Our Favorite Books
One of the most popular questions we get from listeners is “What are your favorite books?” We have so many favorites, and we definitely want to share, so we put together a list of titles that we love! Whether you are looking for books about pregnancy and parenting, or books to read with your children, we’ve got you covered. We’ll be updating this list as we come across more fantastic books, so check back soon!
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Big Topics
Books can be a wonderful and age-appropriate way to introduce kids to some of life’s important subjects, such as death, reproduction, race, gender, inclusion, body positivity, self-acceptance, consent and more. Here’s our list of best kids books on big topics.
All Are Welcome
Wonderful book about a school where diversity and inclusion are celebrated.
View on AmazonBodies are Cool
Shanna and her girls love this inclusive book about celebrating body differences.
View on AmazonIt Feels Good to be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity
A fantastic book introduces the concept of gender identity to the youngest readers. Great for children ages 3-6.
View on AmazonIt’s Not the Stork!: A Book About Girls, Boys, Babies, Bodies, Families and Friends
Shanna got this for her older daughter when she was pregnant with her younger daughter. It’s an honest, age-appropriate book for explaining human bodies and where babies come from.
View on AmazonKindergarten, Here I Come!
Shanna read this book of poems to help her five-year-old prepare for her first day of kindergarten.
View on AmazonLet’s Talk About Body Boundaries, Consent and Respect
Fantastic book for introducing the concepts of consent to young children.
View on AmazonLifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children
A simple, straightforward and beautiful book that explains the life and death cycle of all livng things in an age-appropriate way to children.
View on AmazonMy Body Belongs to Me from My Head to My Toes
Shanna loves this book, which has taught her girls the difference between appropriate and inappropriate touching, and has empowered them to say “stop” if they don’t like they way someone is interacting with them.
View on AmazonOur Skin: A First Conversation About Race
This board book is fantastic for starting the conversation about race with your children.
View on AmazonPreschool, Here I Come!
Shanna loves this book, which she bought for her daughter to get ready for preschool.
View on AmazonThe Invisible String
Laura loves this book and used it to help her son prepare for the separation of going to preschool for the first time.
View on AmazonThe Kissing Hand
Laura and her family love this sweet book, which they used to help her son prepare for the separation of going to preschool for the first time.
View on AmazonWe Toot! A Feminist Fable About Farting, For Everyone
A fun story that helps normalize an often embarrassing bodily function.
View on AmazonYour Body is Awesome: Body Respect for Children
Shanna and her girls love this body-positvity book that encourages children to love their bodies from an early age.
View on AmazonBIPOC Representation
There is no shortage of incredible children’s books from BIPOC authors and illustrators. Here’s a list of some of our favorites!
Baby Loves: A First Book of Favorites
Really cute book that helps with object recognition and shows pictures of other happy babies!
View on AmazonBodies are Cool
Shanna and her girls love this inclusive book about celebrating body differences.
View on AmazonFry Bread
This book is an evocative depiction of a modern Native American family. And there’s a recipe for fry bread in the back that Shanna made with her girls!
View on AmazonGoing Up
This adorably illustrated book about a little girl and her dad going to a birthday party on the 10th floor of their apartment complex is fun and inclusive. Shanna and her girls love it!
View on AmazonJulián Is a Mermaid
Shanna and her girls love this beautifully illustrated and moving book about a young boy who adores mermaids.
View on AmazonNiño Wrestles the World
Fun, high-energy English/Spanis book about a boy wrestling with imaginary monsters.
View on AmazonOur Skin: A First Conversation About Race
This board book is fantastic for starting the conversation about race with your children.
View on AmazonThe Day You Begin
Wonderful book about feeling different when starting something new.
View on AmazonThe Snowy Day
The #1 most-checked-out book from the New York Public Library, and for a reason!
View on AmazonBoard Books
Board books are great for little hands, and there are no pages to rip, so they’re perfect for your babies and toddlers! Here’s our list of best board books.
Baby Loves: A First Book of Favorites
Really cute book that helps with object recognition and shows pictures of other happy babies!
