We seem to be going through an influx of baby showers. Traditionally my family almost always makes spit towels for a baby shower. That sounds lame but they’re crazy cute, super practical, and a unique pattern that people keep asking for again and again (If you’re in need of a spit towel pattern let me know and I’ll upload mine). So while I’m usually good to go, we’ve hit a bit of a snag in that people we’re all related to are having babies. And so my back up plan is, of course, books. There are plenty of typical books that people always seem to give (Love You Forever, Guess How Much I Love You, etc.) and while those are perfectly fine, you run the risk of someone else giving the same gift and isn’t it more fun to do something a bit more out-of-the-box? So without further ado, here are my 15 books to give at a baby shower.

1. Here We Are – Oliver Jeffers

2. My new favorite for baby showers. This includes all of the key features of an Oliver Jeffers’ book: Perfect amount of humor, sweet undertones, important underlying meaning, and of course, amazing illustrations. Jeffers wrote this for his son to explain the world and beyond. He does it in such a thoughtful and funny way that it left me close to tears before the end. Review to Come, Purchase Here

3. Waiting – Kevin Henkes

4. A super sweet story about the things we wait for in our lives. Subtle and meaningful, Henkes uses a pastel palette to bring this story to life. It speaks of everything that we experience in life from exciting moments to loss but all in a way that is gently explained through toys that happen to be sitting on a window sill. Review Available HereWhere My Feet Go – Birgitta Sig
5. A great tale following a small panda as he embarks on a regular day filled with endless bounds of imagination. Soft colors and fun yellow boots embrace youth and the joy that accompanies it on excursions into make believe. Review Available Here

6. They All Saw a Cat – Brendan Wenzel

7. It’s lines are simple and repetitive enough to really boost that early learning and allow young ones to participate in reading time but also varied enough to keep it interesting. But the illustrations are the kicker here. Oh, the illustrations. With a huge emphasis on perspective the book looks at different emotional and physical views that one creature can cause. Review Available HereThe Wonder – Faye Hanson
8. Vibrant and bold, this story takes a peek into the imagination of a young boy who feels a bit shackled by his everyday life. With pictures that almost dance off the page and make you gasp, it’s a work of art that encourages imagination and creativity. Review Available HereNot a Box – Antoinette Portis
9. This is another book championing imagination. Bunny is introduced to us with a box but he’s quick to remind the reader that it’s not a box and then goes on an adventure with his rocket ship, race car, hot air balloon, etc. The illustrations are white pages with only red and black lines. Bunny and the box are always in black while the imaginary items are drawn in red. I love also how Bunny never describes what it is he’s imagining. Review Available Here

10. Pass it On – Sophy Henn

11. This is book is one that delivers a message of kindness. I love how it encourages sharing smiles and chuckles with those who need them. The bright and uplifting pictures are a perfect pairing with the story. They are imaginative and thoughtful in their simpleness. Easy for even small readers to understand. Review Available HereLove is a Truck/Love is a Tutu – Amy Novesky
12. A super sweet and simple story for the little truck lovers in your life. With eye-popping reds placed among black, grey, and whites this book will make you go awww.The companion book is about a tutu. Review Available HereMamasaurus/Papasaurus – Stephan Lomp
13. With a black and grey background this story really allows its small protagonist to pop off the page making it perfect for younger readers. The small dinosaur, who’s name can easily be substituted for that of your favorite little one, searches for his mother in a game of hide and seek. In the sequel he’s looking for his father. The text is cute and the other dinosaurs that he meets are great for budding dinosaur enthusiasts. Review Available Here (Mamasaurus) Activity Available Here (Papasaurus)
14. 

15. Patch of Black – Rachel Rooney & Deborah Allwright

16. A story beginning to be sung and set to a set of magical illustrations, this book speaks to children who are afraid of the dark. Turning something frightening into multiple pieces of imaginative make believe, it doesn’t focus on the fear making it a great read for little ones whether or not they possess this aversion. Review Available HereNursery Rhymes – Scott Guftason
17. I believe that no library is complete without a book of nursery rhymes. Nursery rhymes aren’t just archaic verses we teach our children at random. They’ve retained their value through the years not only due to word and sentence structure but allowing children to practice pitch, rhyming, and allowing them to expand their imaginations. This version by Scott Guftason provides stunning illustrations with a diverse set of characters. Review Available HereGood Night Like This – Mary Murphy
18. It’s so soft, sweet, and full of a lovely warm feeling. The illustrations are reminiscent of twilight and the lift-the-flaps allow for gentle interaction from little readers. A great bedtime read full of cuddling sweetness and love. Review Available Here

19. My Awesome Alphabet Book – Dawn Machell

20. Alphabet books can be so tedious to read. They are honestly some of my least favorite books. However, Machell does an amazing job making this book easy to adjust based on age and attention span. The pages are all thick (not easy to tear) and shaped like the letter they represent. Review Available HereKing Baby – Kate Beaton
21. An especially perfect selection for parents expecting their second child. It is also a honest view of what having a baby is like, from the baby’s perspective. Hilarious and a bit self-deprecating, this book is a book that the parent’s will especially enjoy. Review Available HereWe Just Had a Baby – Stephen Krensky and Amelie Graux
22. Another great story for families expecting their second child. The elder brother is quite put out by the idea of having a little baby in the house but soon decides that being a big boy is even better and warms up to the baby. Ending the book by beginning to plan the adventures they’ll have together. Review Available Here