Here are the 10 best books for infants published in 2010, chosen by librarians, teachers, early childhood experts, and parents.
1. Baby Baby Baby! by Marilyn Janovitz (Jabberwocky)
A loving family catalogs all the fun things their smiling baby can do—from clapping and crawling to splashing in the tub and kissing good night.
2. Dancing Feet by Lindsey Craig, illustrated by Marc Brown (Knopf Books for Young Readers)
Textured collage illustrations show a variety of animals stomping, creeping, and clapping their way through this rhyming action tale.
3. Fiesta Babies by Carmen Tafolla, illustrated by Amy Cordova (Tricycle Press)
Bold colors amplify the festive fun in this rhyming story about babies and toddlers enjoying a neighborhood celebration.
4. Hip Hop by Catherine Hnatov (Star Bright Books)
High contrast black and white images alternate with simple, brightly colored pictures of familiar animals, highlighting their typical sounds and movements.
5. I Like Fruit by Lorena Siminovich (Templar)
Unusual textures and vivid colors combine to create clear pictures of tasty treats in this sturdy board book.
6. One Pup’s Up by Marsha Wilson Chall, illustrated by Henry Cole (Margaret K. McElderry)
Feisty puppies tumble and frolic across the pages of this charming picture book that features energetic, upbeat descriptions and enjoyable word play.
7. Pocketful of Posies by Salley Mavor (Houghton Mifflin)
Mavor uses intricate needlework to create whimsical, detailed illustrations for a wide variety of rhymes, making this an appealing collection for families even if they already own one (or more) Mother Goose collections.
8. Sleepy, Oh So Sleepy by Denise Fleming (Henry Holt and Co.)
Distinctive illustrations in warm, rich colors accompany rhythmic, repetitive words designed to lull listeners into sweet sleep.
9. Switching on the Moon compiled by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters, illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Candlewick)
Perfect for sharing at bedtime, the beautifully illustrated poems in this collection are sure to become family favorites.
10. Tuck Me In! by Dean Hacohen, illustrated by Sherry Scharschmidt (Candlewick Beach Lane Books)
Young listeners can participate in this soothing bedtime ritual, turning decorated half-pages to cozily cover a cast of baby animals.
Sources: The Fred Rogers Company, The School of Information Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, and the Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children (PAEYC); bestbooksforbabies.org.
What books would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments below!
