The 2024 holiday season is upon us, and high-quality children’s books make great additions to any shopping list. To encourage lifelong readers and make your holiday shopping quick and easy, our Growing Readers panel (composed of Bright Horizons early education experts) rounded up some of their favorite books for every age.
Infant/Toddler Recommendations
Baby's Black and White Contrast Book
Written and illustrated by Tabitha Paige
Paige delivers a delightful and captivating book designed to stimulate a baby’s developing vision. Each page features hand-drawn, lifelike images of various animals. Its unique accordion format allows it to stand upright, making it both engaging and functional for tummy time.
Written and illustrated by Tabitha Paige
Paige delivers a delightful and captivating book designed to stimulate a baby’s developing vision. Each page features hand-drawn, lifelike images of various animals. Its unique accordion format allows it to stand upright, making it both engaging and functional for tummy time.
Bee: A Peek-Through Board Book
Written by Britta Techentrup
Through a honeycomb lens, the reader follows a busy bee across vibrant illustrations of nature from pastures to ponds and streams. With sensory-rich text and pages, babies and toddlers will love poking their fingers through each honeycomb.
Written by Britta Techentrup
Through a honeycomb lens, the reader follows a busy bee across vibrant illustrations of nature from pastures to ponds and streams. With sensory-rich text and pages, babies and toddlers will love poking their fingers through each honeycomb.
Hello, Baby
Written by Little Bee Books; Illustrated by Stephani Stilwell
Learn to say “hello” in 15 different languages! Flip through this charming book filled with lovely photographs of babies from all over the world as they engage in everyday play. Explore the smiles and happy expressions through dancing, laughing, and taking a bath.
Written by Little Bee Books; Illustrated by Stephani Stilwell
Learn to say “hello” in 15 different languages! Flip through this charming book filled with lovely photographs of babies from all over the world as they engage in everyday play. Explore the smiles and happy expressions through dancing, laughing, and taking a bath.
Leo on a Hike
Written by Anna McQuinn; Illustrated by Ruth Hearson
Leo and his dad get ready to explore the hiking trails. Follow Leo as he interacts with nature, enjoying the day by looking at trees and coming across different animals. Young children will marvel at pointing to and exploring the easy-to-follow details within the illustrations.
Written by Anna McQuinn; Illustrated by Ruth Hearson
Leo and his dad get ready to explore the hiking trails. Follow Leo as he interacts with nature, enjoying the day by looking at trees and coming across different animals. Young children will marvel at pointing to and exploring the easy-to-follow details within the illustrations.
Puppy, Puppy Peekaboo
Written Boxer Books; Illustrated by Grace Habib
Grace Habib captures the reader with delightful colors and playful illustrations in this charmingly interactive book. The grab-and-pull tabs will have your little one engaged in multiple reads!
Red Car, Green Car
Written Piddy Books; Illustrated by Adria Meserve
Explore bright colors and playful rhymes in this interactive board book brimming with rich vocabulary for babies and toddlers. Pull each tab to see the color change behind each car.
Written Boxer Books; Illustrated by Grace Habib
Grace Habib captures the reader with delightful colors and playful illustrations in this charmingly interactive book. The grab-and-pull tabs will have your little one engaged in multiple reads!
Written Piddy Books; Illustrated by Adria Meserve
Explore bright colors and playful rhymes in this interactive board book brimming with rich vocabulary for babies and toddlers. Pull each tab to see the color change behind each car.
Preschool Through Young School Age Recommendations
Lift
Written by Minh Lê; illustrated by Dan Santat
“Lift” your spirits in this imaginary adventure using a magic elevator button. Comic-inspired illustrations capture the loving, yet sometimes quarrelsome, relationship between siblings. The author metaphorically uses the title, Lift. to explore themes of imagination, sharing, empathy, and relationships.
Written by Minh Lê; illustrated by Dan Santat
“Lift” your spirits in this imaginary adventure using a magic elevator button. Comic-inspired illustrations capture the loving, yet sometimes quarrelsome, relationship between siblings. The author metaphorically uses the title, Lift. to explore themes of imagination, sharing, empathy, and relationships.
Mine!
Written by Candace Fleming; Illustrated by Eric Rohmann
In Mine! by Candace Fleming, a group of forest animals, including Mouse, Hare, Fox, Deer, and Bear, all covet a single red apple hanging at the top of a tall tree. As each animal eagerly anticipates claiming the apple for themselves, the wind eventually causes it to fall. The story concludes with a surprising and heartwarming lesson about sharing.
Written by Candace Fleming; Illustrated by Eric Rohmann
In Mine! by Candace Fleming, a group of forest animals, including Mouse, Hare, Fox, Deer, and Bear, all covet a single red apple hanging at the top of a tall tree. As each animal eagerly anticipates claiming the apple for themselves, the wind eventually causes it to fall. The story concludes with a surprising and heartwarming lesson about sharing.
This is a Story
Written by John Schu; Illustrated by Lauren Castillo
The story unfolds as a young girl and her dad start with a day in the park and take a stroll to the library. Through heart-warming text and colorful illustrations, This is a Story shares the magic of books – the endless possibilities of learning, imagination, and creativity. This beautifully crafted book weaves together the connectedness of people through their curiosity to learn and their desire to discover through books.
Written by John Schu; Illustrated by Lauren Castillo
The story unfolds as a young girl and her dad start with a day in the park and take a stroll to the library. Through heart-warming text and colorful illustrations, This is a Story shares the magic of books – the endless possibilities of learning, imagination, and creativity. This beautifully crafted book weaves together the connectedness of people through their curiosity to learn and their desire to discover through books.
Tree Hole Homes
Written by Melissa Stewart; Illustrated by Amy Hevron
Did you know some animals live in trees? In this nature-themed book, follow a young girl on a walk through the forest as she spots different tree homes and the animals that inhabit them. Perfect for multiple read-alouds, the book features a main storyline along with a secondary text that provides specific information about the animal on each page. Turn to the back matter to revisit the list of tree home dwellers and learn about their scientific names, their sizes, what they eat, and a fun fact!
Did you know some animals live in trees? In this nature-themed book, follow a young girl on a walk through the forest as she spots different tree homes and the animals that inhabit them. Perfect for multiple read-alouds, the book features a main storyline along with a secondary text that provides specific information about the animal on each page. Turn to the back matter to revisit the list of tree home dwellers and learn about their scientific names, their sizes, what they eat, and a fun fact!
Wild Blue
Written by Dashka Slater; Illustrated by Laura Hughes
Wild Blue is a gentle story celebrating the milestones of growing up and the challenges children face when trying something new. The illustrator seamlessly brings to life Kayla’s reality and imagination, combining details of a modern neighborhood with the Old West.
Wild Blue is a gentle story celebrating the milestones of growing up and the challenges children face when trying something new. The illustrator seamlessly brings to life Kayla’s reality and imagination, combining details of a modern neighborhood with the Old West.
Wishes of the World
Written by Melissa Stiveson; Illustrated by Khoa Le
Explore the message of hope and joy in the diverse ways people make wishes. In this enchanting book, Melissa and Khoa bring to life the beautiful and diverse ways children around the world release their thoughts into a wish. Whimsical illustrations bring the reader on a journey around the world visiting many cultural places and artifacts.
Written by Melissa Stiveson; Illustrated by Khoa Le
Explore the message of hope and joy in the diverse ways people make wishes. In this enchanting book, Melissa and Khoa bring to life the beautiful and diverse ways children around the world release their thoughts into a wish. Whimsical illustrations bring the reader on a journey around the world visiting many cultural places and artifacts.