Best Books for Baby Shower Gifts & New Parents
Nothing truly prepares you to be a new parent, but a good book can take the edge off. As a librarian and newer mom, here are my favorite books to recommend to new parents and give as baby shower gifts. Yes, you could give them Goodnight Moon and The Wonderful Things You Will Be, but everyone else will, too. These books were all published in the last 15 years, are guaranteed to help newbies enjoy the beautiful (and chaotic) journey of parenthood, and warm exhausted parent hearts.
Board Books for New Parents
Dog’s First Baby
By Natalie Nelson | 2021
Dog isn’t sure if the family’s newest addition is another dog or something else! Whatever it is, they sure have a lot in common. A must for dog lovers. And yes, there is also a Cat’s First Baby.
I’m Still Up
By Antoinette Portis | 2022
Bring on the sleepless nights! Parents will love this soothing and adorable bedtime book that reminds us that while Mommy, Daddy, the dog, and even the Sun are sleepy, baby is not so much.
This Is the First Book I Will Read to You
By Francesco Sedita and illustrated by Magenta Fox | 2023
A new dad is excited to read to his new baby for the first time! Will he choose the right book and soothe baby to sleep? This heartwarming book is sweet and sincere, capturing the wonder of a parent’s first reading experience with baby. Also available as a picture book.
Picture Books for New Parents
Applesauce Is Fun to Wear
By Nancy Raines Day and Illustrated by Jane Massey | 2021
2022 CLEL Bell Picture Book Award Nominee
New parents will get a sneak peek at all the messy fun they’ll eventually have with their little one! Adorable illustrations paired with cute rhymes make this one an excellent baby storytime read-aloud, too.
Charts for Babies
By Michelle Rial | 2026
A playful read-aloud that parents will enjoy as much as kids, and my favorite book about opposites! It introduces a variety of concepts, including opposites, colors, and shapes, using line drawings of pie charts, bar graphs, and more, with rhymes as strong as the illustrations. It’s not just for babies; toddlers and preschoolers will love it, too. Who knew charts could be so fun?
You and Me, Baby
By Aisha Saeed & Illustrated by Ebony Glenn | 2026
A short, sweet look at all the new experiences mama and baby will share as they get to know one another.
Chapter Books for New Parents
Elevating Child Care: A Guide to Respectful Parenting
By Janet Lansbury | 2014
A neighbor gifted this one to me when I had my first child, and it meant so much. The chapters are short (the book is actually a collection of blog posts), which is perfect for squeezing in reading sessions when you’re elbow-deep in diapers and full of best intentions to read all the parenting books but, frankly, exhausted. The content isn’t very deep, but the sound bites of advice are helpful and offer a great introduction to Magda Gerber’s RIE (Resources for Infant Educators) approach to caregiving.
What Do I Do With My Baby All Day?!
By Vered Benhorin | 2025
Benhorin sets overwhelmed caregivers at ease with her wit while providing research-based, practical activities they can learn and practice with their baby in under 5 minutes. As Chapter 11’s subtitle states, “You’ll learn how to make your repeated everyday activities less boring and more bonding.” Storytime librarians will love this one just as much as caregivers for its promotion and exploration of music-based infant activities.
It. Goes. So. Fast.
By Mary Louise Kelly | 2023
2 Starred Reviews
As a new parent, the first few months may not feel fast enough, and the mantra “the days are long but the years are short” may fall on deaf ears, BUT at some point in the first year, this becomes the perfect read. As Kelly reflects on her early years as a mom, new parents will feel seen and also grateful that high school graduation is years away, until it isn’t. This is another quick read (which, again, makes a fantastic choice for exhausted parents) that personally brought tears to my eyes and helped me internalize how quickly those childhood years would go.
More Resources for Finding the Best Books for New Parents & Baby Shower Gifts
My Favorite Baby Storytime Books
Babies Need Words Every Day Book List from ALSC
Board Books Every New Parent Should Have from The Kerlan at UM
Smart Start Parenting Books from LA County Library
