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Children continue to grow and learn constantly from the moment they are born. Now that your little one has passed the twelve-month mark and is heading on up to two years, it is a great time to start engaging with more complex ideas and images. While most children don’t start learning to formally read until they are four to seven years old, an early start can help them grasp the elements of the world they live in. Colors, shapes, numbers, all of these building blocks will play an important role in your child’s growth. There are a lot of options out there on the market today, but we’ve narrowed down the choices for you.

BEST OVERALL | Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown

Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown

Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown

This beloved book has been a staple for children’s libraries, big and small, for over sixty years. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown has earned its place for many reasons. The images in this classic tale are simple and bold, alternating between black and white to colored imagery. Each page has a clear, simple layout to allow you to draw your child’s attention around the page, from a lamp or brush that you can reference in your own home, allowing for your child to draw deeper cognitive connections between the real world and the cook. The text itself rhymes and flows smoothly, almost musically, making it perfect for bedtime, all the while being presented in crisp and clear typography. As a board book, Goodnight Moon is perfect for any sized hands and is sturdy enough to last a childhood. nostalgia can be a powerful thing, but you don’t have to worry about rose-colored glasses. This book is just as enjoyable as it was when we were children. If you seek a timeless story with potential for great interaction and bedtime reading, there are few options better than this. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown has an MSRP of $8.99, but check the current Goodnight Moon – Amazon price here.

BEST DESIGN | Quiet Loud, by Leslie Patricelli

Quiet Loud, by Leslie Patricelli

Quiet Loud, by Leslie Patricelli

Children’s books about animals and mouth sounds are fairly popular, but how often do you find a book that helps teach your child about the difference between quiet and loud? With its self-explanatory title, Quiet Loud by Leslie Patricelli is a unique take on the idea of opposites, giving a reasonable way for the youngest member of your family to grasp exactly what you mean when you ask them to be quiet. Sometimes, especially when the concept is out of their reach, you might need a practical learning tool to clarify the point. This book is quite attractive with resilient, sturdy board book pages, colorful textures, and bold, clear illustrations. If you have struggled in the past as many parents have with teaching the importance of when the little one can use their quiet and loud voices, this could be that one breakthrough tool that helps bring the lesson home. With a fun, understandable message, Quiet Loud is the culmination of a great idea, and Patricelli pulls it off well, as she does with her other books. Each book has a clear, simple message that comes across clear enough to be understood, yet allows versatility in how you, the parent, decide to teach it. This should become a family favorite quickly and will be able to last through multiple children, making it a great hand-me-down. Quiet Loud by Leslie Patricelli has an MSRP of $6.99, but check the current Quiet Loud – Amazon price here.

EASIEST TO USE | Moo Baa La La La, by Sandra Boynton

Moo Baa La La La, by Sandra Boynton

Moo Baa La La La, by Sandra Boynton

It’s hard to pass up a book for children written and illustrated by the famous cartoonist Sandra Boynton. Moo Baa La La La is one of her most enjoyable board books, promising “serious silliness” for all ages and enjoys a five-star rating from over 1,100 happy reviewers on Amazon. From children that are still exploring and evolving their grasp on mouth sounds to those that simply enjoy a fun, giggle-inducing story, there’s something for every taste in this book. Finding what keeps your little one’s attention the best is paramount to at-home learning. It is all about making educational material fun and enjoyable for all developmental levels. Sandra Boynton’s books make excellent gifts, featuring teachable material that doesn’t need to take itself seriously, and her other works range from simple fun to mostly educational. Between reviews and personal recommendations, there are few reasons why you would give Sandra Boynton a try, and after all the hard work you have achieved raising a child, you deserve to enjoy the books they read just as much as they do. There’s a reason over 35 million of her books have been sold, and it isn’t just the adorable artwork that will hold your child’s attention. Learning can be more than entertaining, and you have got it easy with Moo Baa La La La on your side. The build of this book is equally as solid, made from resilient board pages and vibrant print quality. Moo Baa La La La by Sandra Boynton has an MSRP of $5.99, but check the current Moo Baa La La La – Amazon price here.

