My posts haven't been as frequent as I'd like this summer, but that's life with a newborn and two older ones home for the summer. Nonetheless, I always enjoy sharing board book recommendations with my readers and I'm looking forward to highlighting a number of fall board books in the next month. Also, if you don't already follow me on Instagram, you can find it here.
Chicken Soup for the Soul Babies: Listen First will be coming out on September 3rd. Another board book in the popular series promoting good habits and behaviors, Listen First emphasizes the importance of listening before acting. What I particularly like about this series is that it includes helpful parenting strategies in the back of the book on how to encourage the good behavior/habit.
2 & 3. Automotive Engineering! & Paleontology! by Ruth Spiro & Illustrated by Irene Chan
With an uptick in board books focusing on STEM, such as the Baby University series that came out in 2020, Automotive Engineering! and Paleontology! are two new additions to the Baby Loves Science series published by Charlesbridge. Paleontology, which is such a nice big word for kids, introduces little ones to the basics of what a fossil is and how it's formed. The up-close illustrations are especially engaging and the thought of digging up dinosaur bones (or other fossils) sounds so satisfying that you might just end up with a toddler who wants to be a real world paleontologist someday! Similarly, Automotive Engineering gives little ones a sense of what it would be like to be a mechanical engineer or mechanic. With vibrant illustrations and vocabulary words like axle, friction, electric, and internal combustion engine, little ones will have a lot to think about!
4. Leo at Lunch by Anna McQuinn & Illustrated by Ruth Hearson
I've featured some of the Leo and Lola stories before and every time I see a new one it makes me smile. Leo at Lunch is a board book every parent of a toddler will want on hand for meals, especially if you're eating out! A board book that does a beautiful job of highlighting what to expect before and during mealtime, Leo at Lunch is a board book bursting with personality and one that won't easily be forgotten.
5 & 6: 10 Little Construction Trucks & Ten Little Race Cars by Annie Bailey & Illustrated by Jeff Harter
Author Annie Bailey might be a board book manuscript genius. Her series, which features trucks, race cars, tractors, and excavators, may be my favorite vehicle-themed board book series since Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site. With illustrations by Jeff Harter that give common vehicles new personalities, Bailey's series will make you wonder what you ever did without it!
7. Is That the Bus? by Libby Koponen & Illustrated by Katie Mazeika
A board book that will pull at your heart strings, Is That the Bus? shows a boy playing at home, and every time he hears the sound of a vehicle he goes running to his window to see if it's the big yellow bus. While one might surmise that this boy is a yellow bus enthusiast, it soon becomes clear that while he may like buses, he's more interested in what's on the bus than the actual bus. What's on the bus is his sister, and her arrival has just made his day. With a beautifully illustrated sibling embrace followed by an illustration of the two siblings playing together, Is That the Bus? reminds families just how strong that sibling bond is.
8. On Powwow Day by Traci Sorell & Illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight
A board book that introduces children to the traditions of Powwow, On Powwow Day incorporates counting (1-10) as children notice colors, attire, details, and sounds.
9 & 10: God Made Stop And Go & God Made Happy, Sad and Mad by Laura Derico & Illustrated by Anita Schmidt.
Two christian board books that emphasize God's presence, God Made Stop and Go highlights the many ways God gave us to move, and in God Made Happy, Sad, and Mad, children will see a variety of God-given emotions. My only hesitation towards giving a child the second book is that there isn't additional text under each emotion so a child could come away from the second book thinking that if anger is from God then it must be completely fine to be angry all the time...which it isn't. Like so many board books sometimes the concept is there but creating a board book that holds its own is actually quite difficult.
11. First Words: With Cute Embroidered Friends by Blue Star Press
It always amazes me when people are able to recycle old ideas and give them a new life. First word board books are everywhere, but first word board books with embroidered illustrations...now that's something new and exciting! I absolutely love this board book as well as this one and this one!
Enjoy!!
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