Bookshop's Favorite Infant Books

"When the sky grows dark and the moon glows bright, everyone goes to sleep except for the watchful owl." And so begins a fanciful animal tour of different sleep habits, all under the owl's big-eyed gaze. The watercolor and pencil illustrations in this board book pull you into the animal parade, but it's the vibrant colors against the dark blue sky that beg for a closer look. — Michelle

Beautiful and detailed renditions of 9 different whale species accompany this simple rhyming celebration of these magnificent creatures. With just a smidgeon of technical detail (a distinguishing feature for each species), this little board book calls to us to delve deeper and keep our eyes open. — Michelle

I cannot tell you how many hours my son has sat with this book opening and closing the flaps. He delights every time he finds the owl (his favorite) or "bobo!" (his word for monkey). This illustrations are absolutely unique and delightful. What an excellent interactive start to learning animal names and sounds. It's a trim size and shape also make it stand out on the shelf so kids will reach for it again and again. 

— Ivy

Explore the world through colors in this breathtaking and beautifully illustrated board book. A peaceful read-out-loud to talk about the world, slow down and observe as colors change throughout seasons and through various objects in nature. Caldecott Honoree Jillian Tamaki delivers a wonderful book I often find myself re-reading in the corner of our Infant section. 

— Andrea C.

A must-have for lovers of boats and the San Francisco Bay! This book reminds me of taking trips to SF as a kid and spending hours looking out at the water. Grady McFerrin’s gorgeous illustrations are bright and colorful and perfectly encapsulate the exciting hustle and bustle of the bay. Little ones will be intrigued and delighted with every reading. 

—Alana

What makes the best kind of bedtime reading? Books where together you can share the discovery, the whimsy, and the joy of a story over and over. The Octopus Escapes keeps you on your toes with its intellect and adventures, and it includes full-color spreads of detailed illustrations from the bottom of the sea. See something new with every read-through and wonder aloud at what those octopuses can’t do.  —JENNY

There are many helpful tools for teaching young children both Spanish and English, but this bilingual board book in particular stands out as a wonderful meditation on the connectedness of all living animals. Soderguit provides clear and concise examples of phrases in both languages, alongside illustrations that are playful and simple enough to appeal to very young readers.

—Isaac

A perfect board book for story time! Lucy Knisley captures the magic of new life and wonder with a panoply of babies exploring the world and its experiences for the first time. With simple colors, strong shapes, and an easy, rhyming cadence, Knisley draws out the breadth of life. Kids and parents alike will enjoy this journey, reminding everyone of just how much delight there is in our lives. —Jocelyn

The colors in this book just knock my socks off! Every page exudes such joy, from the smiling veggies to the wonderfully wacky wordplay. What a sweet way to wind down with a little one at the end of the day, “for nothing’s more exhausting than growing day and night.” -Michelle

Floyd’s kite is stuck in a tree, what can he do to get it back down? Let’s just say he tries just about anything. In this comical tale, Oliver Jeffers humor shines through in a laugh-out-loud book perfect for little ones (and the big one’s reading out loud!) One of my favorites to sell to parents trying to find a book they won’t tire of and for any family member shopping for a new “classic.”

—Andrea C.