When my oldest daughter was born, she spent ten days in the NICU.

I was a brand new mother sitting beside an incubator, swollen feet, in pain, completely unsure what to do with myself while she slept under wires and monitors. I couldn’t hold her most of the time, and I felt helpless in a way I still struggle to describe. My sweet husband brought the Dr. Suess’s ABC book up to the hospital with us and we read it to her. Over and over.

It gave us something to do with our love when we couldn’t physically hold her the way we wanted to.

We never really stopped. Nearly ten years later, reading aloud is still one of the central rhythms of our family life. I’ve had three newborns and reading to them has been a sweet memory I’ll keep in my heart. My voice has been a part of their world long before they understood words. They learn rhythm, tone, expression, comfort, and connection before they ever learn letters. Reading together teaches them that books are safe places.

There are literally hundreds of great board books for new babies, and it can get overwhelming! If I could only hand a brand new parent ten books to start their home library, these are the ones I would choose:

1. Black on White or White on Black by Tana Hoban
   High-contrast books are wonderful for newborn visual development, and babies are naturally drawn to the bold black-and-white images. You can pick any any high contrast book, really, they’re all more about pictures than words.
2. Dr. Seuss’s ABC by Dr. Seuss
   Here you go, the OG book in our home. The rhythm, rhyme, and silliness make this one fun to read aloud, even for parents.
3. Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
   This sweet bedtime story perfectly captures separation anxiety and the comfort of a parent returning. Rhymes are important to language development, and this is a great one.
4. Little Sleepyhead by Elizabeth McPike
   A soft, cozy bedtime favorite with gentle rhymes that feel like a lullaby. I also would tickle my girls as I read about each thing. For example, when the book says, “sleepy little toes”, I would tickle their toes.
5. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
   Bright illustrations and repetitive structure make this classic so fun. Eric Carle is one of my favorite illustrators as well.
6. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
   Quiet, rhythmic, and deeply comforting, this is one of the most soothing bedtime books ever written. Plus, bunnies are just a childhood staple.
7. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
   The catchy rhythm and playful alphabet chaos make this one a must-have. I think I might have it memorized by now.
8. Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt
   This interactive classic invites babies and toddlers to touch, smell, and participate in the story. For tiny newborns, I would gently put their tiny cute little hands on the bunny’s fur, etc.
9. Babies by Gyo Fujikawa
   This one might be hard to find, but if you can, grab it! Something about watching other babies do things is engaging to littles. Every single one of my kids have adored this book, and it was something my mom read to me when I was a baby as well.
10. Jamberry by Bruce Degen
    Whimsical rhymes and playful language make this one pure joy to read aloud over and over again. The colors are bright but not overstimulating, and it’s short enough for a newborn reading session.

What I really want to say is this: you do not need a massive home library to raise readers.

You just need a few books, a lap to sit on, and the willingness to read the same story a hundred times.