13 Board Books That Make Awesome Baby Shower Gifts

Let’s talk about baby shower gifts! I get invited to a ton of baby showers. It’s so fun to go shopping for a new baby and load up on cute little clothes, diapers, wipes, and itty bitty shoes that never stay on baby’s feet. I LOVE buying that stuff for my friends when they’re expecting a new little bundle of joy. But so does everyone else. So, a few years ago, I started giving board books to expectant mothers at their baby showers instead of clothes or diapers. Here’s what I found:

1. Books make unique gifts. It’s rare that anyone else gives books as a gift at baby showers, and yet books are always appreciated by the expectant mom.
2. New parents love receiving books. My husband’s boss gave us a basket full of board books when I had our first child. Those were the only books we received (and the only baby books we had at the time). We cherished those books! I read them to our baby several times a day for the first few years of her life. I still have warm and fuzzy memories of reading those books to her.
3. The other guests will enjoy the books too. Every time I give books as a gift at a baby shower, the other guests all want to see them. Without fail, the expectant mother will pass the books around so the other women can flip through them.

People love books, especially board books for babies. The reason (I think) they’re not gifted at baby showers very often is because they’re not shelved in the same place as the clothing and diapers. But if you want to make someone’s day, here are 13 board books that make great baby shower gifts!

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Board Books That Make Awesome Baby Shower Gifts

You’re My Little Baby by Eric Carle

Do you remember reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar? This is the newest board book from the same author and it is SO adorable! With his unique illustrations, Eric Carle introduces little readers to animals and their babies. Each page has a touch-and-feel element that babies and toddlers can interact with. You can’t go wrong with this book!

[button url=”https://amzn.to/3603oEK”]Amazon[/button]  [button url=”https://bookshop.org/a/5613/9781534474932″]Bookshop.org[/button]  

In My Heart by Mackenzie Porter, illustrated by Jenny Lovlie

This book is especially sweet. It’s about a mom who drops her baby off at daycare while she’s at work. She talks about all the ways she thinks of her baby while they’re apart. When they come back together at the end of the day, their time together is even sweeter. If you know an expectant mom who is also a working mom, this is the perfect baby shower gift!

[button url=”https://amzn.to/3hTXIhV”]Amazon[/button]  [button url=”https://bookshop.org/a/5613/9781534454330″]Bookshop.org[/button]  

If There Never Was a You by Amanda Rowe, illustrated by Olga Skomorokhova

I have three kids, and after each one was born, I looked at them and thought, “Wow, I can’t believe that I thought my world was complete before you came along.” This charming board book captures that new mom feeling. It’s a celebration of the many and beautiful ways that children change your life.

[button url=”https://amzn.to/2FHJpQD”]Amazon[/button]  [button url=”https://bookshop.org/a/5613/9781641701112″]Bookshop.org[/button]  

Made for Me by Zach Bush, illustrated by Gregorio De Lauretis

Let’s hear it for new dads! This board book has some gorgeous illustrations. I love the exaggerated difference in size between the dad and the baby. But even more than that, I love the heartfelt story about the special connection between a father and his child. If you want to make a new dad feel like a million bucks, give them this book as a gift.

[button url=”https://amzn.to/2RM1hvU”]Amazon[/button]  [button url=”https://bookshop.org/a/5613/9781945547690″]Bookshop.org[/button]  

The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin

This bestselling book should be on every new parent’s bookshelf. It’s a love letter from a mom to her child about the hopes and dreams she has for him. This heartfelt book will tug on your heartstrings. And with Emily Winfield Martin’s beautiful artwork, it’s no wonder that this book has over 7,000 five-star ratings on Amazon.

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That’s Me Loving You by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

I absolutely love Amy Krouse Rosenthal! This is one of the last books she published before she passed away and it’s so special. Written as a letter from a parent to a child, it shows children all the ways they can feel their parent’s love, even when they’re apart. Whether it’s the wind in their hair or the rain on their face, children will learn that they are connected to their parents through millions of little ways.

[button url=”https://amzn.to/33Q1Lqv”]Amazon[/button]  [button url=”https://bookshop.org/a/5613/9781984847737″]Bookshop.org[/button]  

Hello, Farm! (Indestructibles) by Maddie Frost

If you’ve ever been around a baby, you’ll know that everything they pick up goes straight into their mouth. Books are no exception, which is why I am in love with this Indestructibles series. I’ve given these books to so many new parents, I’m probably keeping the publisher in business all by myself. The books are made out of a thin, papery-feeling material that is virtually indestructible. They’re also non-toxic, so babies can chew, gnaw, and gum these books as much as they want without destroying them. You can even wash the book off after an extra slobbery reading session.

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Good Night, Baboon! A Bedtime Counting Book by Sabrina Boyle, illustrated by Eunice Moyle

Every baby needs a good counting book and this one has bright illustrations and fun animal characters. Short and sweet, young children love the bright colors and the quirky animals scattered over the pages of this board book.

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ABC Dance! An Animal Alphabet by Sabrina Moyle, illustrated by Eunice Moyle

Written and illustrated by the same author-illustrator duo as Good Night, Baboon (above), this is a fun way to introduce a baby or toddler to the alphabet. Small children love the bright colors and learning the names of all the animals and their dance moves.

[button url=”https://amzn.to/3coSKbD”]Amazon[/button]  [button url=”https://bookshop.org/a/5613/9781523507467″]Bookshop.org[/button]  

The Wee Beasties Collection by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Alex G. Griffiths

I have a confession to make—I LOVE this series of quirky and hilarious board books that teach children manners. This collection includes Huggy the Python Hugs Too Hard, Roary the Lion Roars Too Loud, and Touchy the Octopus Touches Everything. Each story depicts common childhood missteps, such as hugging too hard or yelling too loud. Then, using an interactive teaching moment, it shows the character (and the reader) the right way to hug, roar, and touch. This collection is a must-have for anyone with young children!

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Emma: A Babylit Emotions Primer by Alison Oliver, illustrated by Jennifer Adams

I have a major weakness for all things Jane Austen, so when I discovered these board books that use classic literature to teach concepts to babies, I was a goner. We have several books from the Babylit series on our shelf, and I’ve given many more away as gifts at baby showers. They’re always a big hit!

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Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt

I received this book twice as a gift. The first was in the basket of books my husband’s boss gave us when our first daughter was born. It survived two children before being eaten beyond repair. Then, a friend gave me a new copy of Pat the Bunny when I had our third child. This classic board book is a staple for every baby’s bookshelf and is one of the most memorable and cherished baby shower gifts I’ve received.

[button url=”https://amzn.to/2G52GuP”]Amazon[/button]  [button url=”https://bookshop.org/a/5613/9780307200471″]Bookshop.org[/button]  

Can You Say it Too? Arf! Arf! by Sebastien Braun

A friend gave me this book when my third daughter was born. It’s a sturdy board book with flaps to lift and sounds to say. My baby loved this book. While this book is about animals you find at the beach, there are several other books in the Can You Say It, Too series that feature animals in other places such as the zoo or on the farm.

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Bonus Pick:

All My Friends Are Dead by Avery Monson, illustrated by Jory John

If the expectant moms in your life have a strong sense of humor, include this book in your baby shower gifts. It’s a bizarre and quirky board book that’s more for the parent than the child (but kids like it, too). One of my friends received this book as a gift at her baby shower and we spent the night reading it out loud and laughing so hard our stomachs hurt.

[button url=”https://amzn.to/3hTqQWt”]Amazon[/button]  [button url=”https://bookshop.org/a/5613/9780811874557″]Bookshop.org[/button]  

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