apples to eat, and wood for both a house and boat until the tree is nothing more than a stump. Even then, it still offers a comfortable place for the boy to sit and rest.
11. Nanny and Me by me!
Nanny and Me introduces children to the idea of having a caregiver in their life who isn’t their mom or dad. I wrote this book to help kids adjust to the transition from having mom and dad as their only caregivers to having someone new to look after them. It’s a story that shows how much fun a nanny adds to a child’s life. Whether or not your mom friend plans on returning to work after maternity leave, Nanny and Me encourages parents to reach out to their village and ask for help when they need it.
Remember, always have courage and be kind.
XO,
Florence Ann 💛
