And the Winners Are... The Best Books for Babies 2014!

By Carol Baicker-McKee

Best Books for Babies Committee, 2013 (That's me, 3rd from left in the middle row)

For a number of years, I've been fortunate to serve on an awards committee populated with remarkable people who know and love both books and babies - and which is tasked with meeting a neglected need: identifying and promoting the most outstanding books that meet the needs and interests of the very youngest "readers." 

Most of the time, books that are appropriate for infants and toddlers are overlooked by awards committees and even book reviewers, who perhaps confuse "short" and "appropriately clear and simple" with "slight" or "dull." Nothing could be further from the truth - it takes real knowledge of development and unusual creativity to craft excellent books within the boundaries of what babies are drawn to and can understand. 

This year, unfortunately, I had so many travel conflicts, I couldn't join my friends and colleagues on the committee - but I'm so pleased at the choices they've made! And so, without further ado, here is the list, accompanied by the committee's commentary.

O'Connell, Rebecca
Baby Parade 

Smiling babies and their caretakers promenade through a cheerful landscape that combines realistic elements with unusual patterns and  textures.

Light, Steve
Diggers Go

Energetic paintings of various kinds of heavy equipment stretch across the pages of this sturdy board book accompanied by amusing interpretations of the noises they make.

Brown, James
Farm

High contrast illustrations present stylized images of familiar animals and objects; slight changes in texture add tactile appeal.

Global Baby Girls

Crisp photos showcase baby girls from around the world who are 'beautiful, strong, bold and bright' and sure to capture the interest of the very youngest listeners.

Biggs, Brian
Good Night, Trucks: A Bedtime Book

Colorful cartoon-style pictures feature eleven different kinds of trucks, focusing on what they do and where they go at the end of the day.

Verdick, Elizabeth
Cuddle

Soft black-and-white photos of babies face pages that combine playful pastel illustrations with short sentences describing the babies' actions. There are three other books in the Happy Healthy Baby series, Eat, Move and Reach and all four books are recommended.

It's Time to Sleep.

Brief and basic, this colorful point-and-say board book shows photos of babies, blankets, books and bears among other familiar items associated with daily activities and bedtime routines.

Cousins, Lucy
Maisy's First Colors

Maisy and her friends enjoy their favorite yummy foods, featured in simple drawings with bright colors and described with brief rhymes.

McPhail, David
My Mother Goose: A Collection of Favorite Rhymes, Songs, and Concepts

A treasure trove of traditional rhymes and original content, this collection is decorated with old-fashioned watercolor illustrations.

Lewin, Betsy
Thumpy Feet

A goofy-looking orange cat with big green eyes, Thumpy Feet is interested in the same kinds of things that absorb babies' attention: eating, playing, stretching and sleeping.

If you'd like to learn more about these titles, view the archive of past winners, and get tips on selecting books for babies and reading to them, please visit the Best Books for Babies website! You - and the babies you love - will be glad you did.

I'll be back later in the month with tips on writing and illustrating for this discerning (and sometimes persnickety) audience.

One Final Note: If you ever get a chance to serve on an awards committee, grab it! I have learned more about excellence in children's books (for any age, really) from observing and participating in the committee's thoughtful selection process.