MOST VERSATILE | First 100 Soft to Touch Numbers, Shapes and Colors, by Roger Priddy

First 100 Soft to Touch Numbers, Shapes and Colors, by Roger Priddy

First 100 Soft to Touch Numbers, Shapes and Colors, by Roger Priddy

Roger Priddy’s children’s books are a staple on many a family shelf, whether raising one child, multiple children, or gifting to a new parent. His book First 100 Soft to Touch Numbers, Shapes and Colors is an excellent addition to any library, big or small. The wide variety of subjects in this softly-padded board book will ensure that you and your little one have tons to talk about, starting out early with quality visual and auditory stimulation. All the images are photorealistic, framed by bold, attention-grabbing colors with clear titles in fun typography. There’s a lot to see and even more to read and explore with your little one, an excellent learning tool that is sure to capture your precious one’s attention and give you lots to read and talk about. This book grows with your child as their cognitive abilities develop, making it a great long-term investment, especially if you have multiple little ones in the house. What sets this one apart, besides its budget-friendly price, is the soft-touch padding on each page, making it easy to hold and grasp by little hands. The book itself will still take a lot of punishment, and be friendly for smaller hands. While Roger Priddy’s other books go deeper into each subject–numbers, animals, words in general–this is the best collection to start with, as it covers a wide variety of topics without losing focus on any one in particular. In these pages, you’re exposing your child to counting skills, colors, and animal sounds from early on, with the potential for deeper learning as they grow, then continue to grow your collection beyond this first book if you desire. First 100 Soft to Touch Numbers, Shapes and Colors by Roger Priddy has an MSRP of $5.99, but check the current First 100 Soft to Touch Numbers, Shapes and Colors – Amazon price here.

BARGAIN BUY | One, Two…Boo! by Kristen Depken

One, Two...Boo! by Kristen Depken

One, Two…Boo! by Kristen Depken

If you’re looking for a fun, themed book for your child and enjoyed the curious meandering of sweet and silly ghosts in your own childhood, Kristen Depken’s One, Two…Boo! is a wonderfully illustrated and cute board book for your little one. While these illustrations are nowhere near the whimsical designs of Tim Burton’s imagination many of us adults grew up with, there’s still a touch of Halloween cheer to be enjoyed. This interactive book has multiple flaps around the ‘spooky’ mansion to open and explore, offering a fantastic method of teaching your little one numbers and how to count as they grow older. Even if they aren’t quite ready yet, the artwork and rhyming will surely entertain them to no end. Between friendly ghosts, mummies, jack-o-lanterns, and even Frankenstein’s Monster waving a happy hello, this is a Halloween book that deserves to stay out year-round. Your child gets to enjoy interacting with the book itself, giving them agency in the storytelling. This is a book that will appeal to all the little trick-or-treaters, as well as to parents who love the Halloween season and want to embrace it outside of October. For the price, One, Two…Boo! can become your favorite holiday tradition, become an all-time favorite, or make an excellent gift for a special child. The flaps themselves are sturdy enough to last a childhood, though they won’t stand up to excessive ripping, and the pages are tough board stock. One, Two…Boo! by Kristen Depken has an MSRP of $3.99, but check the current One, Two…Boo! – Amazon price here.

BOTTOM LINE

More complex ideas don’t need to be boring or overly technical. Learning can be a great amount of fun, and children get the cream of the crop when it comes to enjoyable educational material. Keep your child engaged and interested in the world around them by providing books that will not only promote technical knowledge like numbers, colors, and animals, but also common sense and practical skills, like more advanced mouth sounds and opposites. No matter what your needs, one of these great books will surely help you keep your child on the path to knowledge. And if you’re looking for something for your older reader, check out our Best Baby Books for Toddlers right here!