The Best Books To Gift Babies and Toddlers
by Elizabeth Mundt
Books are among the very best gifts for babies and toddlers! They spark curiosity, strengthen early literacy, and create priceless bonding moments between children and caregivers. My most treasured memories with my toddler are those we spent snuggled up together with a book between us. Today’s best baby and toddler books are designed to engage little ones through bright artwork, playful language, and interactive elements that make reading feel like playtime.
If you’re shopping for holiday book gifts for little ones ages 0-2 — whether for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or “just because” — this list has you covered. Below, you’ll find the best board books that inspire learning, laughter, and connection all season long.
Our Top 5 Holiday Book Gifts for Babies & Toddlers (2025)
If you’re short on time, start with these can’t-miss favorites:
- Little Dino Boo-Boos!: An interactive treat where kids help dinos feel better with reusable bandage stickers.
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Peekaboo Christmas: A festive spin on a timeless classic.
- A Day on the Farm (Ms. Rachel): An interactive farm adventure filled with animal sounds and early learning fun.
- Bluey: A Big Pop-Up Book: A playful, 3D experience perfect for Bluey fans.
- Group Hug!: A sweet, counting-themed story that celebrates love and togetherness.
Scroll down for more delightful picks to gift this holiday season!
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A Day on the Farm (Ms. Rachel)
Buy from:From the beloved Ms. Rachel comes this new board book featuring twelve animal sounds your toddler will love. The farm theme makes this book a universal hit and a fun gift for any toddler, especially fans of Ms. Rachel.
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Bluey: A Big Pop-Up Book
Buy from:Little Bluey fans will be enamored with this playful pop-up adventure! Join Bingo and Bluey as they explore their world. Bright, interactive pages make it a fun gift and a surefire storytime favorite.
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Teeny Tiendas: The Toy Store/La juguetería
Buy from:This entire series is adorable, and this title is no exception! Young readers will enjoy exploring the toys and the juguetería while picking up Spanish words. You could even pair this book with one of the toys from the story for an extra-special gift.
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Peekaboo Christmas
Buy from:Help your toddler look for The Very Hungry Caterpillar as he wanders around the Christmas tree. Try to spot him between the ornaments or peeking out from behind the presents. This book makes an excellent addition to your child’s holiday book collection!
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I Am the Grinch
Buy from:This sturdy board book introduces Dr. Seuss’s iconic character to babies and toddlers. Join the Grinch as he humorously shares what he doesn’t like before revealing what he truly loves: spending time with a friend and growing his heart. It is a delightful stocking stuffer that’s sure to win over little readers!
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Little Dino Boo-Boos!
Buy from:Toddlers who are hesitant about doctor visits or who love playing with bandages will enjoy this interactive book. Dinos get boo-boos and need some tender loving care. Young readers can apply the sturdy, reusable remedies one by one until all the dinosaurs feel better.
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Group Hug!
Buy from:This truly adorable counting book celebrates the power of group hugs! Join a cast of animals from around the world, including pandas, lemurs, and llamas, as they share warm embraces. This board book features cleverly shaped pages and peek-throughs that bring the animals together in sweet hugs. Families will love how it highlights the themes of love and friendship.
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Tree: A Peek-Through Board Book
Buy from:What I love most about this title is its appeal across seasons. Readers watch a tree change through spring, summer, fall, and winter. Toddlers will enjoy exploring the peekaboo holes throughout the book, showing different critters living in the tree each season.
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Bluey and Bingo's Book of Singy Things
Buy from:Tap into your child’s love of Bluey with this playful board book featuring Bluey and Bingo’s fun playtime songs. Filled with tunes like Poor Little Bug on the Wall and The Wheels on the Bus, this tabbed book is perfect for little fans of the show who want to sing along during playtime.
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Latke’s First Hanukkah
Buy from:Latke and his friends enjoy an eight-night Hanukkah celebration in this playful board book! The party grows as the days go on, culminating with all eight candles lit on the menorah and the shamas. This is an excellent choice to make your holiday celebrations more inclusive.
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We're Going on a Bear Hunt: Pull, Slide and Play!
Buy from:Readers of all ages will adore this classic story reimagined as an interactive board book. Parents will love the nostalgia, while toddlers stay engaged with every slide and flap as the family ventures on a bear hunt.
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Birding for Babies: Migrating Birds
Buy from:This delightful title introduces young readers to various migrating birds while teaching them their colors. The bright, vibrant illustrations make it especially engaging — and a fun pick for parents who love birding!
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Let's Cook with Teddy
Buy from:In this adorable board book, toddlers use felt pieces to cook alongside Teddy and his Grandma. Together they’ll whip up vegetable soup, pizza, and even ice cream sundaes! With its playful pieces, this story feels as much like a toy as it does a book.
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Alphabedtime
Buy from:This favorite read-aloud is now available as a board book. Alphabedtime follows the bedtime routine of a rambunctious family with 26 kids from A to Z. Adorable and hilarious, this story is fun at bedtime and any time of day.
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Ada, Go, Go, Go!
Buy from:Young children will love following Ada and her animal friends on a race in this playful board book. The fun story feels relatable, with a subtle message of kindness and teamwork over competition. This delightful series is truly a win!
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There's a Little Snowman in Your Book
Buy from:From the popular Who’s in Your Book? series, this interactive board book invites young readers to play along with an adorable little snowman. It’s the perfect winter read and a cozy pick for the holiday season.
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Bus! Stop!
Buy from:A child waits for his bus in this delightful board book featuring minimal text. The playful illustrations tell the story, making it engaging for even the youngest readers.
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This Is Music: Drums
Buy from:Explore the world of drums in this engaging series which introduces instruments to young readers. It strikes the perfect balance between informative and silly. Readers will learn that a tummy can be a drum, but a cake cannot!
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Play Games with Me
Buy from:This interactive, play-date-in-a-book brings new excitement to story time! With simple games built into the pages, it’s a fun way for little ones and caregivers to read and play together.
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Adurable: Little Pups in Big Trucks
Buy from:If you have a vehicle lover in the family, this book is an excellent choice. If your child also adores dogs, it’s a total home run! This board book features three “adurable” pups in puppy school, learning about teamwork.
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Five Speckled Frogs
Buy from:Little ones will love this interactive board book edition of the classic nursery rhyme, “Five Speckled Frogs.” It invites toddlers to make the frogs jump into the pool one by one until there are none left on the log. This joyful read-aloud is entertaining for caregivers and toddlers to sing along to together.
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Hey, Baby!
Buy from:This joyful board book follows a baby and mom throughout their day. With real photographs and high-contrast doodles, it’s especially engaging for the youngest readers.
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2019 and updated in 2025.