View on AmazonFound
Shanna and her toddler love this adorable board book about a bear who finds a lost bunny.
View on AmazonThe Pout Pout Fish
The rhyming structure of this super-cute book is spot-on, and so are the illustrations!
View on AmazonBooks for Babies
It’s never too soon to start reading to your child! Here’s our list of best books for babies.
Floating Bath Books
Laura and Shanna both love books that the little ones can take in the bath!
View on AmazonJon Klassen Hat Box
Three really strange and adorable books for kids about animals and their hats.
View on AmazonBooks for Preschoolers
Preschool is a time for more complex storytelling and more intricate illustrations. There are so many wonderful picture books to share with your child. Here’s our list of best books for preschoolers.
All Are Welcome
Wonderful book about a school where diversity and inclusion are celebrated.
View on AmazonElephant & Piggie: The Complete Collection
The ultimate collection of Elephant and Piggie’s adventures!
View on AmazonFry Bread
This book is an evocative depiction of a modern Native American family. And there’s a recipe for fry bread in the back that Shanna made with her girls!
View on AmazonGoing Up
This adorably illustrated book about a little girl and her dad going to a birthday party on the 10th floor of their apartment complex is fun and inclusive. Shanna and her girls love it!
View on AmazonIt Feels Good to be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity
A fantastic book introduces the concept of gender identity to the youngest readers. Great for children ages 3-6.
View on AmazonIt’s Not the Stork!: A Book About Girls, Boys, Babies, Bodies, Families and Friends
Shanna got this for her older daughter when she was pregnant with her younger daughter. It’s an honest, age-appropriate book for explaining human bodies and where babies come from.
View on AmazonJulián Is a Mermaid
Shanna and her girls love this beautifully illustrated and moving book about a young boy who adores mermaids.
View on AmazonKindergarten, Here I Come!
Shanna read this book of poems to help her five-year-old prepare for her first day of kindergarten.
View on AmazonLet’s Talk About Body Boundaries, Consent and Respect
Fantastic book for introducing the concepts of consent to young children.
View on AmazonLifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children
A simple, straightforward and beautiful book that explains the life and death cycle of all livng things in an age-appropriate way to children.
View on AmazonMy Body Belongs to Me from My Head to My Toes
Shanna loves this book, which has taught her girls the difference between appropriate and inappropriate touching, and has empowered them to say “stop” if they don’t like they way someone is interacting with them.
View on AmazonNiño Wrestles the World
Fun, high-energy English/Spanis book about a boy wrestling with imaginary monsters.
View on AmazonNot Quite Narwhal
Laura and her toddler love this beautifully illustrated book about a unicorn who thinks he’s a narwhal.
View on AmazonPreschool, Here I Come!
Shanna loves this book, which she bought for her daughter to get ready for preschool.
View on AmazonStar Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
Laura’s Star-Wars-loving son is obsessed with this book!
View on AmazonThe Day You Begin
Wonderful book about feeling different when starting something new.
View on AmazonThe Kissing Hand
Laura and her family love this sweet book, which they used to help her son prepare for the separation of going to preschool for the first time.
View on AmazonWe Toot! A Feminist Fable About Farting, For Everyone
A fun story that helps normalize an often embarrassing bodily function.
View on AmazonYour Body is Awesome: Body Respect for Children
Shanna and her girls love this body-positvity book that encourages children to love their bodies from an early age.
View on AmazonBooks for Toddlers
Toddlerhood is the perfect time to explore the types of characters and stories your child loves! Here’s our list of best books for toddlers.
Daddy Honk Honk!
Really cute book about an arctic fox who adopts a baby goose and becomes a daddy.
View on AmazonElephant & Piggie: The Complete Collection
The ultimate collection of Elephant and Piggie’s adventures!
View on AmazonFloating Bath Books
Laura and Shanna both love books that the little ones can take in the bath!
View on AmazonJon Klassen Hat Box
Three really strange and adorable books for kids about animals and their hats.
View on AmazonNot Quite Narwhal
Laura and her toddler love this beautifully illustrated book about a unicorn who thinks he’s a narwhal.
