372c76c74e7c424b70488ace0c681b96

Top 10 Board Books for Children

Best Children’s Board Books

Board books make reading fun for little ‘uns for many reasons. They are easy to handle and do not risk the ripping of pages by small hands. Such books also feature bright colors, interesting shapes, and fun themes. The Top 10 Best Children’s Board Books offers everything you could possibly want in board book excellence.

From saying goodnight to the moon to learning about why the hungry caterpillar is so very hungry, the 2017 Best Children’s Board Books make it easy for young minds to get lost in worlds of wonder. This premier collection also includes options about llamas, giraffes, and a very curious brown bear, as well as a book about shapes set in Paris and another about getting ready for bed.

Create a household of voracious readers by starting with board books and eventually graduating to picture books with -gasp–thin paper pages! Make reading a fun, shared experience your child will cherish…and thank you for years later. Reading, after all, is key in not only acquiring knowledge, but learning new words and how to form sentences among other benefits.

Have fun!

About this page: This fantastic compilation of the 10 best children’s board books was created by real moms and educators who enjoyed these books themselves or taught them in class. Numerous types and themes of books are included in the list to keep your youngin’ stimulated.

Recommended shopping: Purchasing any of these high-quality book options is easy–just visit Amazon! Please note that we sometimes get a commission through purchases made through our links.  Also note that our recommendations are 100% made because we love the companies and products and are never influenced in any way by any commission we may receive.

Post Updated: April 9th, 2017


What’s Here:

1. First 100 Words by Roger Priddy
2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
3. Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae
4. Paris: A Book of Shapes by Ashley Evanson
5. Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Bookby Rod Campbell
6. Llama Llama Sand and Sun by Anna Dewdney
7. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
8. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
9. The Going-To-Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
10. Go! Go! Go! Stop! by Charise Mericle Harper


Top 10 Board Books:

1. First 100 Words by Roger Priddy

First 100 Words by Roger PriddyAges: 1 – 3

Read Parent Reviews | Check Best Prices

Our first pick for the top 10 board books for kids is First 100 Words by Roger Priddy.

Word association is one of the most important parts of learning how to read. First 100 Words is exactly what the title suggests. There are 100 basic words, each accompanied by a colorful photograph, like apple, bear, and sippy cup. Neat, right? This whimsical board book makes learning words and what they mean a wonderful experience for your little ‘un. It offers hours of reading material and provides your child with a great baseline for preschool and eventually kindergarten. Another bonus that comes with this board book? It reinforces the idea that learning is fun!

Check it out on Amazon

2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric CarleAges: 1 – 3

Read Parent Reviews | Check Best Prices

Always a favorite for little ones – The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle ranks second on our top 10 best board books list.

This childhood favorite of mine is one I read to my little boy on a daily basis. The edges are curled a bit from his slobbery teething efforts, but he loves the colorful pictures of the caterpillar and beautiful butterfly. A true children’s classic, this chubby green caterpillar has been making children smile for decades. The illustrations are unique and beautiful, as is the story’s message. Your child will love it…and so will you!

“The very hungry caterpillar literally eats his way through the pages of the book—and right into your child’s heart…”—Mother’s Manual

Check it out on Amazon

3. Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae

Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles AndreaeAges: 3 – 6

Read Parent Reviews | Check Best Prices

Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae hits #3 on the list.

When Gerald the Giraffe is bullied by the other animals for dancing, he feels a little bad. However, an unlikely friend tells Gerald that he merely dances to the beat of a “different song.” This boosts his confidence and he dances his heart out. Heartwarming, thought-provoking, and unique, there is nothing not to love about this story, from the fun illustrations to the overall theme. Gerald perseveres to dance happily to the beat of his own proverbial drum, which teaches kids that it is more than okay to be different, no matter what anyone else says. Gerald becomes the hero of his own story…pretty awesome, right? Giraffes Can’t Dance is sure to become a beloved children’s classic.

Check it out on Amazon

4. Paris: A Book of Shapes by Ashley Evanson

A Book of Shapes by Ashley EvansonAges: 2 and up

Read Parent Reviews | Check Best Prices

Love this! Paris: A Book of Shapes by Ashley Evanson takes up the 4th spot of the top kids’ board books this year.

I have always wanted to travel to Paris…and with this book, I feel like I can. From the amazing Hello World series, this book is an introduction to different shapes and colors, from the Eiffel Tower to beautiful Parisian evenings. It is also something of an intro to the City of Lights and could easily inspire future wanderlust.

