15 BEST NEW BOARD BOOKS
The Children’s Book Council is a leader in providing expertly chosen lists for use by teachers, librarians, booksellers, and parents of the best new books for kids and teens in many categories. This summer, we are focused on the best new board books for family reading and sharing; the book experts at Ingram Book Company chose the new board books for CBC’s 2025 Building a Home Library.
Why Board Books Are Important
“Board books are a way of showing the youngest children that they are worthy. That they matter. That they deserve their own literature. The best board books are as ingenious as they are sturdy. They respect their audience by presenting relevant, authentic, and engaging content. They are meant to spark a first love of reading, in addition to a stronger sense of self and sense of the world. Board books get hugged just as much as they get read. They become a foundational part of a young child’s life experience.”—Cecily Kaiser, Vice President and Publisher of RISE x Penguin Workshop and the World of Eric Carle imprints
“It’s never too early to share books with children. From the moment little ones come into this world, reading to them opens their eyes to wide horizons. Board books make that possible. Perfectly-sized for little hands, these chunky treats invite the youngest children to discover the joy of words, pictures, and stories – everything they need to become lifelong readers.”—Andrea Davis Pinkney, New York Times bestselling author of the Bright Brown Baby series
Here are the 15 wonderful new board books for your consideration, as well as a spreadsheet for downloading and sorting.
Click on each cover image to expand
Alma, Head to Toe / Alma, de Pies a Cabeza, written & illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal (Candlewick Press) — Concepts, Science / Nature, Cultural Diversity, Spanish, ages 0-3.
Banana Bop!, written & illustrated by Sandra Boynton (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers / Boynton Bookworks) — Humor, Imagination / Play, Concepts, ages 0-3.
Black & White in Color, written & illustrated by Tana Hoban (HarperCollins / Greenwillow Books) — Concepts, BIPOC Characters and Creators, Cultural Diversity, ages 0-3.
Click on each cover image to expand
Count to Love! (a Bright Brown Baby Board Book), by Andrea Pinkney; illustrated by Brian Pinkney (Scholastic / Cartwheel Books) — Family / Community, Kindness / Generosity, Imagination / Play, Concepts, ages 0-3.
Hello Hello Opposites, written & illustrated by Brendan Wenzel (Chronicle Books) — Concepts, Animals, Science / Nature, ages 0-3.
Hello, Face!, by Aya Khalil (Barefoot Books) — Concepts, Cultural Diversity, Family / Community, Imagination / Play, ages 0-3.
Click on each cover image to expand
Leo at Lunch, by Anna McQuinn; illustrated by Ruth Hearson (Charlesbridge Publishing) — Social Emotional Learning, Family / Community, BIPOC Characters and Creators, Food / Cooking, ages 0-3.
Mommy’s Love, by Anastasia Galkina; illustrated by Ekaterina Ladatko (Familius) — Family / Community, Kindness / Generosity, Social Emotional Learning, ages 0-3.
My First Book of Baby Signs, by Lane Rebelo; illustrated by Cait Brennan (Sourcebooks / Callisto Kids) — Non-English Languages, Concepts, How-to / Activity, ages 0-3.
Click on each cover image to expand
My Hair Is Like Yours, by St. Clair Detrick-Jules; illustrated by Tabitha Brown (Chronicle Books) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Cultural Diversity, Social Emotional Learning, Concepts, ages 0-3.
On Powwow Day, by Traci Sorell; illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight (Charlesbridge Publishing) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Cultural Diversity, Math, Concepts, ages 0-3.
Rosa Loves Cars, written & illustrated by Jessica Spanyol (Child’s Play International) — Imagination / Play, Social Emotional Learning, Construction / Transportation, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, ages 0-3.
Click on each cover image to expand
We All Play, written & illustrated by Julie Flett (Greystone Books / Greystone Kids) — Animals, Friendships, BIPOC Characters and Creators, Imagination / Play, ages 0-3.
We Share This Neighborhood: A Community Book, by Dan Saks; illustrated by Brooke Smart (Penguin Young Readers / Rise X Penguin Workshop) — Places / Travel, Family / Community, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Social Emotional Learning, ages 0-3.
Yum, Yum, Mexico!: Mexican Food from A to Z, by Diane de Anda; illustrated by Emily Mendoza (Random House Books for Young Readers / Crown Books for Young Readers) — Food / Cooking, Cultural Diversity, BIPOC Characters and Creators, Concepts, ages 0-3.
Read more about Building a Home Library and be sure to check out the full list of 2025 titles.
