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Bookshop's Favorite Infant Books

Introducing the perfect collection of infant books for your little one! These are Bookshop Santa Cruz staff's favorite board books for infants. they are designed to engage and captivate your baby's imagination while also promoting cognitive and language development. From classic nursery rhymes to modern-day stories, these books are sure to become a beloved part of your baby's early years.

Who Jumps More? by Grace Lin

Another of Grace Lin’s charming and lovely Storytelling Math books! Olivia, Mei, and the animals around them play in a beautiful, simple winter landscape, their jumps and curiosity a joyful game that can’t help but spark imagination in any reader. Join the girls, and learn and delight in the discovery that can be found in the simplest of games. 

—Jocelyn

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Who Jumps More? (Storytelling Math) By Grace Lin, Grace Lin (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Grace Lin, Grace Lin (Illustrator)
$7.99
ISBN: 9781623543495
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Charlesbridge - September 19th, 2023

A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Na

"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

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A Book of Sleep By Il Sung Na Cover Image
$6.99
ISBN: 9780375866180
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Knopf Books for Young Readers - January 11th, 2011

If I Were a Whale written by Shelley Gill

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

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If I Were a Whale By Shelley Gill, Erik Brooks (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Shelley Gill, Erik Brooks (Illustrator)
$10.99
ISBN: 9781632171047
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Little Bigfoot - February 21st, 2017

Peek-a-Who Too? by Elsa Mroziewicz

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

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Peek-a-Who Too? By Elsa Mroziewicz, Elsa Mroziewicz (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Elsa Mroziewicz, Elsa Mroziewicz (Illustrator)
$11.99
ISBN: 9789888341818
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: minedition - September 1st, 2019

They Say Blue by Jillian Tamaki

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.

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They Say Blue By Jillian Tamaki Cover Image
$9.99
ISBN: 9781419740961
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Abrams Appleseed - April 7th, 2020

Boats on the Bay written by Jeanne Walker Harvey

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

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Boats on the Bay: A Board Book By Jeanne Walker Harvey, Grady McFerrin (Illustrator) Cover Image
$9.99
ISBN: 9781949480306
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Harry N. Abrams - April 4th, 2023

The Octopus Escapes Written by Maile Meloy, Illustrated by Felicita Sala

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

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The Octopus Escapes By Maile Meloy, Felicita Sala (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Maile Meloy, Felicita Sala (Illustrator)
$9.99
ISBN: 9780593533970
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers - May 9th, 2023

I Am an Animal / Soy un animal by Alfredo Soderguit

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

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I Am an Animal / Soy un animal: (Bilingual Board Books for Babies) By Alfredo Soderguit Cover Image
$11.99
ISBN: 9781735311586
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Tra Publishing - March 21st, 2023

You Are New by Lucy Knisley

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

 

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You Are New By Lucy Knisley Cover Image
$9.99
ISBN: 9781797219677
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Chronicle Books - March 14th, 2023

Goodnight Veggies (BOARD) by Diana Murray, Illustrated by Zachariah Ohora

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

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Goodnight, Veggies Board Book By Diana Murray, Zachariah OHora (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Diana Murray, Zachariah OHora (Illustrator)
$9.99
ISBN: 9780358452119
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Clarion Books - April 13th, 2021

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