One of my favorite things to give at a baby shower is a book (or five)! If you are looking for baby shower gift ideas, look no further. books make a perfect gift. The baby and mommy will love it, and it can also make a long lasting difference in the new baby’s life.
Did you know that one of the major predictors of academic success is the number of books children have in their home? Moreso than nationality, parent’s education or economic success, literacy-rich home environments results in academic success. Even as few as twenty books can make an impact on a child’s academic success, and having a library of 500 can propel a child’s education on by an average of 3.2 years. What could be better than a book for a baby shower gift idea?
You can start making a different in the lives of children you know, before they are even born! Giving a book (or more than one!) for your friend’s baby shower is a great way to give a new baby the gift of reading.
Bring a Book, Not a Card
At my baby shower, the hostess requested that the guests bring a book en lieu of a card. This was one of the best baby shower gift ideas ever! I had a great start to my little pumpkin’s library started even before she was born. What a great way to shower mom and baby with love!
Top 10 Book Ideas for Baby Shower Gifts
Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book by Rod Campbell
A cute story about a little boy in search for a pet. This lift-the-flap book is perfect for babies and toddlers to interact during reading. An fun and engaging way to teach your child animal names and sounds. This was one of Hannah’s first books and she still loves it two and a half years later (in fact, she saw the picture while I was writing the post and we had to go on a twenty minute hunt for the book, then read it five times before I could get back to writing!).
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
The perfect story to build into your bedtime routine. This classic is soothing to babies and will bring back memories of your own childhood. The rhyming couplets expose baby to phonological awareness at an early age.
The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch
A must-read for any new feminist; this book tells a non-traditional princess story in which Elizabeth outsmarts a dragon, saves the prince and realizes that marriage and “happily ever after” is not always the end goal for a princess. Great morals for your princess or prince!
Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill
Another sweet lift-the-flap book, this time about a mommy doggy searching for her baby. Adorable with a happy ending!
Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
Classic story about a baby birdie searching for his mother. Mommies will love reading this one!
Any Karen Katz Book
Karen Katz features lift-the-flap books like Peek-a-Baby and Where Is Baby’s Belly Button?. Her books have adorable illustrations of babies that children love!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Another classic, this beautifully illustrated Eric Carle book tells the tale of a little caterpillar who becomes a butterfly. I love that I can incorporate counting and discussion about healthy/unhealthy food choices when reading this book.
That’s Not My…. Usborne Book Series
This series is full of touch- feely books which also teach vocabulary words. We have the That’s Not My Reindeer book and we read it on repeat during the Christmas season! Hoping to get That’s Not My Puppy next!
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Marten Jr.
Another classic, beautifully illustrated by Eric Carle. This sweet book is great for reinforcing colours and animal names.
I Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
The world’s most touching book about a mommy and her baby who have an ever-lasting bond. This one will make the new mommy (and all the guests) shed a few tears!
There you have it, ten wonderful books appropriate to give at any baby shower. For me, giving books is one of the most perfect baby shower gift ideas! Start the new baby in your life off right with a bookshelf full of books!
What are your go-to books for little ones? What would you add to my list?
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What a nice collection. Now I have a gift idea for the next baby shower coming up.
Thanks very much!
I love giving books for all occasions, but the That’s not My series is just wonderful for babies!!!
Agreed! Amazon has some of them on for great deals!
Books are a brilliant idea! I’ve been looking for other types of gifts to give to new moms and I never really though about books. Thank you!
Glad to have helped! It’s a great gift that will last much longer than a baby toy or clothes!
I LOVE this!!! I think giving books over cards is wonderful. Seriously, who wouldn’t want books to add to their child’s library over a card that will probably get thrown away…I’m a book collector, can you tell! Great post!
I agree they make a sweet keepsake! I am a book collector too. Though I have to admit, I do collect and keep all cards too. Maybe I’m just a hoarder???
I love the idea of bringing a book instead of a card! These are great picks- j think we have all of them. My kids’ favorite author is Karen Kratz. Though, I didn’t see Sandra Boynton- she’s good fun for adults and kids alike!
Thanks! Karen Katz is the sweetest. We actually have worn out quite a few of her books. I’ve actually never read any Sandra Boynton. Will have to check her out next time we’re at the library! Thanks for the recommendation!
I love the idea of brining books to a baby shower instead of a card. Books are something the babies can grow up to love and cherish. Goodnight Moon is one of our favorites.
Love you forever is my favorite book to give new moms! Wonderful reading list!
I personally love giving Sandra Boynton board books. They’re silly and so much fun to read!
That’s a great idea!. I never knew what to give in a Baby Shower.
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Totally agree, books are an awesome gift and that’s my go to present for any baby or kid! Love the lost you have there, I would probably add Hairy Maclary ?
I requested books for my baby shower , and 2.5 years later we are still enjoying those books! I also had a booked themed party for my daughter’s second birthday.
Great list, Cindy! I love the statistics about books! Its incredible how much reading affects our children! And we love The Very Hungry Caterpillar in my house ?