Classic Baby Books That Every Nursery Needs

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Classic is defined as “judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding of its kind.” When I hear the term classic books I tend to think about old dusty books from previous generations. But for classic children’s books, I think of warm and welcoming, homey and comforting, familiar and satisfying.

When my child was first born, I started her little library collection with classic baby books. I wanted books that were tried and true, and something that we were guaranteed to love. There is also something so nostalgic and comforting about owning a book that your parents and grandparents might have read when they were younger.

As she grew, I was able to figure out more of her interests and what type of books she likes. There are plenty of new and amazing children’s books out there! But I’m so glad I started out with a small collection of classics.

So what are some of the best classic baby books that every new nursery needs? Here of some of my favorites that I started with:

goodnight moon

Goodnight Moon

Written in 1947 by Margaret Wise Brown, this classic bedtime book is a must for every new nursery.

the very hungry catterpillar

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The author/illustrator Eric Carle could be considered a classic himself. He has written and illustrated over 70 books, and his style of writing and illustrating speaks to children generation after generation. This book was first published in 1969 and has sold over 50 million copies.

pat the bunny

Pat the Bunny

Pat the Bunny is the original touch-and-feel book. Written by Dorothy Kunhardt and published in 1940, it is one of the bestselling children’s books of all time.

the snowy day book cover

The Snowy Day

First published in 1962, The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats is about a little boy’s snowy adventure. The book is so popular that it is the number one checked out book in the New York Public Library system!

the-runaway-bunny

The Runaway Bunny

The Runaway Bunny is another classic by Margaret Wise Brown about a loving game of hide and seek between a mommy and baby rabbit. It has never been out of print since it was first published in 1942.

corduroy childrens book cover

Corduroy

The story of a department store teddy bear was written in 1968 by Don Freeman and has since sold close to 20 million copies and has inspired several equally popular sequels.

are you my mother

Are You My Mother?

This charming tale of a baby bird trying to find his mother resonates with young listeners, who are typically very fond of both their mothers and animals (and hence this book!) This book was written by P.D. Eastman and first published in 1960.

Once baby’s nursery is well stocked with classics, it’s time to branch out to newer books. For book recommendations of the best new children’s books, check out this year’s Caldecott award winner and runners-up on the ALA Caldecott Medal Homepage.

You can also read about my favorite Caldecott award winners of all time here. Thanks for reading!

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