By Katelyn Fry
Published: May 14, 2017


Reading to our infant and baby nieces and nephews is pure QualAuntie Time; it is special and intimate bonding time that helps develop language, memory and other cognitive skills. Studies show, the earlier you start, the better. 

Rhyming books are recommended for infants babies as the repetition and rhythm helps infants, babies and toddlers learn language, vocabulary, and build up those memory skills. Plus, whether the books sound funny or soothing, a baby will enjoy listening to your voice reading to them and find comfort and pleasure in your time together.

Let's get started! Here’s are eleven of our favorite rhyming books for infants and babies:


1. The Baby’s Lap Book by Kay Chorao




With a variety of children and animal characters waiting inside, this book has all the rhyming classics we grew up with, from “Jack and Jill” to “Three Little Kittens.” Whether you want to read your niece or nephew a nursery rhyme in the afternoon, or a lullaby to put them to sleep at night, Chorao’s book has it all.


2. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.




With the help of bright, bold colors and simple images for baby to see, this classic board book turns the alphabet into a catchy and tropical little story. Will all of the letters make it to the top of the coconut tree?


3. Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow




Five little monkeys jumping on the bed…one fell off and bumped his head! Mama (or, replace with “Auntie!”) called the doctor and the doctor said…
We you know the rest. And if you don’t, it’s time to learn!


4. More More More Said the Baby by Vera B. Williams




This beautiful Caldecott winner follows three toddlers: Little Bird, Little Pumpkin and Little Guy, and their beloved caregivers. Exploring multiracial relationships, this book is about unconditional love – something we know a little bit about, don’t we, Auntie?


5. Wheels on the Bus by Paul O. Zelinsky




Most of us grew up with the Wheels on the Bus song and still remember the words and hand motions! But that doesn’t mean having a copy of the book for a baby niece or nephew isn’t good to have. After all, when they begin pulling books from their baby library for Auntie to read even before they can talk, you’ll know right away to get your Wheels on the Bus jive going!


6. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Eric Carle and Bill Martin Jr.




Bill Martin Jr., author of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom above, and Eric Carle’s Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? rhyme board book is a classic. Some even say it’s a “cultural landmark” and for babies and toddlers, it’s the beginning of a love-affair with both Martin’s and Carle’s books.


7. Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney




Here, we meet the adorable Baby Llama who gets upset when his mother tucks him in for bed and leaves him alone. After several pages of easy and flowing rhymes, Mama Llama comes back to comfort her baby. This book is just one of several in Dewdney’s Llama Llama series http://www.llamallamabook.com/, so there are many more rhyming adventures with Baby Llama ahead.

Sadly, Dewdney passed away last September at age 50, and had requested that in lieu of a funeral service that people read to a child instead. Her final book, to be released posthumously next month, is Little Excavator.


8. Moo, Baa, La La La! by Sandra Boyton




Through witty and hilarious rhymes and illustrations, Boyton’s board book teaches babies about all of the sounds different animals make. Your nieces and nephews will crack up over hearing the silly noises, and before you know it they’ll be able to make them with you!


9. The Itsy Bitsy Spider by Parragon Books




This classic nursery rhyme character comes to life in this interactive board book. While you read the cheerful story to the baby, he or she will play with the fluffy finger puppet built into the book, making story time interactive and fun!


10 Ten Tiny Babies by Karen Katz




This book is perfect to read to your baby nieces and nephews while you’re winding down from playtime. Katz’s book teaches little ones how to count while telling them about how “1 baby starts to run. Along comes another...to have some fun!” until all ten babies are fast asleep. And perhaps your baby niece or nephew is asleep, too.


11. Behowl the Moon by Erin Nelsen Parekh and Mehrdokht Amini




Give your nieces and nephews a great head start into literature with this baby-friendly adaptation of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Its beautiful illustrations and Shakespearean rhythm is a lovely bedtime story for infants, and a read that Auntie may enjoy as much as baby. By the way, this book is a Kickstarter success story!


Are your or your baby nieces' and nephews' favorite rhyming books not here? Share your favorite rhyming books with the Auntourage on our Facebook Page or Instagram! Tag us with #SavvyAuntie. We can't wait to see what your baby nieces and nephews love!


Photo:Goodluz