View on AmazonThe Invisible String
Laura loves this book and used it to help her son prepare for the separation of going to preschool for the first time.
View on AmazonThe Pout Pout Fish
The rhyming structure of this super-cute book is spot-on, and so are the illustrations!
View on AmazonThe Snowy Day
The #1 most-checked-out book from the New York Public Library, and for a reason!
View on AmazonChapter Books
If your child is ready for something more advanced than picture books, try chapter books! Here’s our list of best chapter books.
Barkus
Cute and colorful chapter book with lots of pictures for young readers. Shanna’s dog-loving daughter loved it starting at age 4!
View on AmazonMercy Watson
This is a fun first chapter book for kids! Lots of pictures, great humor and a fun story make this one of Shanna’s favorites.
View on AmazonNarwhal and Jelly
These chapter books are so much fun! Shanna and her daughter love reading the adventures of these ocean creatures.
View on AmazonParenting Books
From parenting philosophies, to sleep training, to discipline, there are no shortage of parenting topics to read up on. Here’s our list of best parenting books.
1-2-3 Magic: 3-Step Discipline for Calm, Effective, and Happy Parenting
Shanna loves this book for ideas on how to discipline her kids.
View on AmazonBurnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle
Laura’s favorite nonfiction book of 2019. Great resource for parents who are feeling stressed out.
View on AmazonCribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool
Emily Oster was a guest on our show in episode 43. We love her and her books! This book is an amazing resource for parents!
View on AmazonElevating Child Care
Shanna and Laura’s go-to resource for raising babies using the RIE method.
View on AmazonHow to Talk So Little Kids Will Listen
An excellent handbook for learning strategies for communicating with kids ages 2-7.
View on AmazonNo Bad Kids: Toddler Discipline Without Shame
One of Laura and Shanna’s favorite books about raising toddlers.
View on AmazonPeaceful Parent, Happy Siblings: How to Stop the Fighting and Raise Friends for Life
Laura used this book to prepare her toddler for meeting his new baby brother.
View on AmazonRaising Lions
Book about compassionate discipline for kids that Shanna’s trying out with her older daughter.
View on AmazonRaising Your Spirited Child
Great advice for parenting children who are “more intense, sensitive, perceptive, persistent and energetic.”
View on AmazonSecrets of Feeding a Healthy Family: How to Eat, How to Raise Good Eaters, How to Cook
This book describes the “division of responsibilities” when it comes to feeding, and aims to set you up for a lifetime without feeding struggles!
View on AmazonThe Happiest Baby on the Block book
How to soothe your baby, from a pediatrician and inventor of the Snoo. This is where “The 5 S’s come from”
View on AmazonThe Happy Sleeper: The Science-Backed Guide to Helping Your Baby Get a Good Night’s Sleep-Newborn to School Age
Fabulous resource for parents looking to improve their babies’ sleep.
View on AmazonUnderstanding Your Baby: A Week-By-Week Development & Activity Guide For Playing With Your Baby From Birth to 12 Months
Ayelet was a guest on our show in Episode 39, and she has a fantastic books about activities you can do with your little ones! It provides a week-by-week guide to your infant’s development and fun activity ideas!This book is a great resource for parents of babies up to age 12 months.
View on AmazonUnderstanding Your Toddler: A Month-By-Month Development & Activity Guide For Playing With Your Toddler From One to Three Years
Ayelet was a guest on our show in Episode 39, and she has a fantastic books about activities you can do with your little ones! This book is a great resource for parents of toddlers from 1-3.
View on AmazonPregnancy Books
Pregnancy can be a time when you have so many questions. What’s going on in my body? What is safe for me to do and eat? Luckily there are some great books on the topic! Here’s our list of best pregnancy books.
Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong–and What You Really Need to Know
Emily Oster was a guest on our show in episode 43. We love her and her books! Laura and Shanna both lived by this book during pregnancy.
View on AmazonKid Gloves: Nine Months of Careful Chaos
Great graphic novel about pregnancy. Content warning: miscarriage and traumatic birth.
View on Amazon