I started reading to my firstborn when she was just a couple weeks old. It was mostly for me, though, at that time. It gave me something to say when that sweet little baby was so quiet, and would just stare at me.

It’s so hard when you’re a new mom, especially if you experience the baby blues those first few weeks like I did. It was awful. I would feel like crying, and felt like I was alone. Anytime I would feel like that, I would go read a whole stack of books to my newborn until I could breathe again. I would highly recommend all new moms read to their newborns right away. Many of the newborn books are really geared towards the love we feel for our child. It really helped me.

I’ve been reading over twenty books a day to my daughters. They absolutely love books! And it seems like there’s never enough. Libraries are wonderful for this reason! We have been blessed with lots of books for our kids. And many hand-me-downs from our cousins, which I’ve been so grateful for. Books are truly the best-worldly item gifts for kids. The best books for newborns, in my opinion, are all of the Babies Love Books Series found here https://amzn.to/4kAWQjF. I also recommend the See Touch Feel book by Roger Priddy found here https://amzn.to/3DfrKNY, the Hello World Series here https://amzn.to/3Farbp7, and You’re My Little Series, found here https://amzn.to/3XA98yO for little babies. Good starting books are the tiny cardboard books, but I found at around six months they will chew on them along with everything else they can get their hands on.

We also like many of the Little Golden Books. These ones listed below are great for babies and toddlers, and beyond. They are among the most read, and favored in our home. We have multiple favorite books by each of these authors, but these ones here have always been our go-to favorites. I would highly recommend these authors and their books.

1. Don’t forget to Remember by Ellie Holcomb https://amzn.to/3DswBv9
2. Ms. Rachel and the Special Surprise by the amazing Ms. Rachel (A Big favorite in our house. We actually have signed copies of these. I could write a whole blog post on how much we love Ms. Rachel and her You-Tube education videos) https://amzn.to/4hb643b
3. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle https://amzn.to/41MdAwW
4. Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow https://amzn.to/3FdLmm2
5. The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss https://amzn.to/3XtDjrp
6. I Wish You Happiness by Michael Wong https://amzn.to/4bAZPo7
7. You are a Wildlife Warrior by Bindi Irwin https://amzn.to/3F7x4DE
8. Little Blue Truck’s Springtime by Alice Schertle https://amzn.to/41JzmS5
9. What Matters Most by Emma Dodd https://amzn.to/41NKTzN
10. This I Know by Clay Anderson https://amzn.to/3DswKyH
11. Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? by Dr. Seuss https://amzn.to/4kzBIKA
12. Elmo Loves You by Sarah Albee https://amzn.to/43tvoyd
13. Love You Forever by Robert Munsch and Sheila McGraw https://amzn.to/3DdRtq3
14. Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton https://amzn.to/3Fa2JV3
15. Princesses of Heaven by Fabiola Garza https://amzn.to/41NX8MH
16. The Invisible String by Patrice Karst https://amzn.to/4isPfSq
17. The Berenstain Bears Values and Virtue Treasury by Mike Berenstain https://amzn.to/3QTmHpm
18. Jesus Loves Me by Ginger Swift https://amzn.to/41pU87O
19. If You Give a Mouse A Cookie by Laura Numeroff https://amzn.to/4i6eLgy
20. The Going To Bed Book by Sandra Boynton https://amzn.to/4kygDQH
21. ABC For Me Bedtime by Erica Harrison https://amzn.to/4idPzEQ
22. The World Needs the Wonder You See by Joanna Gaines https://amzn.to/4hmtcMi

Whether you can purchase books for your children, or borrow from the library, it’s worth it ten-fold to read to them. Reading to them early gives them a great start in learning many things. My two-year-old can read The Foot Book by herself, as well as the Ms. Rachel and the Special Surprise, and even ABC Bedtime, and any Frozen book. Of course, she is probably reading by memory, but the good thing is that she is interested, and she is pointing at the words as she says them. I’m so proud of her. Reading books to children is pure joy. I hope this has inspired you to read to your littles, and to start as soon as they are born.

Blessings to you and your littles!