I prefer to use board books as much as possible for as long as possible.  Not only do they hold up better around babies (my 4-month-old was actually eating my newest cookbook this week!); they also stand up better to the abuse of preschoolers who are still learning the concept of “gentle.”

I had a hard time deciding what to call the books on this list.  I want to say these board books are “sophisticated.”  That might be overstating things — or it might just not be quite right — but there’s something about these that sets them apart from the average board book.  There’s something classy about them.  They’re simple, sure.  They’re meant for babies and toddlers, after all!  But there’s a quality to the artwork that makes them aesthetically pleasing.  Something that makes them more appealing than “any old board book.”  Less twaddle, more quality.

Many of the books listed here also introduce young ones to ideas or cultural concepts often reserved for those much older.  (And if you’re just getting around to Christmas shopping, most can be shipped via Amazon Prime!)

Mini Masters

This series of books is one of my favorites.  The text is simple rhyming text — not really anything special.  But the illustrations are all fine art from well-known artists.  In the Garden with Van Gogh is my favorite.  Not only do I really enjoy Van Gogh’s artwork; this particular book addresses the seasonal cycle of planting and harvest, so it has a little extra “something,” for me.  But we enjoy them all.

One of the books, the Matisse, contains stylized nudes, so be aware if that’s of concern for you.  That isn’t an issue with any of the others.

In the Garden with Van GoghSharing with Renoir (Mini Masters)Painting with Picasso (Mini Masters)Quiet Time with Cassatt (Mini Masters)Sunday with Seurat (Mini Masters)Dreaming with Rousseau (Mini Masters)A Picnic with Monet (Mini Masters)A Magical Day with Matisse (Mini Masters)Dancing with Degas

You can also buy a boxed set, containing four of the most popular books.  (It does include the Van Gogh.  Also Monet, Degas, and Matisse.)

Mrs. Peanuckle’s Fruit & Vegetable Alphabets

We just got to review the fruit and alphabet books from this series, within the past month or two.  These are the most “childish” books on this list, in terms of art, but I found it bold and graphic and very pleasing to look at.  I was also impressed by the huge variety of produce incorporated in these books.

Mrs. Peanuckle’s Vegetable Alphabet (Mrs. Peanuckle’s Alphabet Library)Mrs. Peanuckle’s Fruit Alphabet (Mrs. Peanuckle’s Alphabet Library)

The Mrs. Peanuckle’s series offers other books (see below), all nature-based.  I haven’t seen any of these and can’t vouch for them personally, but I expect they’re just as good.

Mrs. Peanuckle’s Flower Alphabet (Mrs. Peanuckle’s Alphabet Library)Mrs. Peanuckle’s Bug Alphabet (Mrs. Peanuckle’s Alphabet Library)Mrs. Peanuckle’s Tree Alphabet (Mrs. Peanuckle’s Alphabet Library)Mrs. Peanuckle’s Bird Alphabet (Mrs. Peanuckle’s Alphabet Library)

BabyLit

BabyLit is a clever concept.  Each of the books in the series is based on a classic novel.  (There are more books in the series than what I have pictured below!)  They do not contain the stories, so don’t be expecting simplified versions of the stories themselves.  Rather, each is a book of words, with a “theme” based on the specified novel.  That offers children enough familiarity with a title to (hopefully) pique their interest in the actual novel down the road.

In the meantime, these have fun illustrations in a playful, graphic style.  (We ordered Les Mis and Don Quixote for our littlest — the cookbook muncher — for Christmas.)

Les Miserables: A BabyLit® French Language PrimerDon Quixote: A BabyLit® Spanish Language PrimerPride & Prejudice: A BabyLit® Counting PrimerAnne of Green Gables: A BabyLit® Places PrimerSherlock Holmes in the Hound of the Baskervilles: A BabyLit® Sounds PrimerThe Jungle Book: A BabyLit® Animals PrimerA Christmas Carol: A BabyLit® Colors PrimerFrankenstein: A BabyLit® Anatomy PrimerMoby-Dick: A BabyLit® Ocean PrimerThe Secret Garden: A BabyLit® Flowers PrimerTreasure Island: A BabyLit® Shapes PrimerSense & Sensibility: A BabyLit® Opposites PrimerAround the World in 80 Days: A BabyLit® Transportation Primer

Baby University

This is the only section where I have not seen any of these books in person, at all.  I’ve only seen them on Amazon, so far, but I like what I see.

There are (as best I can tell), eight science books in the series and one math book.  The information in these is likely to be over the heads of the heads of the little ones you’re reading to, but as they’re picking up on the alphabet, they’ll still be gaining exposure to the words and ideas of science.  And Mom or Dad just might be learning something, too (depending on how science-savvy you currently are)!

ABCs of Science (Baby University)Newtonian Physics for Babies (Baby University)Rocket Science for Babies (Baby University)ABCs of Mathematics (Baby University)

This series, too, has a boxed set available, although I’m not sure which titles are included in the set.

Christian Favorites

If you’re looking to introduce biblical concepts to your youngest ones, these two are excellent.  First Bible Basics is a counting book.  (I’ve reviewed it before.)  It uses quality artwork and logical numerical groupings (like four gospels and ten commandments).

The Biggest Story ABC I have not seen, exactly.  We have The Biggest Story.  This has absolutely gorgeous artwork, and does a wonderful job of presenting the continuity of Scripture (the way that the whole Bible tells a single overarching story).  The Biggest Story ABC seems to take a lot of that artwork and the same concepts and simplify it into a more introductory format.

First Bible Basics: A Counting PrimerThe Biggest Story ABC

Do you have other favorites you would add?