This truly beautiful board book is another winner that helps expands little horizons and shows kids there is a big world out there waiting to be explored. Find other books in this series, such as San Francisco: A Book of Numbers and New York: A Book Of Colors to help reinforce basic concepts in a fun way.

Check it out on Amazon

5. Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book by Rod Campbell

A Lift-the-Flap Book by Rod CampbellAges: 1 – 4

Read Parent Reviews | Check Best Prices

Another classic favorite makes it to #5 of the top children’s board books for 2016 – Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book by Rod Campbell.

As of 2016, Dear Zoo is an astounding 25 years in the making. That is a quarter of a century of must-read awesomeness. In this book, a little boy asks the zoo to send him the perfect pet. Surprises ensue, as the little boy finds out not all animals are meant to be pets!

Another reason to read this delightful book? It helps teach your children about animals and what they do. See if your kiddos recognize the animals from the book on your next zoo visit!

Check it out on Amazon

6. Llama Llama Sand and Sun by Anna Dewdney

Llama Llama Sand and Sun by Anna DewdneyAges: 3 – 5

Read Parent Reviews | Check Best Prices

Next up on the list is a perfect kids’ board book for spring and summer – Llama Llama Sand and Sun by Anna Dewdney.

Llama Llama is a classic, loveable character—but this book is a tinge different from his other must-reads. Playing on the sandy seashore with Mama Llama, Llama Llama touches everything—the sand, the ocean water, and his bouncy beach ball. Your child gets to touch these things as well, as this board book is also a touch-and-feel story! A wonderful option for teaching your youngling what various objects feel like, this winner also includes the cutest illustrations.

Add this book to your Llama Llama collection or purchase it to pique your child’s interest in this fantastic series!

Check it out on Amazon

7. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise BrownAges: 1 – 4

Read Parent Reviews | Check Best Prices

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown arrives next on the list.

Little Bunny is so sleepy, but he needs to say goodnight to everything he sees, including the moon, the room, the chair, his momma bunny, and even his socks. As he gets sleepier with his goodnights, the pictures grow dimmer. Adorable, right?

A modern children’s classic, Goodnight Moon is the perfect story to read to your little ‘uns before tucking them in and saying nighty-night. Heck, you might get sleepy reading it! The singsong text only adds to this whimsical, wonderful story. It is a must for every children’s library and will probably become a bedtime favorite.

Check it out on Amazon

8. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You SeeAges: 2 – 5

Read Parent Reviews | Check Best Prices

One of my personal favorites for little ones – Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle comes in at #8 of the top board books this year.

Another Eric Carle favorite, this book is about a big, brown bear with a unique perspective. He sees yellow ducks, green frogs, blue horses, purple cats, and bunches of other colorful animals. I love the vivid illustrations and whimsical text, and so will your child. A great story for teaching about colors as well as animals, it also emphasizes that everyone has a different, unique perspective. Be sure to add this timeless book to your children’s collection and get it out any time your little shaver needs a refresher on colors.

Check it out on Amazon

9. The Going-To-Bed Book by Sandra Boynton

The Going-To-Bed Book by Sandra BoyntonAges: 2 – 5

Read Parent Reviews | Check Best Prices

Yawn! ???? The Going-To-Bed Book by Sandra Boynton comes in at #9 on the list.

Scrub a dub, then time for a snooze. These animals are going through their usual nightly routine before heading to dreamland. With bold, silly illustrations, kiddos can follow along with singsong rhymes that finally put these cute critters to bed.

A great book for the child who struggles with his or her bedtime routine, it teaches that everyone has to say nighty-night at some point–sleep is essential to health, after all! Perhaps it will inspire your kiddo to create a unique bedtime routine that gets him or her excited about drifting off to the land of dreams.

Check it out on Amazon

10. Go! Go! Go! Stop! by Charise Mericle Harper

Stop! by Charise Mericle HarperAges: 2 – 5

Read Parent Reviews | Check Best Prices

The final item on the list of the top 10 kids’ board books in 2017-18 – Go! Go! Go! Stop! by Charise Mericle Harper.

When Little Green comes to town and shouts GO, all of the vehicles go, go, go…but they never stop going. Talk about exhaustion! These busy, hardworking cars and trucks need a way to stop and relax, like a Red Light.

A fun, brightly-colored book, the underlying them of this book is teamwork–nice, right? Read it to your kids whenever they are having trouble getting along or are struggling to work with their classmates…or any other time! The teamwork message is strong in this book.

Check it out on Amazon